Should You Shave With Cold Or Hot Water? [No More BS]

Do you shave your face often and you wanna know the best way to do it? Hot or cold water?

I have been shaving for years before I actually quit my military job. You know, in many countries wearing a beard is not allowed in the military and my country is one of them.

Having said that, everyday shaving is a challenging thing to do. There are beard trimmers that can cut close enough that create the illusion of a clean-shaven man but if you have a really thick beard that grows quickly, this ain’t gonna help you.

If using a trimmer works for you, then your problem is solved. You don’t have to use razors with hot or cold water anymore.

However, if you still wanna use your razors, go against the grain and be completely clean-shaven, in this article, we will discuss how you can do it right and avoid harming your face.

Without further ado, let’s get into it!

Shaving With Hot Water Pros And Cons

hot water shaving

Most men shave with hot water. That’s the reality.

In fact, this was exactly what my father taught me to do when I was back in adolescence!

I had been shaving only with hot water for years.

Why?

Benefits of Shaving With Hot Water

  • Hot water opens up the pores
  • Hot water also smoothens your facial hair
  • Hot water feels amazing on our faces in winter
  • Enjoyable and convenient process

When it comes to shaving, opening up the pores is really significant. In theory, this makes the whole process smoother, easier, and faster. You really want this whole process to be quick and smooth because shaving is not a one-time thing. It is a constant headache. Every single day, your beard grows and if you wanna be clean-shaven, you have to shave.

Moving on, hot water smoothens facial hair. Some men, especially those of you that do not use beard oil, may have really rough facial hair. Smoother facial hair can be useful for some of you, allowing the razor to cut more deeply faster.

The last benefit of hot water shaving is obvious. The experience of shaving with hot water is by far better than shaving with cold water, especially in winter. The process is more fun. Sometimes you can’t wait to throw some hot water on your face to warm it up a little bit.

Now, let’s discuss some drawbacks of hot water shaving.

Read Also: Why Do Razors Pull Hair?

Cons Of Hot Water Shaving

  • With hot water, your skin relaxes too much and may even wrinkle.
  • Hot water is not always available.
  • Hot water requires you to pay more money.
  • Hot water requires you to wait for it.
  • If you have a bump, hot water makes it tough for blood to stop running.

As you may observe, surprisingly there are quite a few drawbacks to shaving with hot water.

Have you ever touched your face when you were out in winter? Isn’t it extremely tight? Hot water makes your skin relax too much, and this increases the chances of you cutting yourself. You always want the razor to glide comfortably across your face.

The next thing with hot water shaving is that it is not always available. Imagine being outside, let’s say you do camping or whatever. Where are you supposed to find hot water to shave? And even if you find hot water, will you waste it shaving or let’s say taking a shower?

Shaving with hot water costs more. For many of you, this may be insignificant, but there are millions of men out there that calculate every penny because it is important for them and their families to budget as much as they can. Hot water needs money, especially in winter.

Another big one. Haven’t you ever heard time is money? Nowadays, we are all very busy! Guess what. I am not waiting for hot water and waste 2-15 minutes of my day (depending on how you warm it) or have to wake up earlier.

Last but not least, as we have previously discussed, hot water relaxes your skin, making it more difficult for a razor to shave without cutting you. If you have a razor bump, hot water makes it extremely tough for bleeding to stop. Throw some cold water or ice on the area that bleeds and it will make the blood stop almost immediately.

Now that we have talked about hot water shaving let’s discuss cold water shaving.

Cold Water Shaving Pros And Cons

cold water shaving

Benefits Of Cold Water Shaving

Shaving with cold water will benefit you by:

  • Pulling the skin tight.
  • Causing your hair to stand straight out
  • Providing a deeper shaving
  • Causing less irritation
  • Moisturizes your face better
  • Wakes you up in the morning, making you feel more energetic

When it was the first time I shaved without hot water, I was very pessimistic and unhappy. I was very certain that the best way to shave is with hot water.

But, you know, sometimes you have to do it fast and you do it anyway.

Then, I realized all those benefits.

The first benefit of cold water shaving is that cold water makes you skin tighter and allows the razor to glide easier across your face. This is very crucial. It saves you time and you avoid many bumps.

Secondly, when we wash our face with cold water, our hair stands straight out and bends less. This allows the razor to cut deeper and more evenly.

Read Also: Can You Shave Just With Water And No Foam?

Another surprising finding was that cold water shaving causes less irritation. I could never see this one coming, to be honest. But after having shaved my face thousands of times, I realized it’s true.

Moving on, cold water tends to moisturize our skin better than hot water. Hot water opens the pores, but the moisture goes away really fast.

Last but not least, cold water wakes you up! Especially, if you shave early in the morning as most men do, this will be very useful to you. Yes, when you first water splash your face, it is not pleasant. But, after 1-2 minutes you feel more rejuvenated.

Cold water shaving has many advantages, but like everything else in life, it also has its flaws.

Read Also: Can Shaving Increase Beard Growth?

Cons Of Cold Water Shaving

  • Unpleasant experience, especially in the winter.
  • Some men cannot tolerate it.

Obviously, cold water shaving is not fun! At least until you get used to it! But, trust me it is worth it!

Should I Use Hot Water After The Shaving?

Using hot water after the process is over is fine.

It is relaxing.

But, come on man!

You wanna feel strong and more energetic and awake in the morning! Throw some cold water, shave your face, wash it with cold water, dry it clean, apply after-shave lotion, and you are done! Then move on!

Go put on your clothes and style your hair. Start your day!

Conclusion – Should You Shave With Cold Or Hot Water?

Shaving with cold or hot water is definitely a matter of personal taste.

I had been shaving with hot water for years. I don’t regret anything.

I just found it better when I accidentally started shaving with cold water. I was feeling better and the process was smoother with less irritation and fewer bumps.

Read Also: Which Shaving Product Is The Best? Foam, Gel, Or Cream?

My advice is to try it a few times and form your own opinion.

With that being said, I don’t wanna tire you and I tried to make this article short and helpful.

If you have any questions or you just wanna share your thoughts, don’t hesitate to leave us a comment below and we will be more than happy to reply!

Until next time,

Stay safe,

Tasos

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