To Rinse or Not To Rinse- That is the Question.

I just watched a brand new video by Michael Freedberg. He was evaluating a new shaving cream by Wholly Kaw that is still in development. The new cream is designed to provide a high level of skin conditioning. Rather than rinsing off remaining lather as he normally would, Michael followed instructions provided by Sri of WK and applied the remaining lather in the brush to his face and then removed the excess by patting with a dry towel without rinsing. That left a layer of cream on his face as you might use a shave balm.

I have never had a full barber shave, but after shaving my neck the barber removes the excess lather with a towel without any rinsing.

So the question is:

After you shave do you rinse, or do you just dry your face with a towel? If you just dry with a towel, what benefits do you see?

I have normally rinsed by patting my face with a wet microfiber cloth. What do others do?

Other than I would miss my Cold Water Rinse / Ice Cold Cloth after the shave and before the application of the A/S I don't see an issue

I guess the idea like any other should be tried by each person to see how it works, I know there are some people that are Lanolin and Glycerin sensitive so I doubt it would be good for them

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Originally Posted by RayClem

snip...After you shave do you rinse, or do you just dry your face with a towel? If you just dry with a towel, what benefits do you see?Snip....

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I rinse with clear water then pat dry with towel and I'm done.

Lately I have taken, after my four passes (WTG, XTGx2, ATG), to full lathering my face. I then clean my brush, razor, and bowl (I bowl lather exclusively). I have started doing this as an effort to allow the full effects of the cream to soak into my freshly shorn face. I then cold water rinse and do the AS/balm of the day. My AS routine sometimes varies and can be a singular or multiple products.

What I have found is significantly softer and better face results, no matter AS regimen. I also have noticed a longer scent result and overall more enjoyable experience. It has become such a big part of my routine I now use it as a judging method for a cream or soap...ultimately how good do I feel after just the lather.

My results may differ from others but I will not be going back. Hope that helps or is what you are talking about I have not seen the video. Please share the link.

Cold water rinse, towel dry.

I rinse with warm water first to remove soap/cream then cold water rinse followed by towel dry and either Clubman or witch hazel and AS conditioner. I may have to try the cold water rinse only because sometimes there is a little stinging with the warm water rinse.

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Originally Posted by DoughBoy68

I rinse with warm water first to remove soap/cream then cold water rinse followed by towel dry and either Clubman or witch hazel and AS conditioner. I may have to try the cold water rinse only because sometimes there is a little stinging with the warm water rinse.

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For final lather removal I can only recommend cold water. You want to begin the pores closing before adding astringent things, which all AS items are.

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Originally Posted by Theoman

I have not seen the video. Please share the link.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9RBtMlU940

I think the intent is for the shave cream to take the place of any AS splash or balm.

Come to think of it, I don't rinse and just wipe the face with a towel and get on with life,

but If I'm applying a moisturizer after the shave, I do rinse


Both work well for me

For me it is rinse face with cold water and apply alum. Empty sink and clean brush. Rinse the alum off with cold water, towel dry my face and put on AS.

Bob

Now seeing the video it seems the underlying intent is the same as my fifth lather up. Like the pre lather and wash of old I think it is going to come to personal preference. For me no matter what a cream or soap brings in the AS department I will not eliminate that element. But, I will try this cream.

The instruction with Martin Dr Candre says to wipe off the excess lather.
I do that.
All other soaps I rinse and then apply Thayers and then a AS

I'm going to try out Theoman's method on my next shave. Seems like a great compromise solution for increased skin conditioning that will have the added benefit of using up my unchanged, small hoard of soaps/croaps a bit faster.

FWIW, I've been cold rinsing then applying my AS. I frequently wonder if I should try out some Witch Hazel one day soon.

I always rinse. Above all else it is a soap, I don't use it for it's skin conditioning properties nor do I want any type of soap to reside on my face

Cold water rinse, a drop of Glycerin, pat almost dry, add AS.

Probably a little over kill but, i rince with warm water, towel off, cold water splash, alum, rinse brush and scuttle, cold water rince off alum, towel off, thayers wit h hazel, after it dries a splash of clubman.

So i wash off the soap. Still get a great conditioned skin feel. Dont think id want any more that what i get now.

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Originally Posted by CrownCork

I always rinse. Above all else it is a soap, I don't use it for it's skin conditioning properties nor do I want any type of soap to reside on my face

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Exactly. Soap by it's very nature is drying. I don't care what oils, fats, additives are added, when you're done it should be rinsed off.

I shower after I shave and will lather my arms and chest with the extra on the brush so I don't waste it.

For me it's all about the ritual:
-hot water rinse; I also clean off the blade and brush while I've got the hot water going
-cold water rinse. On a real hot summer day I might even get a few ice cubes to rub around my freshly-shaved skin
-post-shave stropping followed by whatever AS I'm using

edit: Oh, and I've tried a lot of Wholly Kay. In my experience, that moisturizing feeling is still there hours after I've rinsed it off...YMMV.

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Originally Posted by BobH

For me it is rinse face with cold water and apply alum. Empty sink and clean brush. Rinse the alum off with cold water, towel dry my face and put on AS.

Bob

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I follow Bobs routine as well.

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Originally Posted by ScoutHikerDad

For me it's all about the ritual:
-hot water rinse; I also clean off the blade and brush while I've got the hot water going
-cold water rinse. On a real hot summer day I might even get a few ice cubes to rub around my freshly-shaved skin
-post-shave stropping followed by whatever AS I'm using

edit: Oh, and I've tried a lot of Wholly Kay. In my experience, that moisturizing feeling is still there hours after I've rinsed it off...YMMV.

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My mileage certainly didn’t vary. That stuff works.

I’m all about the ritual as well. After I finish my last pass:

- take remaining soap on face (some from the brush if need be) and massage it into shaved area

- rub alum over entire area

- cold facecloth to wipe it all off

- aftershave splash

- a little balm


I’m serious about my ritual! After years now, I’ve got it down perfectly for me.

The reason I rub the remaining soap over my face after my last pass is to condition it - mostly for the glycerin. The alum disinfects and tightens the pours. The cold water a little more so... and it just feels good. The splash seals it all in and balm is my long term protection. I need very little in the summer. I “cut” everything with water - hence the wet. It’s a freaking joy!

After the last pass I rinse with cold water then towel dry. Apply witch hazel and then clean up razor, brush, scuttle, sink. By that time the witch hazel has dried and I apply the after shave. I like this routine a lot.
Paul

I have never given it much thought but I rinse with hot hot water and then apply balm.
I love my balms , it's probably the part I look forward to the most

It's like that oft-quoted dictum: "Lather, rinse, repeat."

I always rinse even though the residual from my primary soap never seems to actually rinse off with water as it is so moisturizing. I have yet to find a soap that compares to it which is a great benefit for my skin. :)

Rinse with cold water.. In summer i usually let my face drip over sink for 10 seconds or so and because its warm outside im usually shirtless and have a towel around my neck and clean up shaving supplies while my face dries.. Then the AS.. Colder times still cold water rinse, Quick pat with neck towel and procede as with it being warm out

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Originally Posted by Speedster

I'm going to try out Theoman's method on my next shave. Seems like a great compromise solution for increased skin conditioning that will have the added benefit of using up my unchanged, small hoard of soaps/croaps a bit faster.

FWIW, I've been cold rinsing then applying my AS. I frequently wonder if I should try out some Witch Hazel one day soon.

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How did the method work out?