how to use shaving soap?

[matthiew]

Can someone spell out how to prepare shaving soap? My first couple of shaves I've been using cream and I just dispense it on the tip of my brush and wet it a little when I re-apply it. I do not have a bowl yet, but will probably buy soap instead of gel next (just to say I've tried it).

[ben.mid]

Swirl the brush round the top of the soap till the brush is loaded. This can be anywhere between 15-60 rotations, depending how closely you wish to resemble Santa before you shave. It's a personal preference to some extent, so find what works for you. Don't try to see too much into it, remember it's just making lather, not rocket science.

Also, remember that the Wiki & search functions are valuable tools. Look here.

[aroliver59]

Here's a good Wiki article on it.Might help:

Making basic soap lather - Straight Razor Place Wiki

[thebigspendur]

The trick with soap is knowing how much water you need with the brush soap combination and how much twirling you need to do. It's another skill like everything else involved with straights and wet shaving and depending on those variables the routine can vary by quite a bit.

[Stubear]

What I do is this:

- Put a teaspoon of hot water on the top of the soap to soften it.
- Fill my mug with hot water and put the brush in to soak.
- After a couple of minutes take the brush out of the mug, empty all the water away and dump that teaspoon of soapy water into the mug.
- Give the brush a quick flick so its not dripping wet.
- Swirl the brush on the soap to load the brush. This usually takes 20 seconds or so. I also grip the actual brush hairs just by the knot to make the brush easier to load.
- Start making lather in the soapy water.
- I usually end up adding a dab more water to the mix, but the key to adding water is to add it a little at a time until the lather explodes out of the mug.

Then just apply to face and shave..!

[pcdad]

GodRej shave soap from Men's Shaving, Grooming, Skin and Hair Care - West Coast Shaving

I swear this soap is REAL cheap and it's their 1st of its kind..you don't need to do anything other than (for me) cut into 1/4 pieces and lather away..it lathers amazingly well! (with water of course)

pcdad

[spechobbies]

Star of with a good soap. The amount of water makes a diffirence. Just add a little at a time until you get the results you are looking for

[nessmuck]

Making lather is like making cement, too much water and you got soup, not enough water,well you get the picture. After you soak your brush in water,remove brush and shake 3 times to get excess water out of brush,then swirl brush on top of soap puck 10- 15 times and then put it onto face with swirling action, if you find the lather a bit too dry just dip the tip of the brush in water and repeat. Hope this helps

[SRNewb]

Making lather is like making cement, too much water and you got soup, not enough water,well you get the picture. After you soak your brush in water,remove brush and shake 3 times to get excess water out of brush,then swirl brush on top of soap puck 10- 15 times and then put it onto face with swirling action, if you find the lather a bit too dry just dip the tip of the brush in water and repeat. Hope this helps

This. I find personally that with soap(at least the VdH stuff I'm using) face lathering is the way to go. If it's too dry(if you can push the brush against your face and it's sticky when you pull it away, you need more water, IMO) add a couple of drops of water to your brush and go back to face lathering. Too wet, go back to the bowl and load your brush some more.
With most creams, I like to build the lather in a bowl and then apply to the face. YMMV.

[spechobbies]

Here: Making basic soap lather - Straight Razor Place Wiki