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Comment by MikeCapone | Hacker News Reader

Has anyone else been shaving without shaving cream?

It probably only works for the baby-faced ones like me, but so far I haven't noticed anything bad happening to my face from using just water.

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I swear by it. Haven't used shaving cream in probably 2-3 years and I have a very thick fast growing beard. I use a little lather from the soap bar while in the shower and rinse the blade in a cup of piping hot water between strokes. I find that the increased sensitivity on the skin prevents me from pushing to hard or performing too many repeat strokes (which is where I usually get my razor burn from).

I found the same thing starting in my late teens. I shave every other day, in the shower, without foam, gel or soap against the grain with a Bic disposable. Also, I find as long as I can clean the razor out from the back one blade lasts from 3 to 6 months (Gilette disposables don't work for this as they are closed in the back).

I may not be normal.

This is similar, except that I change razors more often.. Maybe if I had a good technique to clean the blades they'd last longer, though.

I used to do that all the time (until I grew a beard), but I would only do it after taking a shower. I found that shaving cream just got in the way.

I tried this once. I'm sure it kicks ass when it works, but when I was done, my face looked like something out of a Hellraiser movie. Never again!

i've been shaving in the shower without cream for several years now (enough to not remember when i started). always let the water get hot to make it glide easily, and change the blade when it gets too dull.

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