I bowl-lathered for years, and for me, that was the best place to learn. The bowl is a nice, controlled space to experiment with water and with brush action. For a long time, I couldn't face lather at all, and wondered how anyone could.

Using shave sticks was my breakthrough to face lathering, and I grate most soaps into plastic push-up containers now. But, having learned to face lather, I can do it pretty well from a puck too now.