Thread: Hot Lather

I understand that it is important for preparation that the emulsified soap be hot when it's lathed onto the face; but after whipping out the excess water, stirring my brush against the shave soap until the lather is the recommended consistency, and finally bringing it to my face, the lather is warm at best (from hot water from tap). The only exception is when I boil water prior to shaving and use that, but I'm afraid water that hot is bad for my brush, and that's not convenient for shaving right after a shower anyway.

What's the best way to get a hot lather on the face?

Not having a scuttle, which is designed to keep the lather nice & warm, I whip mine up in a bowl & stand it in the bathroom basin filled with hot water. It doesn't have to be hot hot. The warmth just helps to soften the bristles a bit more. That's an option if you don't want the expense of a scuttle right now.

Originally Posted by chickenspider

I understand that it is important for preparation that the emulsified soap be hot when it's lathed onto the face; but after whipping out the excess water, stirring my brush against the shave soap until the lather is the recommended consistency, and finally bringing it to my face, the lather is warm at best (from hot water from tap). The only exception is when I boil water prior to shaving and use that, but I'm afraid water that hot is bad for my brush, and that's not convenient for shaving right after a shower anyway.

What's the best way to get a hot lather on the face?

No, hot is not bad for your brush (if you are using tap water). I run hot tap water on my brush in my lather bowl while I am stropping. Although the brush and lather are nice and warm on my skin I wouldn't characterize it as hot. If it were that hot it would dry on face too quickly anyway.

Everyone has their own methods for most everything involved with straight razor shaving. My particular method is to dump my soaking water from my shave soap into the lather bowl, flick the excess water off my brush, get the soap on my brush, then whip up the lather in my lather bowl. I put one coat of lather on my face, put a hot towel over the lather, then re-lather and off to the races with the razor. You will develop what works best for you.

one way i have found (again assuming you don't have a scuttle) is to boil some water, place your mug in a nice glass bowl and pour the boiling water in until the mug is just about to float. mix up your lather in that and it will stay hot for the whole shave. it even not a bad idea to let the mug sit in the boiling water for a bit before you mix up the lather (like while you are stropping) as the mug will hold some heat. it works great for me. try it out.

One thing that works for the first pass is to lather on
your face, gradually adding small amounts of hot water
to the brush.

- Scott

I'm not too sure if anyone actually gets "hot" lather...Warm for sure. My makeshift scuttle is basically my shaving bowl sitting inside a slightly larger stainless bowl. I fill about 1/2 inch of the hottest tap water in the stainless, then set my bowl inside it after making my lather and while stropping the razor. It makes for a really nice warm first pass lather. It sure beats cold lather, I started shaving with cold lather in the beginning and would never, ever go back. Try what works for you and enjoy! Jeremy-

I use a coffee cup warmer to keep my lather warm throughout my three passes. I have heard that a candle warmer works well also.

bj

Hello, first time post been lurking for a few months now, made an account about 2 month or so ago. been shaving about a 2 months now, 1 shave a week give or take a save or 3. well there's my introduction.

First started shaving with cheap wal-mart Mug soap and a $5 "pure bristle" (means boar hair) brush. Always shaved immediately after a shower. And used Hot-as-I-could-get from-the-tap tap water, got my brush wet and flipped out the excess water. filled sink with hot water, dipped the tip of the bristle of the brush. took a few tries to get the lather right but when i got it i would lather my whole face and be cold, and by time i got one cheek done the lather on the other side and my neck would be dry, I was also going slow and being careful since i had read that the "shavette" where very unforgiving, and these things are damn sharp, and I'm a newbie may have had something to do with it, and my lather may not have been true lather but close suds instead.
After a few shaves that way I got an electric tea kettle. I would let the water start to get bubbles on the sides and bottom, pour water onto soap in bowl and let it sit while i got every thing ready, i.e. got the DOVO "Shavette"(w/ long blade black insert, also my only razor at that point), get out a towel, wet brush(as above), etc.. I would then lather my whole face and it started out warm, I think by this point I had gotten down the making of lather. It did stay warmer longer but was cold by time i got about half way done with the second cheek, As well as started to dry.

Then one day while reading through the Wiki area I found Uberlather, read the page a few time and watched to video 3 or 4 times and made shopping list (and gave me and excuse to get more stuff ) and got what I needed plus a few extra goodies and 2 razors from an antique store.
First try at making Uberlather; read through the page a few more times and watched the video a few times. Took a hot shower, right out of the shower started the electric kettle and massaged in the pre-save oil. Stropped razor on linen, filled large mug with boiling water and put bowl into mug and put a baby spoon of shaving cream and a squirt of glycerin(got a empty plastic squirt bottle for hand lotion from the dollar store), adjusted water in mug, and poured a small amount of water into bowl with Col. Conk soap. Stropped razor on leather while bowl, cream, and glycerin warmed; dipped new brush in hot water in the electric kettle, flipped dry and re dipped just the tip of the bristles in hot water. Poured small amount (about a teaspoon or so) into bowl w/cream and glycerin, and whipped a good coating of soap onto the brush. First mixed the cream/glycerin mix till the bristles absorbed all the water, added more water messed up and added to much water; started over. Got back to adding water got it right this time. Whipped mixture into a lather and applied only to one side of my face at a time before shaving each cheek, and same for each side and front of my neck. Shaved use the 3 pass method; WTG, XTG, ATG; not BBS but closest shave up until that point. Lather was always warm (just the right temp) and never dried, with very little irritation and razor burn( most likely due to still working on my stopping and shaving technique). The pre-shave oil seemed to help the razor glide more smoothly. Now I that I've tried Uberlather I will only use Soap alone, if I need to shave before work and short on time. Uberlather definitely makes for a very luxurious shave. Every newbie should give it a try if funds allow for it, IMHO.
I have Thought about in those short of time shaves of just shaving at work, at the Station I would hate to get a call, and get on scene only half shaved, not very professional ( I'm an EMT and work EMS in Louisville,KY). Sorry about such a long post, Thought I would share my experience. so comment away. And with that I'm off for work now, I hope everyone has a wonderful day and I hope not to meet any of you why I'm there.

- Lein

In my one-pass de shaving days, I could get very warm lather by soaking the brush, putting hot water on the soap, dumping that off and whipping lather on the puck.

For the number of passes and time it takes me now to sr shave, I find that a scuttle (Dirty Bird) is perfect, especially when I fill it with boiling water from the $10 water heater I bought at Target. I get as much hot lather as I care to use.

From the varied responses, there are all sorts of options.

Best....

Jim