cold water rinse

[Petar Milas]

I just wondered, how much time passes between the end of your shave (hot water rinse after final pass) to your cold water rinse?

after i've done last hot water rinse i clean my sink, mug, and brush, and then i have a cold water rinse, so about 2 minutes have passed between hot and cold rinse...

i's that ok? how long do you wait, before rinsing with cold water? and does it even matter?

[SRock]

I'd think that would be fine. All that really matters is that you do the cold rinse before you press on for the day and before your alum or AS (whatever you finish up with).

[mankini]

The time is not critical as stated by SlagleRock, I personally hit it right after I decide my shave is the way I want it usually after the final warm water rinse to tighten up / close those pores.

Then follow up with your post shave regime.

[SRock]

The time is not critical as stated by SlagleRock, I personally hit it right after I decide my shave is the way I want it usually after the final warm water rinse to tighten up / close those pores.

Then follow up with your post shave regime.

This is how I normally do it as well. But I have done the clean up thing prior as well.

[Petar Milas]

I'd think that would be fine. All that really matters is that you do the cold rinse before you press on for the day and before your alum or AS (whatever you finish up with).

thanks,

i apply my ASB after the cold water rinse, but i heard that it's better to use alum block before you do a cold water rinse, not after, is that true?

i ask because i'm thinking of buying an alum block...

[SRock]

thanks,

i apply my ASB after the cold water rinse, but i heard that it's better to use alum block before you do a cold water rinse, not after, is that true?

i ask because i'm thinking of buying an alum block...

On the rare occasion that I use(d) Alum I typically did a hot rinse, cold rinse, alum, then a second cold rinse. Less burn that way. Many just do hot, alum, cold though.

[Petar Milas]

aha...

thanks Rob

[SRock]

aha...

thanks Rob

Anytime!

[taffy]

After finishing my shave a quick rinse with the water in the sink, fill the sink with cold water and rinse away.

[johsa]

I have always done: warm, alum, cold, witch hazel, as. Not sure if it is better to use alum before the cold water rinse but I have seen quite a few people in here doing this.

[wakefieldma]

After my last warm-water rinse I often apply some Proraso and let it sit while I clean-up (+/- 2 minutes), then rinse with cold water, then I put on A/S...Don't know if this makes sense but it has been working pretty well for me-

[Petar Milas]

After my last warm-water rinse I often apply some Proraso and let it sit while I clean-up (+/- 2 minutes), then rinse with cold water, then I put on A/S...Don't know if this makes sense but it has been working pretty well for me-

hmmm, i also have proraso pre-post, but have never tried that... maybe i'll do next time...

but doesn't proraso effect your ASB, or you're using proraso again? i find that after using proraso pre-post, i just don't want to put sth over it... because of the cooling and the scent...

[john parker]

Am I doing something terribly wrong? I almost never do a cold rinse! Only time I remember it is immediately after reading about the procedure on the forum. I simply finish shaving, rinse my face with hot water, clean my gear, then apply aftershave splash. Particularly when it is cold out, putting cold water on my face just doesn't seem to be in my nature. What are the consequences for missing this step? Thanks, John

[The Nid Hog]

Am I doing something terribly wrong? I almost never do a cold rinse! Only time I remember it is immediately after reading about the procedure on the forum. I simply finish shaving, rinse my face with hot water, clean my gear, then apply aftershave splash. Particularly when it is cold out, putting cold water on my face just doesn't seem to be in my nature. What are the consequences for missing this step? Thanks, John

Me too. I usually just wash with warm water in order to get any remaining soap off my face. I have an alum block but I hardly ever use it. I'll occasionally use a cold splash, but only when I'm reminded by reading the SOTD. I can't say that I feel any different when I do or when I don't. Still, there must be a reason for it to be in so many routines--what gives?

[cactusbrush]

I'm with John Parker, I don't do a cold rinse and don't like them any more than cold showers. I will do a final face rinse with warm, not hot, water and let it dry. I think it cools down enough after a couple of minutes. I also don't use alum blocks but use an alcohol free shave splash (my favorite is from Em's), then use an aftershave if necessary.

[Petar Milas]

well, cold rinse closes up the pores of the skin, which were "opened" by use of hot water, it also helps to soothe the skin after shaving... the similar thing is done by alcohol aftershave or alum... as they work like astringents...

most of people do this, but if it works for you without that... fine by me...

[kingfisher]

Pores don't open and close. So the idea that you're going to open your pores with hot water and close them with cold water is just, for lack of a better term, an old wives' tale.

Personally, I've begun to tone down both ends of the extreme temperature spectrum, and I really believe there are benefits to doing so.

As a physician, my idea of what a hot water rinse and a cold water rinse actually CAN do is this: hot water dilates capillaries (little blood vessels) in t skin and allows fluids from these vessels to escape into the tissues. In other words, it causes swelling (edema). Cold water causes the blood vessels to shrink slightly and hold onto the fluids more; in other words, it reduces swelling. Think about it. That's why you use ice on an injured ankle or when you bang your head on something; because it reduces swelling.

Now, when it comes to shaving, I don't think it's a great idea to make your face edematous prior to shaving. It just makes it so that cutting the hairs right at skin level still won't produce BBS, because when the swelling goes back down, the remainder of the hair will be exposed. Using very cold water right after the shave may have some benefit, as shaving can be a little irritating, and the cold water may help to cool off that process just as it does for your ankle when you injure it.

At this point in my shaving routine, I use hot water only in my bowl and for soaking my brush. That way I get a nice warm lather. All rinses are with warm water.

At the end of the shave, I rinse with warm water and then rinse with slightly cool water. As I said, I have eliminated all hot water and all cold water rinses.

I think my facial skin feels and looks healthier since I have done this. YMMV.

[cfriend]

Pores don't open and close. So the idea that you're going to open your pores with hot water and close them with cold water is just, for lack of a better term, an old wives' tale.

+1 to this post, especially the quoted excerpt.

• Soak brush in hot water, take shower.
• By the time I get out, water in the sink has cooled to comfortably warm.
• Done with the shave? Rinse with the slightly-less-warm water from the sink.
• Pull drain plug and wipe down the sink and counter.
• Cold water rinse, apply aftershave to damn face.
• Standing in the breeze on the balcony is optional, but suggested.

I still use cold water, it feels nice.

[andrew98]

...Cold water rinse, apply aftershave to damn face...

I still use cold water, it feels nice.

This is a great typo, if, in fact, it is one.

-Andy

[mdunn]

I do the cold water rinse right when I finish shaving, then after that rinse my brush & dry my straight.

Then I come back and do aftershaves