To bowl lathering - Don't we all FACE LATHER anyway??

Well...we've all seen this debates: face lathering or bowl lathering.

This post is to put in my $0.02. Comments appreciated.

To the bowl lather aficionados out there (yours truly included):

Whether you realize it or not, you are doing both. Here's why: when you bowl lather for that golden couple of minutes to achieve/build that uberlather and feel the pride and joy flow through every fiber of your body and face the mirror and say the the face latherers:

"Hahhh...you don't know what you are missing and certainly don't know what you are talking about"...

STOP and consider the fact as soon as you are done bowl lathering, you take that scoop or perfect lather from the bowl and put it to your face and in the time it takes for you to rub that creme into your beard (using your brush), all the while thinking how ridiculous face lathering must be, you continue to build more lather!!! ...on your face, that is. Not the bowl.

So, in effect, we are ALL "closet" face latherers of some sort...Are we not?

You make some very good points here.

Personally, I always face lather when I shave. But I bowl lather when I am testing soaps. There's no need to build a lather on my face if I don't plan on using it.

I face lather because it saves time. It just seems awkward to build a lather in a bowl and then try to slather it onto the face, instead of building it right where it needs to be anyway.

Thanks jdog,
I do both depending on mood...today was my revelation. I realized that even when I bowl lather, I still do some on my face...So much of this activity is second nature that we don;t stop to think about it.

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Originally Posted by jdog006

You make some very good points here.

Personally, I always face lather when I shave. But I bowl lather when I am testing soaps. There's no need to build a lather on my face if I don't plan on using it.

I face lather because it saves time. It just seems awkward to build a lather in a bowl and then try to slather it onto the face, instead of building it right where it needs to be anyway.

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Originally Posted by BladeRunner001

Here's why: when you bowl lather for that golden couple of minutes to achieve/build that uberlather

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Right there, Thats the difference :)

I haven't figured out how to mix the Soap / Cream / Glycerin all in the right proportions and correct consistency on my face yet ... :roflmao:roflmao:roflmao

I still might, but not yet :beer2:

Hi Glen,
I don't know how :shrug:, call it trial and error (and mostly luck), but I have somehow managed to find the right proportion that works wonders for my face. And the lather...man, that stuff gets rich, even if I do it without soap.

I love building lather in the bowl, but also enjoy the after joy of spending a couple of minutes rubbing it into the stubble...call me crazy, but I guess I like the BEST of both worlds (bowl & face lathering) :)

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Originally Posted by gssixgun

Right there, Thats the difference :)

I haven't figured out how to mix the Soap / Cream / Glycerin all in the right proportions and correct consistency on my face yet ... :roflmao:roflmao:roflmao

I still might, but not yet :beer2:

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It takes me less than a minute to build lather, and the creams I usually use cannot be improved by adding glycerin (in fact, they get worse). I also doubt that the brushing - as opposed to swirling - motions I use on my face will add noticeable amounts of lather. So, sorry, but I do not subscribe to this theory.

Regards,
Robin

Thank you Maestro

But at some point, even the barber had to learn this technique and start from somewhere :). Part of the allure of it all is exactly what you eluded to earlier; the elusive and seemingly unattainable nature of lather building. The more unattainable, the more we wish it.

I would like to propose the creation of a new camp of latherers:

The FBL (Face & Bowl Latherers) Club!!!:roflmao:rofl2:. For those of us who enjoy doing both.

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Originally Posted by Proraso Man

Finally! Someone who has made some sense of the issue!

I think mugs/bowls are more of for presentation at a barber shop. Think about it- the whole process of stropping/making a lather/straight razor shaving is designed to demonstrate the skill and un-obtain-ability of the barber's skills, lest he be out of business! :D

Food for thought! :beer2:

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Hi Robin
You da man, man!! This is just an observation/theory...no subscription required :). I hope one day to be able to do a quick uberlather. For me, glycerin doesn't improve the lather-ability of lather (so to speak :)), but it does increase moisturizing capacity of the cremes I use...it keeps my face extra moist during the shaves. But, that's for me and my skin and may not hold true for others.

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Originally Posted by BeBerlin

It takes me less than a minute to build lather, and the creams I usually use cannot be improved by adding glycerin (in fact, they get worse). I also doubt that the brushing - as opposed to swirling - motions I use on my face will add noticeable amounts of lather. So, sorry, but I do not subscribe to this theory.

Regards,
Robin

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Originally Posted by BeBerlin

It takes me less than a minute to build lather, and the creams I usually use cannot be improved by adding glycerin (in fact, they get worse). I also doubt that the brushing - as opposed to swirling - motions I use on my face will add noticeable amounts of lather. So, sorry, but I do not subscribe to this theory.

Regards,
Robin

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Gentlemen:

I must agree with Robin here.

I bowl-lather with badger brushes and face-lather with boar brushes. At the gym I face-lather, of course.

It takes me about the same time to create great lather with either method: about a minute is all I need for delicious lather.

