Should You Shave With Cold Water?

Noticing a growing trend toward cold-water shaving, as well as claims of its many benefits to skin health and the shaving process in general, I decided to try it out.

The result was a pleasant surprise.

How I Discovered Cold-Water Shaving

About a year ago, I began taking cold showers. The trouble was, my soap wouldn’t lather. So I searched the internet for a solution, which led me to stumble upon a couple of forum boards discussing the idea of cold-water shaving.

I learned that shaving soap lathers well in cooler temperatures and that there are men out there who shave cold every day, enjoying great benefits.

Like many of us, I’d grown up to believe that hot water is unnegotiable when it comes to a smoother, closer, and more comfortable shave. A belief I’d never questioned.

But how had men shaved during times when hot water wasn’t so readily available? Especially the average working man. He surely couldn’t afford a visit to the barber every day.

And there was the story of an army exercise where my father had had to clean his teeth, wash, and shave with a single mug of cold water. So it wasn’t a completely unheard of concept, even if only for emergencies.

Eventually, I stopped pondering and decided to put it to the test.

My Shaving Utensils

Cold-water shaving is something most men can try at any time. After all, we have all we need right there in our bathrooms.

In case you’d like to compare results, this is what I use to shave:

A Gillette safety razor
A synthetic shaving brush by Kent
An Arko shaving soap stick

How I Shave

The way I shave is a little different from that which is usually recommended, but it works for me.

I wet the brush and my face with cold water, apply the soap directly to my beard, then lather up.
First I shave my cheeks with the grain, then my neck against the grain, and lastly my chin with the grain. I’ve shaved my mustache only once or twice since my teens.
I rinse with cold water and feel for remaining stubble, which I shave against the grain.

I always shave before showering. This way, I can be sure that my face is properly rinsed and completely free of shaving soap.

My First Cold-Water Shave

I approached my first cold-water shave with some trepidation. It was as though I expected it to harm me in some way.

To begin, I changed the razor blade.

Splashing cold water on my face was no shock, since I was already used to cold showers. But I didn’t expect such a rich lather. It was stiffer than anything I’d worked up before.

My beard grows fast, so my stubble was pretty substantial. I expected a lot of tugging and possible pain.

On the contrary, it was as smooth as any warm shave.

Rinsing off the lather, my skin felt incredibly smooth, almost as though I’d been to a barber.

Shaving cream and brush on a brown towel — I didn’t expect cold water to give such a rich lather.

Benefits of Cold-Water Shaving

I haven’t yet had a bad cold-water shave. Results are always immaculate.

Below are the benefits I’ve observed, most of which I’ve accounted for.

Closer Shave

Firstly, as already mentioned, I get a closer shave.

It’s because cooler temperatures contract the skin, which causes hairs to stand on end. This allows the razor to cut further down the shaft.

As a result, my skin is perfectly smooth after just one pass. And not having to run over it again obviously saves time, which is another benefit.

Because the shave is so close, I remain smooth for much longer. I therefore don’t need a second shave later in the day if I’m going out in the evening.

Another instant effect of skin contraction is a tighter and more refreshed appearance, which is useful for those who are prone to swelling and puffiness in the morning.

Healthier-Looking Complexion

When cold, the body works to retain its core temperature by increasing circulation. During this process, our blood vessels constrict, which causes the blood to flow more forcefully, thus delivering oxygen and nutrients to cells more efficiently.

This is why the skin appears red after exposure to the cold, which is obviously temporary. But I’ve noticed that my facial skin seems generally firmer and more toned since showering and shaving with cold water. The pores also appear smaller.

Healthier-Looking Beard

Since cold shaving, I notice that my mustache seems thicker and more luxuriant.

This is because cold water closes the hair cuticle to lock in moisture, giving a smoother appearance. Conversely, hot water opens the cuticle and strips the hair of its natural oils.

Fewer Irritations

The minor irritations I experienced when shaving with warm water have disappeared.

I’ve never had ingrown hairs or razor burn, anyway, in spite of shaving my neck against the grain. Most of my problems occurred on the chin, where the hair is at its toughest. But not since shaving cold.

I occasionally experienced redness at the cheeks. But because I’m now passing the blade only once over my beard and no longer have to shave twice a day, this irritation has also ceased.

The anti-inflammatory effect of cold water could be a further contributory factor.

Men with sensitive or acne-prone skin should certainly look into this.

No More Dry Patches

I shave up to the area just below the eye sockets. And this is exactly where I experienced tightness and flaky skin, especially since reaching middle age.

I spent a number of years experimenting with shaving oils and moisturizer, but to no avail. I would actually use warm water to open the pores in order to drive moisture deeper into the skin.

But, as it turns out, it is physically impossible for pores to open and close. The only thing warm water can do in this respect is mobilize sebum. Depending on skin condition, this can be viewed in one of two ways: it cleanses the pores if you suffer from acne, but strips the skin of its natural oils if you tend to dryness.

I think this is the basis of the entire warm shave theory: mobilizing sebum adds lubrication, which helps to soften the hair. But does it make a substantial difference? Not according to my experience.

It would seem that it’s not even a good idea to soften hair before shaving. This only causes it to bend more easily, resulting in the razor gliding over rather than through it. Maybe this is why warm shavers need more than one pass to achieve thorough results.

Reduced Bleeding

If ever I cut myself, it’s on the chin.

But what I’ve noticed since cold-water shaving is that the bleeding is of shorter duration.

Again, it’s down to the cooler temperature causing the blood vessels to constrict, thus enabling faster clotting, which stops the bleeding.

For me, it means no longer having to leave the house in the morning with a bit of blood-stained loo paper attached to my face.

Sharper Blades

Personally, I can’t imagine hot water causing a blade to dull; yes, I know that heat causes metal to expand, but surely 140 degrees Fahrenheit (60 degrees Celsius) isn’t going to have any tangible effect on a steel razor blade?

Nevertheless, I’ve noticed that my blades seem to last longer since shaving with cold water.

I only use safety blades, which are cheap. But for those purchasing expensive cartridges, it could save money.

A box of double-sided razor blades, which may last longer through cold shaving — I’ve noticed that my blades seem to last longer since shaving with cold water.

Conclusion

If the hot water in my bathroom were to be shut off for good, I wouldn’t particularly miss it. But I would never put comfort and enjoyment before well-being, anyway.

And as far as I can see, these are the only benefits warm-water shaving has to offer.