I started using a brush in 1973 or so, a badger, and a mug of Old Spice soap. Ran out of that and bought Williams to replace it. Ran out of that and grabbed up the bar of Ivory at that time, and loaded the brush with the soap in my palm, then face lathered. Did that for years, switched to Dove somewhere along the way, still wash with that.

I came to the forums in '06 or thereabouts with the same brush, same habits. Along came more brushes, soaps, creams and bowls and scuttles. I bowl lathered for a time. Liked it because I could generate more lather for more passes, and it seemed to be easier to make better lather at that stage. The high end soaps were a little different to lather with than a bar of bath soap.

I went back to face lathering after a couple of years because I had lost some of my enthusiasm for daily shaving and face lathering still feels good, is less work/effort IMO. Add to that I'm only doing one pass most of the time, maximum two, so I don't need a bowlful to wash down the drain.

If you're going to go for face lathering get a brush with a short loft, 48-50mm. Easier to lather on those hard pucks IME.