Thread: Bowl Lathering

I face lathered for a couple of years before I stopped using cartridges. I started bowl lathering when I started using DEs, just to see if I could make the lather any better. For me, it is a lot easier to control the amount of water using a bowl. I use a round soup bowl that has a flat bottom and a handle. Its a part of the process I actually enjoy for shaving, so even though face lathering is faster, I do use the bowl. Although when I put the lather on my face, I do use the brush to really work it into my whiskers, then paint on a thicker lather. I guess I use kind of a combo of face and bowl lathering, but it works well for me.

I prefer using a bowl. I have face lathered a few times, but much prefer the even consistency of whipping up a good lather in a bowl rather than the hit and miss I get when face lathering. \m/

I face lather and bowl lather technique together. I lather in a bowl or a scuttle for a short time then I start applying the lather on my face at least one minute of working on the face then painting strokes, lastly couple swirls in the bowl and good to go. Btw, I always start almost dry brush and add water couple times.

Tried face lathering a few times, but it just doesn't feel like the straight shaving experience. I prefer the bowl/mug, and gives me more control of wetness. I also mix cream and soap, so it mixes better in the bowl.

I like to switch it up once in a while. Certain soaps & creams lather better in a bowl than on the face, and vice versa. I also sometimes whip up lather in my SRD scuttle, which probably isn't designed for it, but works well.

Usually bowl lather as I like the thickness and consistency it produces. Will sometimes face lather when I have a 3 or 4 day growth as the intense scrubbing seems to produce a softer, easier to shave result.

When I'm shaving with straights, I almost always bowl lather. I enjoy raising the lather as a part of a leisurely routine. But, if I'm in a rush I'll break out the TOBS cream, face lather and breakout a DE. I face lathered for 25 years before I found this site and leaned how to bowl lather.

I prefer the bowl. Less face irritation for me. My lather is also more abundant and luxurious for straight razor shaving.

Originally Posted by Phrank

One of the things I enjoy most about straight shaving, is the opportunity to change things....
Anyone else make the switch?

I go back and forth between the two, depending on the soap/cream, my patience at the time and my success on the first cheek. I usually face lather, but keep the loaded brush in a bowl. If I start to shave and it doesn't feel pleasant I do some whipping in the bowl with a little more water sometimes, before I move on. Other times, I do fine going only to the face. BTW, I'm a cool water shaver/latherer.

I apologize for the newbie question but here goes... If using a shave cream that comes in a bowl, you shouldn't build a lather in that bowl right? I have been shaving with soap in a cup for years but haven't issued cream that came in a bowl before.