Thread: Great Lather Trick

It’s been a while since I’ve changed up anything in the way I do things, but some gents were talking about it, so I’ve been trying it out. And I like it.

I’ve been mixing my lather before my shower. I let it sit while showering - I’m convinced it’s a better/thicker lather by the time I get out. And the brush is just as soft!

But the brush is also cold by the time you get out, so you either need to re-dip in hot for a bit and mix some more, tolerate it, or use a scuttle.

If you feel like it, try it out. Report back here as to if I’m insane, or if you’re sold. Of course if you have a “trick” - share!

There was a recent thread on this very topic and most in that thread agreed that the maturing of the lather made it slicker and a better shave. There is the cold water club that wouldn’t mind it without the scuttle.

I love using my scuttle to keep the lather hot while I shower, but I’ve found that some of the soaps seem to deflate and I have to renew the lather. Is this a property of the soap or because I used too little or too much water when I built the initial lather?

Originally Posted by DZEC

I love using my scuttle to keep the lather hot while I shower, but I’ve found that some of the soaps seem to deflate and I have to renew the lather. Is this a property of the soap or because I used too little or too much water when I built the initial lather?

Shave soap will do that if you use water that is too hot.

Bob

Some soaps are more prone to it than others but in general as Bob said heat is a lather destroyer.

I tried this today and I must say there was a difference. I don't have a scuttle so I just took my brush and re-dipped it in water. I like this technique and my shave seemed to be a little smoother. Thanks for the tip!

Originally Posted by Johntoad57

I tried this today and I must say there was a difference. I don't have a scuttle so I just took my brush and re-dipped it in water. I like this technique and my shave seemed to be a little smoother. Thanks for the tip!

You are welcome.

I've always known that heat is not always the best friend of lathers, so when it was brought up on this thread, I decided to do a little testing. I rested my bowl with lather in hot water simulating a scuttle (my scuttle is at my other place) before showering for a couple days now. After the shower, the lather did indeed take somewhat of a hit, but I noticed as well, that a couple more swirls before starting reinvigorated it just fine.

It's pretty cool. It does seem a little smoother doesn't it.

I always want to improve my lather!
Just making sure I got this right. Here are the steps you do

1 - Soak the brush as usual
2 - Make lather as usual
3 - Let it sit in the bowl or whatever
4 - Take shower
5 - Add some more hot water and swirl your brush a bit more it in
6 - Apply to face as usual

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

Some soaps are more prone to it than others but in general as Bob said heat is a lather destroyer.

I do remember now that the vendor who sold me the scuttlesaid to use hot tap water and not boiling water. I thought he was worried about the heat damaging the scuttle. Now I know better.

Thanks Bobh and thebigspendur.

Originally Posted by DZEC

I do remember now that the vendor who sold me the scuttlesaid to use hot tap water and not boiling water. I thought he was worried about the heat damaging the scuttle. Now I know better.

Thanks Bobh and thebigspendur.

You don't really want to be soaking a brush in boiling water either as it can be detrimental to the brush over time. Solved to too hot water problem by being a cold water shaver who does not soak his brushes. Many ways to skin a cat.

Bob