Thread: Building Lather on the Soap?

Hello- I'm relatively new to straight razor shaving, but I've been DE shaving for a number of years. When I started DE shaving I started using a brush/soap. Since I didn't do as much research on DE shaving as I have with straight, I think I may have started a bad habit when I build my lather.

I've always only purchased the replacement puck (without wooden bowl, etc) and dropped it in my shaving bowl/mug. I then build the later directly on top of the soap (normally Klar Rasierseife) in the mug. I get a lot more lather than I probably need, but are there other disadvantages? I feel like I get a good cushion from the lather, but I'm a big believer in doing things the 'best way'. Anyone else out there do this or have a good reason not to? Thanks, Troy

Don't worry a lot of us back in the 60-70s did the same thing with our old spice shave mug. But I soon went to face lathering, and notice my soap did last a lot longer cause I wasn't just adding soap the whole time I was building the lather. It ain't so much as wrong but not nessecary. Whatever works and it's your soap. The soap I use now after that many swirls would make enough lather to shave 100 guys! So try to just load your brush a few swirls and then build your lather in another bowl or your face, adding a little but if water at a time till you get the consistency you like. Tc

This is not how I started to build lather. But it is how I do it now. To me, its the absolute best way to create lather. I leave one or two tablespoons of water on the puck and then begin whipping up my lather. It eliminates any issue of under loading then brush or not adding enough water. You simply whip it up until its right and you're on your way. Plus, I insist on a rich and abundant lather. If you are concerned about wasting soap, squeeze the lather from your brush and let it dry on the puck. It can be whipped back to lather next time with no worries. Every soap I have resides in its own cereal bowl or latte mug. Nothing I've found works as well.

I use mostly refill puck hard soaps and face lather. I "load" my brush with soap on the puck and "build" my lather on my face. I use a more dry brush than a lot of others do. I don't soak my brushes before loading the soap. Here is a good vid describing a couple of ways of doing it. There are many variations on how to lather up so use a method that works for you.

Bob

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4zESTQWDuw

Back in the 70's when I first began wet shaving I used Aramis soap exclusively. You describe exactly how I used to build lather. Still not a bad way to do things today really. Soap can be pretty inexpensive so I don't worry about how much I use. But then I'm not buying the $25-$30 soaps either

I use a shaving scuttle to lather my soaps now. It's a bit of a luxury but I love it. I can load my brush from a puck and lather in the scuttle or more often then not I squeeze a little Proraso cream in the scuttle and lather away. The lather and brush stay warm and it feels great - especially in the winter in NH.

I don't think there is a "best" way, but there are a lot of "different" ways. Try a bunch of the suggestions on how other people do it and see what you like. I think it's a matter of preference more than anything else. You already know what a good lather that cushions your shave feels like so that's the main thing. Try some different techniques and see if they improve or degrade your current process.

Adam

Thanks! I really want to try a scuttle. Mostly for the opportunity to try out new equipment. I like the idea of a hot lather. I think I need to experiment a little with technique and see what works best. Appreciate the input, Troy

Thomptd65:

If this works for you, then do it. There are many different ways, and it depends on the characteristics of the particular soap. I lather my Klar right in the steel can it came in. I bring my Mitchell's Wool Fat to a mug to build more lather. I face lather Tabac and Proraso, but store the brush in a scuttle, sometimes whipping up more lather in the scuttle. There's lots of variables, for example the type of brush, how much water you put in, how hard/soft the water is, the temperature of the water, etc. There's no right or wrong way, just tips & ideas people can give you. Experiment to find out what works best to get the most out of your soap.

Originally Posted by Thomptd65

I've always only purchased the replacement puck (without wooden bowl, etc) and dropped it in my shaving bowl/mug. I then build the later directly on top of the soap (normally Klar Rasierseife) in the mug. I get a lot more lather than I probably need, but are there other disadvantages?

I did it that way for over 20 years before finding SRP and learning of an alternative.

I always just put whatever cheap puck I found at the drugstore into the bottom of a mug and then built my lather with the cheap boar brush I also got at the drugstore. I'd make my lather and shave. I suppose it was somewhere between what we call bowl lathering and face lathering. Anyway, it worked for me and whatever was left on the brush after the shave I "milked" off of it and put it back into the mug--adding it to the residual lather. My pucks lasted between 5 and 7 years.

After finding SRP I learned about lathering in a separate bowl and I liked the idea, so that is what I've been doing since 2007. Because I alternate among the many soaps I have acquired since joining SRP, the puck of soap that I started using a few years earlier is still less than half gone 10 years later.

IMO not all soaps lather the same so not all lathering methods work the same. I focus mostly on desired lather characteristics vs lathering process. I prefer dense, thin and slick lather.