Cold Water Shaving

**Just Stefan** · 12-03-2010, 04:59 PM

Hey, I've Been very Interested to know if it is very much benfecial to shave with cold water?

I understand the concept behind warm shaving and don't disregard it at all, but I wanted to know if cold water shaving could be better for very sensitive skin. Becuase cold water closes the pores and is what we do at the end of the shave to keep the skin feeling healthy and reduce irritation from the shave.

**Luc** · 12-03-2010, 05:01 PM

I would recommend consulting the thread: http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=168069

**mretzloff** · 12-03-2010, 05:10 PM

Originally Posted by Luc

I would recommend consulting the thread: http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=168069

That is an awesome thread

To the OP: try it. A few have PMed me telling me how it helped with their sensitive skin.

**Just Stefan** · 12-03-2010, 05:14 PM

Originally Posted by mretzloff

That is an awesome thread

To the OP: try it. A few have PMed me telling me how it helped with their sensitive skin.

thanks guys, that's the thread I was looking for

**linty** · 12-03-2010, 06:28 PM

worked for me. based on the alum block after shaving, much less irritation with cold water. not as enjoyable as with warm lather though

**ackvil** · 12-03-2010, 07:44 PM

Originally Posted by linty

worked for me. based on the alum block after shaving, much less irritation with cold water. not as enjoyable as with warm lather though

Ah, but you can use the cold water method but with warm lather. I tried it and it works fine.

However, I must confess in the cooler weather I shy away from cold water shaving. Us Floridians have a low tolerance to anything cold - other than a nice cold beer!

**linty** · 12-03-2010, 09:29 PM

Originally Posted by ackvil

Ah, but you can use the cold water method but with warm lather. I tried it and it works fine.

However, I must confess in the cooler weather I shy away from cold water shaving. Us Floridians have a low tolerance to anything cold - other than a nice cold beer!

Is that with the ice cubes to cool the face? Seems a little excessive, and my bathroom is pretty far from the freezer.

I think every once in a while I'll go with the warm lather for the feeling and take it a bit easier or something on the shave

**craig87c** · 12-03-2010, 10:19 PM

Personally, I wouldn't be excessive on either end of the spectrum. I hate overly cold water shaving, and way too hot water shaving. Nice, lukewarm or barely cool water shave for me, no matter what.

Give it a shot though, you never know what you'll like!

**Optionyout** · 12-04-2010, 03:21 AM

It's the only way I shave now. Much better shave and less prep time.

**sffone** · 12-04-2010, 04:07 AM

I'll stick with my hot water, hot lather shaves. There's a reason virtually all the barbers of yesteryear used hot, wet towels to prepare customers' faces.

**BurkDarkpatches** · 12-04-2010, 04:26 AM

Originally Posted by sffone

I'll stick with my hot water, hot lather shaves. There's a reason virtually all the barbers of yesteryear used hot, wet towels to prepare customers' faces.

Don't keep us in suspense! What's the reason?

Steve

**dirtdog** · 12-04-2010, 04:31 AM

Originally Posted by sffone

I'll stick with my hot water, hot lather shaves. There's a reason virtually all the barbers of yesteryear used hot, wet towels to prepare customers' faces.

pretty much the way I feel

cold water - only when roughing it

**ackvil** · 12-04-2010, 04:52 AM

Originally Posted by linty

Is that with the ice cubes to cool the face? Seems a little excessive, and my bathroom is pretty far from the freezer.

I think every once in a while I'll go with the warm lather for the feeling and take it a bit easier or something on the shave

No, tried that only in the hot summer weather when I could not get the water down here cold enough. Now, cool water is good enough. But I still use warm lather.

**sffone** · 12-05-2010, 08:55 AM

Barbers traditionally used hot towels because it made for a more comfortable and closer shave, or at least that's what was taught in barber-training schools.

**HoosierTrooper** · 12-05-2010, 09:05 AM

Originally Posted by Optionyout

It's the only way I shave now. Much better shave and less prep time.

+1. Wish I would have started using cold water a long, long time ago. I can't speak highly enough of it.

**binowatch** · 12-05-2010, 09:17 AM

As I recall in the original movie "The Dirty Dozen" Lee Marvin punished the "volunteers" for the suicide mission by making them cold shave with their WW2 issue razors. This was considered severe punishment for a bunch of sociopath murderers. Why should we do it to ourselves? I guess we should do whatever works best for ourselves.

**ProphetNoir** · 12-05-2010, 10:58 AM

I am willing to give it a try because I love shaving and although I don't get irritation to the point of it being painful or anything, I have been battling some redness in the same place on my face since I first started DE shaving. Great thread! I love learning something new ... new to me anyway.

**TonyN** · 12-05-2010, 11:55 AM

I tried cold water shaving the past 3 mornings. It will definitely wake you up, but I have to admit that the shaves are closer and there is less irritation. I do shave first and then shower which also cuts down on the irritation.