Cold or hot water?

I prefer hot water and take a shower before shaving. However, I will use either if I don't shower beforehand. I was told by someone, when I was suffering from razor burn, that shaving with cold water may help reduce it, so I that's why I started using the cold. I believe that the hot/warm water is supposed to soften the hairs slightly, making it easier to cut. For me, improving my technique and tools (soaps, blades, etc.) was the big difference in my razor burn going away. I say use what works best for you. If you receive nicks more with warm water, use cold. In the end, it's about using what gives you the best and most enjoyable shave.

While shaving prefer Hot Water keep razor and blade warm, after shave Cold Close the Pores.

Alan H

Pores do not "open" nor "close". That is myth. 

https://www.skincare.com/article/do-pore...warm-water

Wow, that's interesting.

"While warm water will not actually open up your pores, it can help clean out the gunk, grime and sebum that has accumulated inside. “

That word caught my eye, as I think it is the name of a soap or soap brand?

Sebum: an oily secretion of the sebaceous glands

So if Sebum is a secretion that clogs pores, is it something good for us? I'm not smart enough to know or answer that. It just struck me as weird.

Thanks for the cool article BPman ! Definitely useful info.

I prefer hot water and take a shower before shaving. However, I will use either if I don't shower beforehand. I was told by someone, when I was suffering from razor burn, that shaving with cold water may help reduce it, so I that's why I started using the cold. I believe that the hot/warm water is supposed to soften the hairs slightly, making it easier to cut. For me, improving my technique and tools (soaps, blades, etc.) was the big difference in my razor burn going away. I say use what works best for you. If you receive nicks more with warm water, use cold. In the end, it's about using what gives you the best and most enjoyable shave.

Cold water softens hairs just fine, just not as quickly as warmer water. Very hot water for many will have a deleterious effect on skin which is why warm but not hot water works for most.

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Ice water doesn't feel luxurious but I think it does well keeping the irritation in check. On the other end, when I first started, I was use really really hot water and that was over board. I know go for warm water which to me is about 90-100F. The reason I specify a number is that is an appropriate temperature for soaking my badger brush. I don't go for anything hotter on the knots.

Hot water for me.  The steam really enhances the scent of the soap.

I go for a sink of cool to warm for rinsing the razor.
 Cold from the tap after the shave, for a good rinse.

Ten years ago I began shaving cold based on a thread on the old Straight Razor Place in which a guy named 'Lucky Cynic' posted this PDF booklet published in 1905. On page 50-51 the author explains how the whisker is more easily sheared off by the sharp blade when it is stiff, and not softened by hot water.

https://ia800206.us.archive.org/22/items...0020th.pdf

So I shaved cold for a lot of years but eventually returned to traditional hot water prep, shave, and cold water rinse. I haven't tried a cold water shave in quite a few years, but this thread has stimulated me to give it another try.

Ten years ago I began shaving cold based on a thread on the old Straight Razor Place in which a guy named 'Lucky Cynic' posted this PDF booklet published in 1905. On page 50-51 the author explains how the whisker is more easily sheared off by the sharp blade when it is stiff, and not softened by hot water.

https://ia800206.us.archive.org/22/items...0020th.pdf

So I shaved cold for a lot of years but eventually returned to traditional hot water prep, shave, and cold water rinse. I haven't tried a cold water shave in quite a few years, but this thread has stimulated me to give it another try.

That's  nice to get a glimpse into that old book. 
Kind of different theories, like these days, it seems.
Edit: Wow, this wasn't showing it was uploaded, but it did several times.

Just an update, since posting in this thread previously, on June 5, I've shaved with cold water exclusively. Years ago cold water was my go to but only with straights. 

That's all I shaved with for many years. Now I'm back to the cold water with my DEs and liking it very much. 

For those who like the ritual of prep and lathering, the feel of hot water, they might not find it worth the loss of that feeling, but the time saved, and the efficiency with which the blade cuts through the stiffer whiskers is worth it to me.

I missed the hot water at first, but there is a nice feeling to cold water as well. Kind of refreshing, and it delivers the goods as far as the resulting shave is concerned.

YMMV 

Cold water while shaving and warm shower post shave has been the best combination for me.