Thread: making lather - like beating eggs or using a mortar and pestle?

Hi all,
Quick question, I think, with a quick answer. When making lather, the actual swirling part, do you use more of a light, egg-beating type pressure, just kind of whipping it up? Or do you put pressure downward with the brush, not quite but somewhat similar to grinding something up with a mortar and pestle?

The latter is a bit over the top of an example but I think you get the point. How light of a touch with the brush?

Still having some issues making up a good lather consistently, and I think I might be working the brush too hard as I've noticed a few bristles suddenly coming off.

More like beating eggs for me. Adding water to the lather bowl a little at a time and do a lot more 'whipping' time wise and that may improve your results. Go to youtube and check out 'mantic shaving' videos. He has a great lather making vid.

If you are using a badger brush, there are twq things to avoid. First, never leave soap residue in the brush, but rinse it thoroughly after use. Residual soap will dry out the bristles, thus making them brittle. Second, never apply pressure, lest the tips wil break. Additionally, pressure will push lather into the knot, where it is a) useless and b) hard to remove. A well soaked, high quality brush needs no pressure.

kaiyen,

The aim is to incorporate water as the main component of the lather, not air

Excesssive beating & whipping will put in more air in than is useful.

Water and the soap in the lather, supply the hydration to the whiskers and the slip needed for shaving - air does none of these.

Like Goldilocks & The Three Bears - More than stirring, less than whipping is just right

Have fun !

regards

Russ

More like beating eggs for me. If you're mushing the brush all out of shape, you're doing it too hard.

When I'm loading the brush with soap, I grip the actual hairs just below the knot to make the hairs stiffer and easier to load.

Beating eggs...mortar and pestle will take longer and may loosen up the bristles.

My approach is much like beating or whipping egg whites. I add a little water to the mixture, as needed, while doing so.

I do combine whipping and beating egg movement...I used to use pressure, but then when I use less pressure, the result is pretty much the same.

I am going to modify my post...I carefully noted what I was doing when lathering up this AM...I must say that for me, it's really a combination of both. beating eggs (BE) and mortar & pestle (M&P). I would say 70%-80% BE and 20%-30% M&P...I also noted that the M&P was not hard, but gentle and doing so created a more effective lather.

Long story short: both combination for me

Originally Posted by BladeRunner001

Beating eggs...mortar and pestle will take longer and may loosen up the bristles.

Beating eggs mostly. but also some mortar action, but that is more to collect lather in a specific place of the bowl and brush.

Have had more practice building lather than shaving my face, but for me it's working out pretty well, thick, moist and creamy, like in the videos here. Also, the way it sticks during the shave and the way it feels on your face will tell you the difference.