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The biggest "ah-ha" I've ever...

Jonathan Davis's picture

The biggest "ah-ha" I've ever...

The biggest “ah-ha” I’ve ever had in regards to shaving I must credit the movie “Good Morning Vietnam” for…no really, I’m serious. At some point during the movie there is an annoucement that comes over the radio in the background reminding soldiers to shave with cold water for less irritation. As skeptical as I was, I decided to try it, and have shaven with cold water every time since.

The hot water of the shower is great for softening up the hair, but you don’t really want your pores gaping open when you go to actually shave. I put cold water on my face before the shaving cream/gel and also rinse my blade in cold water. The cool water settles any irritation right down, and I rarely have issues with irritation after shaving is complete.

Shaving tips, or, 'how I remain Gillette’s bitch' By: Merlin Mann (126 replies) June 7, 2006 - 3:31am
  • My first 43folders response. A... By: Blair Christopher (2006-06-07 07:16)
  • "Neckal" was a nice touch. All... By: mkb (2006-06-07 07:18)
  • "I recently moved... By: Michael Randall (2006-06-07 07:10)
  • Personally, i'm a scruff. For... By: Andrew Williams (2006-06-07 03:42)
  • I agree on just about... By: brian warren (2006-06-07 04:01)
  • Safety razors are wonderful -... By: Vish Vishvanath (2006-06-07 04:11)
  • Do yourself a favor and... By: Dave C. (2006-06-07 04:19)
  • All the shaving tips, etc.,... By: LyndonK (2006-06-07 04:20)
  • I saw the Shaveblog site... By: Davy McDonald (2006-06-07 04:23)
  • Get a fog free mirror... By: Randy Sailer (2006-06-07 04:24)
  • I too am a scruff.... By: Yorrike (2006-06-07 04:26)
  • The biggest "ah-ha" I've ever... By: Jonathan Davis (2006-06-07 04:27)
  • Trumpers and Taylor and both... By: Vish Vishvanath (2006-06-07 04:28)
  • Great tips! I really do believe... By: Peter Kirn (2006-06-07 04:33)
  • I thought the hip lifehacking... By: Dan Dickinson (2006-06-07 04:34)
  • Not being a human equipped... By: Alison R. (2006-06-07 04:43)
  • I have the most jacked... By: Doug (2006-06-07 04:44)
  • Try putting a little baby... By: brian warren (2006-06-07 04:45)
  • 'Neckal' has got to be... By: NickS (2006-06-07 04:52)
  • I've recently discovered the products... By: Crosby (2006-06-07 05:01)
  • I too was a Gilletteer... By: inkling (2006-06-07 05:09)
  • My routine: Shave in the shower.... By: Kevan (2006-06-07 05:10)
  • For the truly lazy among... By: Joel (2006-06-07 05:17)
  • This is the perfect opportunity... By: J.D. Roth (2006-06-07 05:19)
  • I use a pre-shave oil... By: King of BigWheels (2006-06-07 05:29)
  • Several years ago I read... By: DaveB (2006-06-07 05:46)
  • I used to be into... By: Troy F. (2006-06-07 05:48)
  • Cecil Adams' The Straight Dope... By: Dave L. (2006-06-07 05:56)
  • [...] The Mann knows shaving.... By: Nitin Badjatia » Blog Archive » Shaving tips fro (2006-06-07 06:13)
  • [...] The Mann knows shaving.... By: Nitin Badjatia » Blog Archive » Shaving tips fro (2006-06-07 06:13)
  • My sweetie just uses regular... By: tiffany (2006-06-07 06:16)
  • I stole the method of... By: Jacob (2006-06-07 06:31)
  • I used a brush for... By: Clare Zempel (2006-06-07 06:32)
  • I also use a safety... By: bh (2006-06-07 06:39)
  • Here, here, Merlin. There... By: Jason J. Thomas (2006-06-07 06:47)
  • Ok, the secret to saving... By: Steve (2006-06-07 06:48)
  • Give up. Shave with an electric... By: Chris Eaton (2006-06-07 06:51)
  • I use Geo Trumper (... By: Dinesh (2006-06-07 06:53)
  • I agree with Randy Sailer... By: Josh (2006-06-07 06:53)
  • As previous commenters have suggested,... By: Drew (2006-06-07 07:24)
  • I have to say that... By: Jeff (2006-06-07 07:30)
  • Showering & shaving is not... By: Chris (2006-06-07 07:31)
  • Yes on the brush. Yes... By: blurb (2006-06-07 07:51)
  • I'm surprised to see you... By: Greg (2006-06-07 07:59)
  • Can you better explain the... By: Rob (2006-06-07 08:17)
  • I like the M3Power vibrating... By: Nathan Williams (2006-06-07 08:20)
  • Tip from a girl: Don't... By: freecia (2006-06-07 08:23)
  • I am sticking with my... By: Chris (2006-06-07 08:25)
  • I'm a big fan of... By: Frank (2006-06-07 08:54)
  • Like many here, I was... By: Alo (2006-06-07 09:04)
  • What's next? Flossing? Shaving... okay... shaving.... By: TommyW (2006-06-07 09:06)
  • Agreed with everything except the... By: Paul (2006-06-07 09:42)
  • When I was over in... By: Tyson (2006-06-07 09:48)
  • You don't need $20 shaving... By: Robert D. (2006-06-07 09:49)
  • Ever since I gave up... By: tony (2006-06-07 10:09)
  • I absolutely swear by a... By: Wayne (2006-06-07 10:54)
  • Electric razor M-F, let it... By: quyen (2006-06-07 11:36)
