Thread: Lather

I've noticed that many of my fellow straight shavers prefer to make lather directly on their face? Why is that?

Personally, I like the prep work of making lather. I also really enjoy the applying warm lather, something I would think would be missed by making it on the face.

I do it for two reasons. First, if one does it leisurely it serves as a good prep (keeps moisture on the beard for several minutes). Two birds with one stone that way. Second, it's a good way to get the consistency of the lather exactly the way you want it. This is especially useful if you have dozens of soaps and creams in rotation and don't want to fuss with remembering the quirks of each one.

It can also cut down on clutter (though not in my case, since I do keep a lathering bowl in the bathroom anyway).

Overall, I imagine it's mostly down to personal preference. Whatever works!

I'd second everything Northpaw said, and add that I love the stimulation of the brush on my face- like a massage from a real barber, or the best cleansing facewashing you ever had.

For me face lathering is all of what northpaw said. By lathering on your face it allows the lather more time on your face and softens your beard just a little more. I start real dry so I add water as I go so this keeps the lather warm.

I do all types of lathering. Face lathering is good and fun.

1. More lathering time on the face as opposed to in the bowl = softer stubble.

2. Less product usage, not that there are very many shaving products (including high-end stuff) that AREN'T fairly economical on a per shave basis. I can do less than ten swirls on the top of a good tallow-based soap and have more than enough thick, rich, lubricating lather for three passes. I can't do this in a bowl, personally; not using only that much product.

3. Less things to fumble with.

4. The lather stays warmer. In a bowl, you're producing a bunch of lather that may turn cold by the end of a shave. With face lathering, you set aside your brush (or put it in a hot cup within a redneck scuttle, like I do) and the lather stays toasty warm throughout your shaving regimen. If it's not, just open up the breech of the brush and dip a splash of warm water from your sink to recharge it.

5. There is no #5.

6. May seem strange or illogical to some, but I also feel that I can control the soap : water ratio better when I face lather.

7. Several recent double-blind studies indicate that, indeed, all the cool people face lather. Fact, this is fact.

For me, there seems to be a natural transition from starting a lather on the palm of the hand to washing and lathering the face then finishing the lather in a mug. I find that painting the lather on my faces does not work as well as working the lather on my face a little bit.

Contrary to my expectations when I bought the brushes a boar brush on my face feels nicer than a badger. One of my badger brushes makes a fine lather in a mug but is less wonderful on the face. My Dovo badger brush has a different shape and works in all three styles of lather building.

I do like hot lather from my tin cup (OK expensive pewter mug). Just set it in hot water then the lather gets warm quickly.

So I guess "It depends".