Regards,
Obie

I guess I'm in The FBL (Face & Bowl Latherers) Club!!! I do both and enjoy doing both...I lather-up in the bowl (Target dipping bowl) so I can have a warm to hot lather and lather on the face to massage it into every bristle.
Reguards,
Mack

Ahhhhh But that is not true Uberlather, that is simply plain ole good lather.... nothing wrong with it, but there is a difference,,, when everything comes together in that nice warm bowl, and the creamy richness, with the mix of fantastic scents, sorry but nothing beats that, no single soap or cream can even come close to a great Uberlather ..... OMG and the feeling of that warm whupped cream lather being worked onto the face with a high quality Badger,,, HEAVEN !!!!! Yes, I know it is an indulgence but I am well worth the time and effort... :)


Edit:
Whoops I just re-read the original post and I think we might be talking about two different things...

Uberlather is a mix of Soap, Cream, and Glycerin... And I think you might have meant Uber as in good, or copious amounts of lather....

Please disregard my post if that is the case...

Man...You won't hear any arguments from me there...I tell you, sometimes I wonder which one I enjoy most; 1) shaving with the blade, or 2) the prepping. Don't get me wrong, I love the process of shaving a lot, but the prepping...well, that's something else. As you so eloquently put it: "HEAVEN!!" I truly love the process of pre-shave, lathering and the feeling of warm lather on the face...I am there with you Glen :rock:...could spend hours doing it...all, without the blade even touching the skin

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Originally Posted by gssixgun

Ahhhhh But that is not true Uberlather, that is simply plain ole good lather.... nothing wrong with it, but there is a difference,,, when everything comes together in that nice warm bowl, and the creamy richness, with the mix of fantastic scents, sorry but nothing beats that, no single soap or cream can even come close to a great Uberlather ..... OMG and the feeling of that warm whupped cream lather being worked onto the face with a high quality Badger,,, HEAVEN !!!!! Yes, I know it is an indulgence but I am well worth the time and effort... :)

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I just spit on the blade and then shave. None of that sissy crap for me. ;)

Or... Maybe I am a bowl latherer. I make my lather in a nice warm scuttle. Like a couple of other folks above, for me it's about the experience.

I was a face latherer for years but didn't really know how to build a good lather. Still learning as a matter of fact. One thing I know, speaking only for myself, is that I can't come close to making as good a lather on my face as I can with a bowl. Bowl lathering for me regardless of how you define it. YMMV. :) The main thing is we enjoy our shave no matter how we are going about it.

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Originally Posted by BladeRunner001

Man...You won't hear any arguments from me there...I tell you, sometimes I wonder which one I enjoy most; 1) shaving with the blade, or 2) the prepping. Don't get me wrong, I love the process of shaving a lot, but the prepping...well, that's something else. As you so eloquently put it: "HEAVEN!!" I truly love the process of pre-shave, lathering and the feeling of warm lather on the face...I am there with you Glen :rock:...could spend hours doing it...all, without the blade even touching the skin

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Honestly I enjoy the process so much that I will voluntarily make Uberlather for the wife to use on her legs.... :)

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Originally Posted by BladeRunner001

Well...we've all seen this debates: face lathering or bowl lathering.

This post is to put in my $0.02. Comments appreciated.

....snip...
So, in effect, we are ALL "closet" face latherers of some sort...Are we not?

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Well I take the advantage of clear water soak time on
my whiskers while building a lather in the mug.
I splash cool water on my face and give it
a gentle rub.

I splash water on the puck and begin collecting soap...

I move to the mug and begin building a lather.

When the lather appears to come together I move to
the face and "finish" up the lather --- yes face lathering...

In it's strictest sense if you are a bowl latherer you do all the building in the bowl and use the brush to simply apply the lather and work it in. If you are a face latherer you just load up the brush with soap but develop the lather on your face.

In fact few of us are strictly one or the other, more hybrid. We really do both.

:tuThat's exactly my point

Thanks

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Originally Posted by thebigspendur

In it's strictest sense if you are a bowl latherer you do all the building in the bowl and use the brush to simply apply the lather and work it in. If you are a face latherer you just load up the brush with soap but develop the lather on your face.

In fact few of us are strictly one or the other, more hybrid. We really do both.

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I've been trying to mug lather and use my redneck scuttle from Walmart at least a couple times a week but I am a very spoiled face latherer and it probably doesn't help that my go to soaps for summer time seem to be predominantly shavesticks. Anyway it seems like mug/scuttle lathering adds a whole other degree of luxury to the process but by the time I think about doing I'm usually finished with my shave.

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Originally Posted by thebigspendur

In it's strictest sense if you are a bowl latherer you do all the building in the bowl and use the brush to simply apply the lather and work it in. If you are a face latherer you just load up the brush with soap but develop the lather on your face.

In fact few of us are strictly one or the other, more hybrid. We really do both.

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I agree with the spendur. IME it's a bit more of an art to lather in a bowl. The ability to add just the right amount of water and whip to a desired consistency probably has something to do with it. I find I get a more velvety and luxurious lather when made in a bowl, like silk on my face.

But it is also possible to over-process your lather too. If worked too much in the bowl and then over-worked on your face the lather will break down before your first pass is finished. Like I said before, there is a bit of an art to it. But then again most of us are ''hybrid'' lather makers.

