Thread: What is the "canonic" way to use a two-piece shaving mug?

Corgi, that is a really nice mug. I am not sure how it was originally used but it sounds like you are having a lot of fun trying some new lathering techniques. I just purchased a neat old mug myself and cannot wait for it to arrive. It is smaller but I believe it will be perfect for building a lather with cream. There will be more bristles focused on the product and more contact in the tiny space so less time swirling.



Thanks to this thread I am going to soak the milk jar in hot water first. I will be ecstatic if I can get warm lather in such a simple fashion!

The size of men's heads were approximately 1/3rd the size they are today, so sadly, you may never be able to make this process work to your satisfaction.

Originally Posted by Johnus

You may want to look at the size of the brushes that were used back then. Your bowl probably originally came with a matching brush.
The style then was for a brush about a 1/3 of the size of the ones we use today.

Originally Posted by WW243

The size of men's heads were approximately 1/3rd the size they are today, so sadly, you may never be able to make this process work to your satisfaction.

I just about blew Earl Gray outa my nose on that!! Where did you come up with that? The reason for the near tea spouting was the mental picture my mind flashed to, trying to visualize guys with heads 1/3 smaller. But then I thought it would probably be an overall thing, not just the head. 1/3 huh? Well, at least I now have something interesting to look into!

Whisker,

That's a sweet find. I am looking forward to seeing it in action on a Shave Of The Day!

You know, that is exactly what I imagined as well. I am really looking forward to snapping a photo of this mug overflowing like a lather volcano. One of my razors pridefully gleaming off to the side, my brush stuck in sideways somewhere up lather mountain. Some bottles of obscure liquids in the background. The whole lot surrounded by an earth tone towel!

Oh man is it going to be sweet!

I think I have figured it out, in great part thanks to the helpful posts here.

First thing I did, I bought myself a brush from about 1900. I think it's horsehair, quite stiff compared to the cheek-pampering super-badger to which I'm accustomed.

Anyway, this is how I use this awesome 2-piece mug now.

Step 1: I take it apart, warm it up under the hot-water faucet and fill the bottom half with steaming-hot water. I then insert the brush for a good soaking, while I do my face-prep.



Step 2: in the top half (still detached, and still warm from the hot water), I put a couple teaspoons of Vaseline and the necessary amount of shaving cream.



Step 3: I remove the brush, refill the bottom half with new steaming-hot water, replace the top half and, after dripping the excess water from the brush, I start whisking up an awesome lather.



Notes:

1 - Since the diameter of the brush is only a touch over one inch, it fits the bowl beautifully and I can whisk vigorously for a good, thick, slick lather.

2 - After I lather up my face for my first pass, I rest the brush on the rim's prongs, with the bristles in the bowl, which keeps both the lather and the brush warm for my subsequent passes.

3 - The stiffer horsehair brush does a good job lifting my beard prior to shaving, and this plus its ability to retain lather with its longer bristles compensates for the slightly rougher feel on my skin.

4 - Although I still don't know whether this was the way in which this mug would have been used historically, I am getting some pretty awesome shaves out of it!

Happy shaving!

Corgi