Enablers,
I’ve heard of the cold water shave, but never tried it, that is, until today.
In the northeast United States, we have experienced a sweltering heat wave. And while the heat may have subsided, I was as drenched as Fred Astaire in “Singing in the Rain” at 11 am after I returned for an hour long walk with the dog.
After the shower, I decided to try a cold water shave. I’ll tell you fellas what I did, the hardware and software used, and my experience.
First, because you all want to the answer of “what did you use?” I’ll go there first:
Razor: Rockwell 2C, plate 3
Blade: Feather
Brush: Kent P4 Finest Badger
Soap: LaToja shave stick
Alum bloc: Osma
Aftershave splash: Soap Smooth Barbershop
Here was my method:
I came out of the shower and took the shave stick to my face. I decided on LaToja for a few reasons: 1) it’s magical properties of the salts; 2) I thought the shave stick would be simpler than bowl lathering and; 3) I have 15+ Soaps and I knew this would be easy to lather and refreshing in such a humid climate.
I wet my little lucite Kent P4 with cold water and shook it out 4 times and then went to to the face. I added a few drops of cold water to the brush to get it a little shinier and less thick, but it lathered like a charm
I then wet the new Feather blade, again with cold, New England tap water and took it to my face. When the combination of the blade and safety bar crossed my face, it was cool, surprising and refreshing.
I conducted a three pass shave, with plenty of lovely lather for three. I followed the shave, as I always do with a rinse to remove the extra soap, this time cold, and followed that with the alum. I rinsed off the alum with cold water, as I usually do and applied the Soap Smooth, aftershave splash.
I typically apply moisturizer, but didn’t today because I have been so sweaty, and figured it would be overkill. I selected the soap smooth because it has wich hazel, alcohol and lanolin in it. Typically, I use Thayer’s post alum and my go to splash is Pitralon classic (German).
I really liked it. I would not do it daily, but those days when it’s hot and humid, it is perfect. I used a badger, because I was leery about cold soaking a boar. I also know this is a good face lathering brush with a little scritch— I wanted that today. I loved the feeling of the cold metal on a humid day. It was as refreshing as a hot blade and warm lather in the winter. Next time I may go with the witch hazel and a different splash
Curious, what your experience is with the cold water shave.
Thanks for reading.
I’ve heard of the cold water shave, but never tried it, that is, until today.
In the northeast United States, we have experienced a sweltering heat wave. And while the heat may have subsided, I was as drenched as Fred Astaire in “Singing in the Rain” at 11 am after I returned for an hour long walk with the dog.
After the shower, I decided to try a cold water shave. I’ll tell you fellas what I did, the hardware and software used, and my experience.
First, because you all want to the answer of “what did you use?” I’ll go there first:
Razor: Rockwell 2C, plate 3
Blade: Feather
Brush: Kent P4 Finest Badger
Soap: LaToja shave stick
Alum bloc: Osma
Aftershave splash: Soap Smooth Barbershop
Here was my method:
I came out of the shower and took the shave stick to my face. I decided on LaToja for a few reasons: 1) it’s magical properties of the salts; 2) I thought the shave stick would be simpler than bowl lathering and; 3) I have 15+ Soaps and I knew this would be easy to lather and refreshing in such a humid climate.
I wet my little lucite Kent P4 with cold water and shook it out 4 times and then went to to the face. I added a few drops of cold water to the brush to get it a little shinier and less thick, but it lathered like a charm
I then wet the new Feather blade, again with cold, New England tap water and took it to my face. When the combination of the blade and safety bar crossed my face, it was cool, surprising and refreshing.
I conducted a three pass shave, with plenty of lovely lather for three. I followed the shave, as I always do with a rinse to remove the extra soap, this time cold, and followed that with the alum. I rinsed off the alum with cold water, as I usually do and applied the Soap Smooth, aftershave splash.
I typically apply moisturizer, but didn’t today because I have been so sweaty, and figured it would be overkill. I selected the soap smooth because it has wich hazel, alcohol and lanolin in it. Typically, I use Thayer’s post alum and my go to splash is Pitralon classic (German).
I really liked it. I would not do it daily, but those days when it’s hot and humid, it is perfect. I used a badger, because I was leery about cold soaking a boar. I also know this is a good face lathering brush with a little scritch— I wanted that today. I loved the feeling of the cold metal on a humid day. It was as refreshing as a hot blade and warm lather in the winter. Next time I may go with the witch hazel and a different splash
Curious, what your experience is with the cold water shave.
Thanks for reading.