I posted this over on the S of D thread but thought I might get some more feedback here. I am really interested in this technique

10.06.2012 - EXPERIMENTAL THURSDAY

MODIFIED COLD WATER SHAVE

Prep: Hot shower/Jojoba Oil
Razor: 1940's Gillette Tech
Blade: Drugstore Personna USA
Brush: Body Shop Synthetic
Cream: KMF Cool Mint
Post: Ice water rinse. Homemade splash and balm

Prior to showering, I filled my bowl with ICE water along with the brush. After the shower I splashed my face with ICE water. Lathered with ICE water. I rinsed razor and splashed face with ICE water between passes.

Observations: The lather seemed more dense and I used a bit more cream than usual. The audible slicing of the hair is MUCH more noticeable. I had zero additional pulling or tugging. My razor and blade showed less soap residue. The overall shave was neither better or worse than my normal routine. I sometimes have delayed onset irritation so I will need to revisit this post later tonight regarding that facet.

Opinions: The ICE water could initially lead to less visible irritation because of less surface blood flow. I say initially because I THINK once the superficial blood flow returns to normal your mistakes will show. I could see "Mentha-holics" really loving the ICE water splashes. I THINK the denseness of lather is simply a result of the relationship between temperature and volume. MAYBE a thin lathering soap could benefit from the ICE technique.

Edits: I would put my post shave items in the ICE prior to showering. I would also leave my lathering bowl in an ICE bath while shaving.

Future: I think I will go this route again soon. Maybe even brave an absence of the hot shower...maybe. I could definitely see myself incorporating the cold water splashes between passes into my summer routine.

Interesting! I'm not game enough to try this while it's still cold but when the scorching summer days come in I'll give this a go. Heard too many positive reports to resist.

I've been cold water shaving for two years now, and will never use hot water again. It works too well for me and it's much simpler and quicker. Make lather with cold water, a few plashes of cold water and then let the lather set on my face for a couple minutes and then shave away.

You said you used a Tech. I see that.
You said you used KMF cream. I see that.
I see many of the other things you claim to have used. I believe you used them.
However, as there is no ice in the picture, I find it difficult to believe you used ice!

I've schedule a Cold Water Shave Week in our theme weeks. I'm definitely going to give it a go.

Haha! Good call for sure!

As I've posted elsewhere in this forum, I like to experiment, looking for a yet better way to skin a cat, or, in this case, make a smooth face from a scruffy one... I live on CA north coast, within pistol-shot distance of the Pacific Ocean, so it's pretty much always cold here, and in my house, even in summer. So, these in mind, I read with interest this "cold shaving" thread, and remembering my military days where cold water shaving was common (but in warmer climates...), decided to give it a go...

I did my usual prep, just in the cryogenic mode--I stood at the mirror, fighting off a chill and a shiver, and took a Derby Extra, mounted in my late-40's gold Tech, and went at it... Jury's back; not much for comfort while shaving, (FMAO...) but sure can't argue with the results--very satisfying shave, no irritation. I'll try it some more, maybe post-hot shower...

I've been using cold water lately. I can recall shaving using the mirror of a humvee or behind a Hesco barrier. I have better results with cold water and have a better time lathering. I don't use ice cold water, it's probably a step below luke warm. Now in the field, the only water we had was water in a cooler, but in the middle of summer the cold went away fast.

Now shaving in the dark... That's another story.

Cold Water Shave Theme Week schedule for the heat of July!
With credit to I Call It Maize for the idea with this thread.

Hot water is something we take for granted nowadays. Most of us in the developed world just turn on the faucet and there it is. I know this isn't until July, but I'm getting a head start.

I'm thinking that shaving in the dark is akin to "shaving by Braille" in the shower--fine with cart razors; a bit more risky with anything in my DE arsenal. I've survived it, but it's a bit unnerving. Besides, it pours a heck of a lot of hot water down the drain...

Oh yeah I can survive, but my shave won't look good and I always miss whiskers. But then again, being in the field is different than being in the garrison around a CSM looking for something wrong.

If CSMs spent half the energy looking for what's right as they did looking for what's wrong, they'd probably be much happier people... They probably shave with electrics, anyway...

I probably won't stay in. Actually, I will as long as I can have my DE razor (joking, I'll get out because of other reasons.) My old CSM was a douche rocket.

Okay, Ryan, being a newfer here, somehow I missed the fact that you are still on active duty?

I'm national guard. I was overseas for a year.