Thread: A simple prep and lather from an earlier age

TLDR: Massage the first application of lather across your face before lathering again and shaving. It really works.

Gentlemen,

For your consideration: A Lathering Technique based on early 20th Century Sources that does not rely on running water, hot water, steaming towels, or frippery and is perfectly adaptable to resource poor settings.

Caution: What follows is an account of building lather on one’s face. Those what worship at the alter of the Lather Bowl should stop reading NOW.

Note too that those who shower before shaving will gain little from this exercise.

You will need:

Razor- ready to shave
Shaving soap- any kind
A shaving brush- any kind
One mug of water- any temperature
Two hands- preferably your own
One facial tissue of the Kleenex variety
One hand towel
Shaving mirror

And so we begin

1. Place brush bristles down in mug o’water to soak.
2. Moisten fingertips of both hands in mug and wipe across soap until lightly slippery.
3. Rub/massage water across face in a recognized washing motion. Continue for ONE MINUTE dipping fingers in water mug as needed. (Note: you are not building lather. The small amount of soap used is only to change the surface tension to allow the water to cling to your face.)
4. Remove brush from mug and drain bristles of three-quarters of its retained water.
5. Load brush with soap in a fashion that works.
6. Build lather on face for ONE MINUTE giving little attention to bubble size or consistency.
7. Put down brush and massage proto-lather across the shaving zone for ONE MINUTE. Your goal should be to knock the air and extraneous water out of the proto-lather.
8. Wipe hands on towel and relather- this time for sure- for ONE MINUTE (Reload brush and/or add water as needed.)
9. Shave according to established routine and best practices. The Kleenex is used to deftly (deftly, you buggers!) wipe soap from the razor as needed.
10. When finished, rinse brush in mug and pour contents of mug into the hand towel and wipe face free of soap, blood, and dangling bits of dermis.
11. Oh, yeah, you were supposed to be looking in the mirror while doing this. If you weren’t, well, that might explain the dangling bits

Since I generally shave before I shower, I find that the multiple latherrings and massaging to prep my face perfectly without need for ointments, oils, or silly amounts of water. I’ve adapted this technique from the package insert of a JR Torrey razor and have found it to be effective regardless of soap/ brush combinations. And while it’s nice to say I’m saving water with this technique, I wouldn’t do it if it didn’t work.

I remain &c
LG Roy

Sure. You could do it that way. I like extreme amounts of water myself. It does make me need to add a mop to the list of items.

It occurs to me that, if you need a mop after you shave, you may need to work on your technique.

Mopping up water not blood.

Quit rubbing it in, driver.

So I tried this this morning. Unfortunately it didn't work out for me. So with that being said, I'm sure it works for you or you wouldn't have taken the time to post it. I'll stick to my routine but thanks for the info. It was worth a try!

Well I reckon if you want to take all the fun out of wet shaving we could just all use an electric razor. A dab of electric shave (which is optional) just plug it in and shave.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

Well I reckon if you want to take all the fun out of wet shaving we could just all use an electric razor. A dab of electric shave (which is optional) just plug it in and shave.

We sure could and I have. However, I always seem to come back to a nice hot lather shave with a straight razor. In my mind, there's nothing as enjoyable as a close shave and a good cigar! But I'm old. What the hell do I know?

Originally Posted by Johntoad57

We sure could and I have. However, I always seem to come back to a nice hot lather shave with a straight razor. In my mind, there's nothing as enjoyable as a close shave and a good cigar! But I'm old. What the hell do I know?

I am now at the point at which I am able to put a good edge on my straights and maintain that edge. For me, the unfortunate result of a really good straight razor shave is that I don’t have to shave for 48 hours afterwards.

When I use a DE, I still have to shave the next morning. For the very limited time in my youth when I used an electric razor, I had to shave again in the afternoon.

There is no comparison to the “zen” of straight razor shaving.

Originally Posted by DZEC

I am now at the point at which I am able to put a good edge on my straights and maintain that edge. For me, the unfortunate result of a really good straight razor shave is that I don’t have to shave for 48 hours afterwards.

I have never been able to go 48 hours between shaves in my life unless I was too sick to shave. I enjoy the Zen of a shave ever morning.

Bob