First cold-water shave. Results!

[The Shaver]

HOLY CRAP! I was bored this morning and I had to shave. I was looking pretty scruffy! This time I didn't do any "prep" work, but I used my trusty 'ol Tabac as a sort of prep. I face lathered with my SOC and let it sit there for a while. Then I did a warm water rinse, then it occured to me....LET'S TRY COLD WATER. So I quickly put the faucet onto the coldest possible setting(living in the dorms, the water doesn't get extremely hot or extremely cold). I rinsed with ice cold water than re lathered. First pass was just amazing. It cut through like butter! FAR LESS tugging than with usuing warm water. I didn't feel any pain either on the first pass.

Second pass was just as good as the first. The third pass was a little more work, but that was because I ran out of foam to use and had to make more My fourth "Touch up" pass was pretty good. I am slowly gaining knowledge on J-hooking and blade buffing. Those work wonders on those tricky spots.

When I finished, there was only 1 weeper, but that was all my fault...

Dried off and used some Floid Vigoroso on. WOW! Cold Stuff!

I just might be a cold water convert for life! This is like BBBS- Baby butt bottom smooth.

 

[ackvil]

Glad you liked it. I prefer cold water shaving, also. My routine is to put lather all over my face and neck and gently massage it in for a minute. [However, I use warm lather from a scuttle.] I then rinse it off with cold water and splash cold water on my face and then put warm lather on it. After every pass I splash some cold water first before applying more lather.

 

[John Von Wuggz]

Glad to hear it. I, too, was also converted to cold water shaving.

 

[sarimento1]

Yesterday, experimented with iced washcloth and iced AV for post-shave!
They were great, especially on a hot, steamy day down here!!

 

[Mick]

I cold water shave in summer when it is hot and warm water shave in winter when it is cold

I have been cold water shaving for about 2 weeks now and will continue until the weather turns and the leaves start falling then back to the scuttles once again

 

[Christoph]

Huh??? Are you guys makin' this up??

This just sounds so totally counter to all I know about shaving.

But maybe I'll give it a try.

 

[gsurko]

Been cold water shaving since Sept. and it gets a little chilly here in Michigan in the winter, it seems normal after about a week. I wash my face in cold tap water, rinse, face lather, strop, relather and shave. Works great and I intend to shave this way forever. Way better than hot water shaving, even in winter.

 

[BrianC]

Cold water shaver here too. I like it so far (since it's summer) but that may change come winter. It cuts down on the razor burn I get on my neck.

 

[SteveWY]

Being a true warm water shaver, this thread has intrigued me. I have to give it a go. Just so I have this straight, you still use a warm lather but rinse before applying and between passes with cold water?

 

[California Cajun]

HOLY CRAP! I was bored this morning and I had to shave. I was looking pretty scruffy! This time I didn't do any "prep" work, but I used my trusty 'ol Tabac as a sort of prep. I face lathered with my SOC and let it sit there for a while. Then I did a warm water rinse, then it occured to me....LET'S TRY COLD WATER. So I quickly put the faucet onto the coldest possible setting(living in the dorms, the water doesn't get extremely hot or extremely cold). I rinsed with ice cold water than re lathered. First pass was just amazing. It cut through like butter! FAR LESS tugging than with usuing warm water. I didn't feel any pain either on the first pass.

Second pass was just as good as the first. The third pass was a little more work, but that was because I ran out of foam to use and had to make more My fourth "Touch up" pass was pretty good. I am slowly gaining knowledge on J-hooking and blade buffing. Those work wonders on those tricky spots.

When I finished, there was only 1 weeper, but that was all my fault...

Dried off and used some Floid Vigoroso on. WOW! Cold Stuff!

I just might be a cold water convert for life! This is like BBBS- Baby butt bottom smooth.

I became a cold water shaver for good a couple of months ago after dabbling into it a few times the past couple of years and am very happy with the results. What I really like about it is that it is convenient. Beforehand I had an electric kettle to boil hot water, and before that I used scuttles. Now, just dig in and do it with as good or better results.

The Shaving Made Easy book in my signature says it is the way to go on pp. 50-52 to cut down irritation.

 

[Redzone]

I am hurting just reading this but of course I'll give it a go.

 

[ryno2292]

I cold water shave in summer when it is hot and warm water shave in winter when it is cold

I have been cold water shaving for about 2 weeks now and will continue until the weather turns and the leaves start falling then back to the scuttles once again

Likewise, cold water in hot weather, warm water in cold weather works for me.

 

[parapaul]

So you're using warm lather but rinsing with cold water? That's what I do anyway... I never realised I was a cold water shaver!

Do you soak your brush in warm or cold water prior to lathering? Common sense says warm if you're making a warm lather but who knows?

 

[musicman1951]

I tried it and it worked fine - but no better than hot for me. I'm glad you found success.

I'll try it again on a hot day this summer.

 

[Lather]

Since it has been muggy for a couple days, I thought I would try a cold water shave this morning. I had a shower in cool water and then lathered up some MDC with a Fatboy/GSB blade. Three passes later and I had an amazingly smooth shave with no irritation. I never thought it would be that good. I am a believer.

 

[gdavila]

I may just give this a try tonight!

 

[ackvil]

So you're using warm lather but rinsing with cold water? That's what I do anyway... I never realised I was a cold water shaver!

Do you soak your brush in warm or cold water prior to lathering? Common sense says warm if you're making a warm lather but who knows?

I soak it it warm water. However, it's warm - not hot water or lather. Plus, the cold water splash before each pass makes for a great shave for me.

In the winter months when it is cool - it never gets cold here in Paradise - I may use warm water but for most of the year it's cold water for me.

 

[mikeeliaspgh]

What has been working for me is hot / warm water on the first pass, cold water and cold razor on evey pass after...

I found that I was getting too much tugging on the 1st pass with cold water...

End result has been a great shave and it took away ALL neck irritation ...

I know it sounds counter intuitive but give it a shot...

 

[Heron]

I've tried cold water shaving a couple times now. The results have been good. I usually only do it if I'm not going to shower first, though. I'll have to try a cold water shave after a shower next time.

 

[EloquentRune]

This is really interesting I think I may have to give it a try tonight.

EDIT: Well I've tried cold shaving and I don't think it is the right thing for me. I probably should have tried it on a night I wasn't trying a new type of blade though. I didn't manage to cut my neck at all, but my cheeks did acquire a few little nicks.