Why have you not tried cold water shaving?

[00Seven]

Cold water shaving may be right for you if:

- you get a lot of weepers while shaving

- you have issues with irritation

- you want the closest, smoothest shave of your life

- want to try something different

- need help waking up in the morning

- want to save $$ on your energy bill

- want to get extra points on your man card

- have problems with your bathroom being too hot



So why not give it a try? Start off slow, with water as cold as you can get out of the tap. Then upgrade to pouring ice in the water and rubbing ice on your face.

[fccexpert]

Because I have shaved with cold water when I had no other choice and it sucks.

[eth]

I have tried it, with my coldest tap water. I didn't achieve something I haven't achieved with regular warm water, it was neither closer nor less irritating. Knowing that my pet boars and badgers are waiting for me in the bathroom is all the help I need in the morning.

Can you convince me to try it again?

ð

[Bengal Tiger]

I end up doing it because the water in my sink takes forever to warm up. I microwave or get warm water from the shower to soak my boar brush. But I don't want to have another vessel with warm water for my face so I just use the cold to room temp water in the tap.

[Latherdude]

I used to shave with cold water. I also used a handful of goop and Mach-III or Bic triple blade pivot disposables with some canned goo, and shaved with one pass (against the grain).

Anyway I just prefer the hot water and a cold rinse when I'm done. Proraso also helps to freeze my face when desired. But I'll give the cold water wet shave an honest attempt someday. To answer your question, I guess it's just that it'd be hard to top the shave quality I've achieved since switching to brushes and DEs, so I haven't attempted cold water on purpose (one time my water heater was exhausted and I kinda had to go with lukewarm, and didn't really like it).

[Cynomys]

Cold water shaving may be right for you if:

- you get a lot of weepers while shaving

- you have issues with irritation

- you want the closest, smoothest shave of your life

- want to try something different

- need help waking up in the morning

- want to save $$ on your energy bill

- want to get extra points on your man card

- have problems with your bathroom being too hot



So why not give it a try? Start off slow, with water as cold as you can get out of the tap. Then upgrade to pouring ice in the water and rubbing ice on your face.

Okay, point by point: I don't get a lot of weepers, have no irritation problems, am quite satisfied with the closeness of even my 2-pass shave, not interested in trying something different just for the sake of trying something different, no problem with waking up in the morning, I save tons more electricity in other ways, I get enough man points by cutting my lawn with a scythe, and bathroom temp is fine. But in general, what I am doing now wrt shaving works fine and the cold water shaving just doesn't sound appealing. I often use a cold water splash to finish up and that's enough of a shock already. That said, I'm glad it works for you and others who use it. To each his own!

[bigxnyc]

If I join the cult do I get a comfy robe and special sneakers? I have tried it. After reading all the raves on here about cold water shaving, I gave it a go on April 1st and have not looked back. I've been getting the closest most comfortable shaves of my life. I highly recomend giving it a try. All hail the Hypnotoad!

[goatee]

my man card is full. but thank you anyways.

[Obiwan]

For me, I enjoy the feeling of hot water while shaving. I'm very please with the results so don't feel compelled to mix it up.

[adios_mach_3s]

I keep telling myself I'm going to give it a try... tomorrow.

[dpmtherrien]

Cold water shaving is for sure an acquired taste, but I'm all for anyone giving it a try, because it just might work out great for you.

For me however it didn't. I tried it several times to give it a good shot, and the shot turned out to be a dud. So now I know, and if it works for anyone else, great.

[BroJohn]

Because I have shaved with cold water when I had no other choice and it sucks.

DING! DING! DING!!! We have a winner, ladies and gentlemen.

Now I understand the current interest in cold water shaving, and respect peoples' choices, --but field shaving in the Army 45 years ago has led me to appreciate warm/hot water for shaving since.

-- John Gehman

[JRL]

It seems so strange -- for months I've been diligently trying to keep my lather warm -- even bought one of those double-walled gravy pitchers (which works very well by the way). But then kept seeing all these insane posts about cold water shaving, so I had to try it. My first attempt was all cold -- cold prep, cold shave, cold cleanup. For me, a total disaster. Back to B&B, read so more, and changed strategy. Warm prep, cold shave, warm cleanup. It worked! A very different experience, resulting in a very good shave.

But why does it work? I've read the many ideas offered by the esteemed members of this board. Their thoughts seem reasonable, but not compelling. Then, while cold shaving this morning, I had the proverbial light-bulb moment. For me, the cold shave is a little more uncomfortable than warm lather shaving. I definitely notice the blade as it encounters my whiskers. And I'm wondering if that feedback serves to remind me to pay attention to my technique -- no pressure, slow as you go -- you all know the drill. Whatever the reason, it does work for me.

[D.W.B.]

I have been thinking of giving the cold water a try. Maybe when the weather heats up.

[gus1942]

Cold water shaving may be right for you if:

- you get a lot of weepers while shaving

- you have issues with irritation

- you want the closest, smoothest shave of your life

- want to try something different

- need help waking up in the morning

- want to save $$ on your energy bill

- want to get extra points on your man card

- have problems with your bathroom being too hot



So why not give it a try? Start off slow, with water as cold as you can get out of the tap. Then upgrade to pouring ice in the water and rubbing ice on your face.

Agree with everything but the ice. No need for extreme temperatures, hot or cold.

[gus1942]

Cold water shaving is for sure an acquired taste, but I'm all for anyone giving it a try, because it just might work out great for you.

For me however it didn't. I tried it several times to give it a good shot, and the shot turned out to be a dud. So now I know, and if it works for anyone else, great.

I think of it as an acquired alternative technique based on sound physiological principles. I'm all in.

Gus

[gus1942]

If I join the cult do I get a comfy robe and special sneakers? I have tried it. After reading all the raves on here about cold water shaving, I gave it a go on April 1st and have not looked back. I've been getting the closest most comfortable shaves of my life. I highly recomend giving it a try. All hail the Hypnotoad!

If you use Arko and cold water; that is a cult. So, I' a cold water Arkolyte. I also smell like old people, Irish Moos!

[00Seven]

"But why does it work?"

Simple biology and physics. When things are warm, they expand. When things are cold, they contract. If you cool off your skin you constrict the blood vessels and capillaries, thus reducing the blood flow. Less fluid under the skin causes the skin to pull back a little bit and the skin to tighten some what exposing the hair more and causing it stand up. Think of being outside on a cold day and the hair on your arm raises up. It makes the whiskers a bit more stiff which may reduce blade longevity (though I have read some theories that it makes it last longer). If you were to knick yourself it wouldn't bleed as much because there isn't as much blood there to begin with. A few minutes after your shave, once your skin has warmed back up, you will notice that you have been blessed with a truly remarkable shave.

I can understand many people enjoy warm lather and warm shaving. Every once in a while I will do the same. I also understand that many people have tried it and don't like it, or "If it ain't broke, don't fix it". Cold shaving has been something that has worked well for me and many others. The purpose of this post is to give someone else something to think about and try, especially if someone is having some of the issues listed above. It may be a technique no one has ever thought about trying. As always YMMV.

[pipskicks]

I use the alum with cold water, at every other point it's just too uncomfortable for me.

[YetiDave]

You want man points? Try shaving with nothing but a straight razor and a sink full of cold water ;)

I can't use hot water anymore, I get considerably more comfortable shaves using icey cold water (and usually combine this with proraso and a menthol AS)