Soap in the mug???

Alright, so I think I may have made a major error here. When I watched Lynns video and he starts shaving, he says that he is using a cake soap and a mug. I purchased a Col. Conk mug and a 3 3/4 oz cake of almond soap together online. I assumed I should put the soap in the bottom of the mug, add water to my brush, and work the brush in the mug that has the soap on the bottom of it. So I have basically made my lather in the mug, the soap being on the bottom the entire time. Is this a mistake on my part?
I watched the youtube video where the soap mug is used only to load the brush with and then the lather is made in a bowl. On Lynns DVD, he makes the lather right in the mug and I assumed the soap was on the bottom of the mug. Bottom line, I want to make a warm lather in a mug and I am confused.

The way you make lather is a choice that you decide and you will try different ways and find out how you like to do it. I like to charge the brush with soap then use a lather bowl. Some like to charge the brush and then lather directly on the face. I like to keep my lather warm with a Daisy Cup Warmer.
bj

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Originally Posted by adaboy078

Alright, so I think I may have made a major error here. When I watched Lynns video and he starts shaving, he says that he is using a cake soap and a mug. I purchased a Col. Conk mug and a 3 3/4 oz cake of almond soap together online. I assumed I should put the soap in the bottom of the mug, add water to my brush, and work the brush in the mug that has the soap on the bottom of it. So I have basically made my lather in the mug, the soap being on the bottom the entire time. Is this a mistake on my part?
I watched the youtube video where the soap mug is used only to load the brush with and then the lather is made in a bowl. On Lynns DVD, he makes the lather right in the mug and I assumed the soap was on the bottom of the mug. Bottom line, I want to make a warm lather in a mug and I am confused.

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The way you have done it is perfectly fine, and is the way all the old timers used to make a lather. I still keep my number one soap in a wooden shaving bowl and use it much this way. The rest of my soaps are in Tupperware containers that I treat just like the mug.

If you want warm lather you need some type of scuttle or contraption to provide heat. You would lather in your mug just as you are doing now then transfer the loaded brush and lather to the warming mug while you shave. The reason Lynn's video confused you on this point is because he uses a cream, if I'm not mistaken. With a cream I put some on my brush then whip it to a lather right in my warming bowl.

The neatest thing about a mug of soap like you have is the nostalgic aura it has while sitting next to your brush by the sink. Before I got into the Straight razor thing and premium soaps/creams I kept a mug of Williams and my razor by the sink as my daily shaving equipment for fifteen years. Now I have over a dozen soaps so they no longer fit :rolleyes:

For me it is a matter of the fact that I only have one lather bowl and about a dozen soaps. So I keep them in Anchor glass bowls (walmart cheap) under the sink and load the brush in them and lather in the bowl. This is one of the things that really is do what feels right to you.

Chief

Since I live on a boat, I don't really see giving up the space for a dedicated mug. I usually get a light soap (not lather) on the brush and then work it into a lather on my face. For me, it helps work the soap into my face while the lather builds. I occasionally will use a Tupperware container for making lather, but I don't like how it gets cold so fast.

I use Taylor cream on my brush and am looking for a bowl to lather it up in. Any suggestions on where I can find one cheap?

I got mine in an Antique Shop for $5.

bj

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Originally Posted by Eleventh

I use Taylor cream on my brush and am looking for a bowl to lather it up in. Any suggestions on where I can find one cheap?

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Some swear by the sundae bowl from Walmart (I think it's Anchor as well?). Looked really useful to me, but couldn't find it in Canada (or at my specific Walmart anyhow).

Really, any open bowl or mug would work as long as it's not too deep or too narrow.

Mark

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Originally Posted by Eleventh

I use Taylor cream on my brush and am looking for a bowl to lather it up in. Any suggestions on where I can find one cheap?

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Try looking at rice bowls at your local Target or Walmart, these are deep enough while being narrow enough to seem perfect to me.

Chief

I usually make my lather in an Old Spice mug, right on top of a cake. I keep the mug in the sink, surrounded by hot water, to keep it warm.

For a bowl you should go to Colleen website www.thegentlemensquarter.com. She has some hand laved wooden bowls they are priced about 6 or 7 dollars and she has some good soaps. And she is very attentive to her customers.