Please share the way you prep your beard for Straight Shaving. Be it hot Water Shaving, Or Cold Water Shaving.

Myself, to get the best shave possible, I take a hot shower to soften up the beard, then just before I lather, I use a hot moist towel on the beard. Between passes, I rinse my face with hot water.
I've skipped the shower soaking before, and its led to an uncomfortable shave.
I can't even cold water shave with a DE Razor.

After a hot shower, I only use cold water for my shaves. No rinsing between passes. Final cold water rinse is especially refreshing.
Now on those VERY cold mornings, I'll occasionally break out the scuttle and have warm lather—yet still used cold water in the basin however for rinsing.

Hot - same for all my shaves, DE, SE, and str8s

I converted to cold water several months ago and have never looked back. I agree that it can be refreshing and I don't have to deal with a fogged up mirror

Its probably all in my head but I feel like the blade cuts better when its ran under hot water. I soak my face with warm water, use pre-shave oil, lather, and shave with a hot razor. It works great!

But you'll eliminate intrafamily communications!

I use cold water no matter how I shave. It just seems to feel better to me. Every now and then, then I will break out the scuttle, especially when really cold outside.

I Use the Hottest Water I Can Stand to Soften My Whiskers..I Usually Stick My Face in the Sink for a Few Minutes Instead of Using a Towel..After My 1st Pass I Rinse with Cold Water & Shave with Cold Water thereon After..I Always Use a Hot Blade Mind..

Billy..

Hot, unless the power is out.

Cold for every razor for me.

That's something I never thought much about. To rinse, or not to rinse(between passes).

Hot water and hot lather. if I wanted a cold shave, I would use caned goo.

So you just relather over a dry face?

I switched to cold water when I picked up the str8 a little over a week ago. I do prep with hot water and use cold for the reminder of the shave. I took a little getting used to, but my thinking is; as unwieldy I am with a straight, I don't want the blood close to the surface of the skin

Oh no, it's always wet before a lather.

Oh my, remember "rinse" versus "re-moisten."

So in essence, as you are rewetting your face, you are rinsing off any remaining lather from the previous pass

. Semantics, says I!

Aye!

Stop.