  • Nice article! After reading... By: Andreas (2006-06-07 12:31)
  • Ay-yo, trip: I'll admit to... By: t2 (2006-06-07 12:49)
  • [...] For the past 6... By: Jack Baty Says… » Blog Archive » Shaving (2006-06-07 13:34)
  • Ah yes... I had so... By: Cletus Waldman (2006-06-07 13:43)
  • "Safety razor" isn't a misnomer... By: rich (2006-06-07 14:21)
  • I went with a badger... By: Will J (2006-06-07 14:22)
  • Fair enough, safety razor fans.... By: Merlin Mann (2006-06-07 14:30)
  • [...] Shaving tips, or, “how... By: Nerd. and so much more! (2006-06-07 15:19)
  • I only shave with sorbolene... By: Brent (2006-06-07 15:20)
  • Brush, mug, safety razor: you... By: jeff (2006-06-07 15:38)
  • Aveda Mens Shaving Goo and... By: Jason D- (2006-06-07 15:39)
  • Although my husband resisted, he... By: Kim (2006-06-07 16:57)
  • As odd as it sounds,... By: adam brown (2006-06-07 18:35)
  • try 'prince' from lush. it's... By: jennifer (2006-06-07 18:53)
  • Max III , nothing compares... By: Ivan Minic (2006-06-07 21:48)
  • In the course of a... By: Per Dalum (2006-06-07 23:42)
  • I read this thread yesterday... By: Karl G. Siewert (2006-06-08 01:07)
  • Merlin, get thee down to... By: Zak (2006-06-08 01:41)
  • I use no brush, no... By: David I (2006-06-08 01:50)
  • Foam, shmoam. No gel or... By: Scott (2006-06-08 02:11)
  • A short plea for help:... By: Sammy (2006-06-08 02:49)
  • I found that shaving while... By: Billy Smith (2006-06-08 02:56)
  • I'm a big fan of... By: Tim Marman (2006-06-08 04:04)
  • Definitely electric. I shave with... By: Jesse Skinner (2006-06-08 04:09)
  • I've been using the a|MEN|ity... By: JB (2006-06-08 04:11)
  • Put the Gillette down and... By: EL (2006-06-08 04:36)
  • I swear by the Art... By: Rob H (2006-06-08 04:39)
  • Perhaps "bleeding-edge" isn't the appropriate... By: Rob (2006-06-08 04:50)
  • I absolutely hated shaving until... By: MGreen (2006-06-08 05:06)
  • The single biggest improvement in... By: Tim Pierce (2006-06-08 05:16)
  • I agree that Gillette's Mach3... By: Ed (2006-06-08 05:50)
  • I also have to shave... By: Lee (2006-06-08 06:40)
  • I hated shaving until my... By: Luke Melia (2006-06-08 06:56)
  • I agree totally. I'm a... By: Al (2006-06-08 07:00)
  • I used Barbasol shaving cream... By: Brian Lee (2006-06-08 07:49)
  • product I swear by (to... By: Marian Lore (2006-06-08 07:51)
  • Some time ago I read... By: Evan Gaffney (2006-06-08 08:04)
  • Does a safety razor really... By: Rob (2006-06-08 08:14)
  • For the love of God,... By: Dean (2006-06-08 09:23)
  • Surprised no one else has... By: Tim Merritt (2006-06-08 09:26)
  • [...] Kind of a cute... By: Steve Krause’s Unofficial Blog » Blog Archive &r (2006-06-08 09:56)
  • Rob - I tried that TendSkin... By: inkling (2006-06-08 09:59)
  • love the tips... maybe I'll... By: cibbuano (2006-06-08 12:29)
  • I am currently using Taylor's... By: Bill Morocco (2006-06-08 12:54)
  • So do you have to... By: Matt (2006-06-08 14:35)
  • I have the worst beard... By: cerebrocrat (2006-06-08 16:19)
  • I've been a brush man... By: Randy (2006-06-08 18:08)
  • Shaving oil is definitely the... By: Aloys (2006-06-08 20:56)
  • I noticed a lot of... By: Avidan (2006-06-08 20:56)
  • After a lifetime of cuts... By: federico (2006-06-08 21:24)
  • [...] How to shave (see... By: Get Rich Slowly » Twenty Things Everyone Needs to Know (2006-06-09 02:36)
  • I can only agree with... By: Nicolas (2006-06-09 04:20)
  • Ultra Shave http://www.moderngent.com/site/ultra.php you apply.. By: Liam (2006-06-09 12:18)
  • I just use an electric... By: Mike (2006-06-10 05:04)
  • I started with Pacific Shaving... By: Steve Frank (2006-06-10 05:57)
  • I used to be a... By: Kernel Santos (2006-06-10 09:41)
  • I don't know about you... By: Braidwood (2006-06-10 11:58)
  • Ok, I had a quick... By: charlie (2006-06-10 15:10)
  • [...] There is so much... By: The Law Thoughts » Shaving Tips (2006-06-10 17:50)
  • How Much Can I Write... By: Out of the Mist (2006-06-11 06:45)
  • I tried the advice above... By: Paul (2006-06-11 07:12)
  • [...] Thanks to Merlin Mann’s... By: Dirty French Novel / I may have figured out my ideal Father& (2006-06-11 07:40)
  • I learned to shave first... By: Jeffrey L. Taylor (2006-06-11 20:57)
  • [...] Shaving Tips from 43... By: links for 2006-06-09 at Bjtitus.net (2006-06-12 06:59)
  • I find that it's often... By: Jon Hendry (2006-06-12 08:05)
  • Initially I really liked the... By: Ryan (2006-06-13 08:48)
  • Just seconding or thirding the... By: Evan (2006-06-14 06:36)
  • Merlin it appears that you've... By: Jes (2006-06-15 02:13)
  • Thanks for the tips. I... By: Joel Maners (2006-06-15 08:02)
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