Thread: is there a wrong way to lather

all right guys, I watched some videos and tried some different methods for lathering up. I think i get a pretty good lather whether on the palm, in a seperate bowl or even on my face, but my face doesn't really care for me lathering on it so much.

anyways, i have a sample size puck in a small ceramic ramekin, I have a larger ceramic bowl, and a coffee mug. what I do (mind you I think this was only my 5th shave, first with my new thistle cut I bought here, spike point...hmmmm....must be careful. got two small nicks on my beautiful face) is this:

(turned up hot water heat a bit too by the way)
fill coffee mug with hot water and soak brush
fill large bowl with hot water
set ramekin with soap in large bowl (drawback I see is the puck comes loose)
shake out brush and take ramekin out of bowl, lather right on top of the soap (makes a lot of lather fast) finish lathering on my face

in between lathering (I go with what I saw in one video for slow shavers where you do your face in sections to keep it hot and the lather fresh) I put the ramekin back in the bowl. this gives me warm lather when I reapply

I empty the bowl and coffee mug of water at the end and let the soap sit out and dry. are there any drawbacks to this method other than slightly faster soap consumption?

thanks gentlemen

Red

Sounds good....

I mean really, it ain't rocket science, there are several different ways to lather, that might produce better more comfortable results, but in all honesty the only real variable is the amount of water...

Bad lather = either to wet, or to dry..

Just so long as your using a good soap or cream you should get "LATHER"

Your procedure seems overblown to me.

Here is what I do:

When I buy the puck of shaving soap, it goes in the bottom of a coffee mug that fits. The following is only for hard puck shaving soaps like Williams, Col. Conk., etc.

When I shave:

1. I fill mug/puck combination with warm, not hot water.
2. I put the brush into the mug with the water.
3. Dump water out. Shake out the brush a little.
4. put brush in mug and swirl it around on top of the puck until lather forms.
5. Sploosh lather on face and brush it around to make a nice big white face.
6. Start shaving.
7. If lather gets thick, tip the brush under the hot water and return it to the mug, swirl and apply some more.

8. When done, rinse out brush, mug, leave soap puck in. Invert mug.
9. Stand brush on end or hang.
10. Clean and dry the razor. Put it away.
11. Set mug upright again.

Tomorrow it will be ready to go again.

Notes:

You want to invert the mug for a minute or so to drain out excess water, then you want to set it back upright so that it will get good air flow to dry out the soap. I do this and the soap lasts for weeks.

Hot water is unnecessary as it serves no purpose, and the water evaporates too quickly leaving the lather dry. Warm water feels nice and is comfortable, and the lather lasts longer. I have had some nice shaves with COLD water. It is bracing though.

Remember to re-lather areas you have just shaved if you plan to go back and do another pass.
If the razor seems to be making more noise as you shave, or if you experience irritation or the razor doesn't glide, try adding some more water by tipping the brush under the hot water faucet.

By the way, between step 3 and step 4, I also add a squirt of 100% Aloe Vera lotion to the mug. Makes real nice thick lather.

Absolutely, there's a wrong way to lather, and not only one. One of the most common ways to lather wrongly is to use the hard end of the brush - if you are doing that, stop immediately and start using the opposite end of it. You're welcome.

I disagree Gugi. I often use the hard end of the brush when lathering - I find it a convenient place to hold the brush as I lather.

James.

I like the idea Jimbo, but when I tried it, the brush kept slipping out of my hand. What to do?

Except for #8 - invert mug, I do the same procedure. Works great.

Oh, step 0 I guess, splash face a few times with hot water and rub into whiskers.

Tried the aloe vera a couple of times. Didn't seem to make a whole lot of difference to the shave but I did notice that it seemed to cause the razor to stain a little more so I didn't use it again.

Originally Posted by toolarts

Your procedure seems overblown to me.

Here is what I do:

When I buy the puck of shaving soap, it goes in the bottom of a coffee mug that fits. The following is only for hard puck shaving soaps like Williams, Col. Conk., etc.

When I shave:

1. I fill mug/puck combination with warm, not hot water.
2. I put the brush into the mug with the water.
3. Dump water out. Shake out the brush a little.
4. put brush in mug and swirl it around on top of the puck until lather forms.
5. Sploosh lather on face and brush it around to make a nice big white face.
6. Start shaving.
7. If lather gets thick, tip the brush under the hot water and return it to the mug, swirl and apply some more.

8. When done, rinse out brush, mug, leave soap puck in. Invert mug.
9. Stand brush on end or hang.
10. Clean and dry the razor. Put it away.
11. Set mug upright again.

Tomorrow it will be ready to go again.

Notes:

You want to invert the mug for a minute or so to drain out excess water, then you want to set it back upright so that it will get good air flow to dry out the soap. I do this and the soap lasts for weeks.

Hot water is unnecessary as it serves no purpose, and the water evaporates too quickly leaving the lather dry. Warm water feels nice and is comfortable, and the lather lasts longer. I have had some nice shaves with COLD water. It is bracing though.

Remember to re-lather areas you have just shaved if you plan to go back and do another pass.
If the razor seems to be making more noise as you shave, or if you experience irritation or the razor doesn't glide, try adding some more water by tipping the brush under the hot water faucet.

By the way, between step 3 and step 4, I also add a squirt of 100% Aloe Vera lotion to the mug. Makes real nice thick lather.