Thread: Cold water shave is the best & worst ever

All I know on this is that the second worst shave I ever had was with cold water. That's my 2c.

I noticed the cold water remark in that book too and got me thinking about cold water shaving again.

I tried a cold water shave a while ago and found it ok but not great. I felt that it needed better lather / prep - more cushion maybe.

I've been using luke-warm lather lately with hot water on the blade and this has been working fine.

Might try another cold water shave experiment on the weekend - might save me taking the kettle into the bathroom!

All the best,
Michael.

I used cold water for my second pass on Sunday, and it seemed to go well. I have been rinsing my face with cold water between passes, but I am going to give a full cold shave a try this evening.

Now that everyone's using cold water I'll have to go back to warm.

Jimmy, I agree about rubbing the lather in by hand. I'll also say that TOBS cream (and cream in general) work better for me than soap in cold water.

For those that are scared of the cold water, as I was at first, and I still hate cold water (but not for shaving) it becomes addictive after you get used to it. I guess it's like the guys who go swimming in ice water every morning. Your skin gets used to it, maybe a little bit of fat develops underneath, and you'll find yourself splashing it on and wanting more.

Cheers,

Ladies and gentlemen:

Please forgive me, but I had enough of cold water shaving in Vietnam. Now I make up for it by loving all the warm shaving luxuries I can afford.

Regards,

Obie

I found that even though cold putting a bit of water on top of the soap while in the shower will soften it for a better lather . Also something that I read in the pamphlet was following the first lather and rubbing it in with the fingers rinse and dry before applying the second lather. The drying helps it to stick far better. We'll see how this morning's shave goes.

This morning's shave was very nice. After the hot shower the cold water on the face was refreshing and the MWF lathered up fine. Very close smooth shave with a vintage 5/8 Helje. I am going to continue with this routine for another day or two and than go back hot and see which I like better. Fun to experiment with all of this.

thats interesting. i do see some value in it, especially on the second pass. my lather has usually cooled off by then anyways, though not approaching cold. i feel that the prep routine that i've developed over the past year (hot shower, open door with exhaust fan on, warm towel while lathering, scuttle prewarmed to the best temp for whichever soap i'm using, etc) prepares me both physically and mentally for the shave, but i can see a lot of value in a cooler/colder second pass to help close the pores, taught the skin for a close pass, and leave my skin in a more natural state at the end of the shave. i'll try it and report back once i have a couple good test runs, especially if it has interesting results. definetely makes sense.

Well guys, I may be a convert to cold water shaving!

First try was today on a two day growth. No shower, just a hot water and face wash with soap, rinse and repeat. Then, ice cold water to rinse the face soap off. Invigorating!

Then, lather. I forgot to dry my face per the instructions though, so I rinsed the lather off with ice cold water, dried my face, relathered and went to town.

Very nice smooth shave. My face felt great afterward. I used my traditional alum block, rinse with ice cold water (I've always done that), dry, then Thayers alcohol free.

Easily as close or closer of a shave than hot water prep. I also noticed that my face wasn't as shiny (mine gets almost sticky shiny after a smooth close shave) as when using hot water during prep.

I'm going for this method for at least my next few shaves. Great results so far.

Chris L

I'm new to St8's but not shaving so I'll ask this question: If you use cold water it tightens the skin makes it less pliable. Less Pliable skin is less forgiving skin. I would think this would make the skin cut easier. Don't we do all this prep and honing etc..etc.. to get the best possible shave without injury?
I'll stick with hot water.