Hallelujah to that Ryan...Isn't that the truth?

Water is the secret to everything. Too much of it, you drown...too little, you dehydrate ;)

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Originally Posted by Ryan82

I agree with the spendur. IME it's a bit more of an art to lather in a bowl. The ability to add just the right amount of water and whip to a desired consistency probably has something to do with it. I find I get a more velvety and luxurious lather when made in a bowl, like silk on my face.

But it is also possible to over-process your lather too. If worked too much in the bowl and then over-worked on your face the lather will break down before your first pass is finished. Like I said before, there is a bit of an art to it. But then again most of us are ''hybrid'' lather makers.

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Originally Posted by BladeRunner001

Man...You won't hear any arguments from me there...I tell you, sometimes I wonder which one I enjoy most; 1) shaving with the blade, or 2) the prepping. Don't get me wrong, I love the process of shaving a lot, but the prepping...well, that's something else. As you so eloquently put it: "HEAVEN!!" I truly love the process of pre-shave, lathering and the feeling of warm lather on the face...I am there with you Glen :rock:...could spend hours doing it...all, without the blade even touching the skin

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Robert,
I agree with you and Glen that the prep is just as enjoyable as the shave. To me, the prep is very relaxing and is an integral part of the overall shave. I've never tried face-lathering, but now I guess I will have to give it a try. I'm sure it could come in handy if you are traveling and don't have all your gear with you.

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Originally Posted by BladeRunner001

I love building lather in the bowl, but also enjoy the after joy of spending a couple of minutes rubbing it into the stubble...call me crazy, but I guess I like the BEST of both worlds (bowl & face lathering) :)

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Same here.

I started out DE shaving as a face latherer. I liked a fairly dry mix then, thin and very dense. Bowl lathering made no sense to me - why waste time building lather in a bowl, when I could build better lather right on my face?

Mitchell's Wool Fat turned me into a bowl latherer. I just couldn't face lather with it, and hated it. I got the same thin. bubbly, disappearing lather that many complain about with MWF. I have sensitive skin on my face that can actually get "sunburn" from too much brush work, so face lathering alone with MWF wasn't gettin' it.

Desperate, I tried MWF in a bowl. The lather was just OK, but hey, at least it wasn't thin and didn't disappear. Over time, I learned that MWF likes a lot of bowl work, and a lot of water. It takes time to build, but is worth it. The quality of the lather, in density, slickness, pearly moisture, is superb. And if I'm willing to do the work, I've learned I can get it every time, with any water, using any brush.

I follow this up with a lot of face lathering. I've gravitated to bigger, softer brushes to allow this without burning my skin. The lather I get is superb. Of all my fickleness in razors, stones, and strops, the one constant is MWF in a bowl, with a lot of water and hand working, followed by a healthy face lathering. I don't mind the extra time and effort, the shave is that pleasant. MWF in a bowl is all I've used for the past 18 months. I'll throw in some Castle Forbes Lavender cream sometimes on weekends, if I just want to go over the top.

Tabac and Speick stick are great for face lathering alone, they build quickly. But I still prefer MWF in a bowl, followed by face lathering.

Hi Tim
Thanks for the post...I personally never tried MWF, but from what I've read here (and other posts), it seems like I'm missing out. I am thinking, at some point, to get me some and try to see what the fuss is about :).

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Originally Posted by FatboySlim

Same here.

I started out DE shaving as a face latherer. I liked a fairly dry mix then, thin and very dense. Bowl lathering made no sense to me - why waste time building lather in a bowl, when I could build better lather right on my face?

Mitchell's Wool Fat turned me into a bowl latherer. I just couldn't face lather with it, and hated it. I got the same thin. bubbly, disappearing lather that many complain about with MWF. I have sensitive skin on my face that can actually get "sunburn" from too much brush work, so face lathering alone with MWF wasn't gettin' it.

...

Tabac and Speick stick are great for face lathering alone, they build quickly. But I still prefer MWF in a bowl, followed by face lathering.

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I lather in a bowl, but I agree I do keep lathering on my face afterwards. The best of both worlds I reckon..! :D

For me, at least, the difference is most noticeable in the first couple of passes, when the brush is loaded with thick soap, that is just worked into the beard even after you thin it out by adding some water to the brush tip and continue lathering. Just much more lubricating and slippery than just applying pre-made lather. Same principle when using a shave stick. My 2c.

I'm with Robin on this one.

I make the lather in my Granddad's shaving mug. Then I use the brush to "paint" it on my strong, square, viking face. :medvl:

All I do is face lather now with a bit of puck rubbing with the brush and water first. I just don't see the point of moving the brush to different containers and making my arm hurt to raise lather it does the same thing on my wet face..

...It saves a ton of time too.

Hi Otto...Hmmm, I've seen that mug somewhere ;)...Looks great my friend

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Originally Posted by Otto

I'm with Robin on this one.

I make the lather in my Granddad's shaving mug. Then I use the brush to "paint" it on my strong, square, viking face. :medvl:

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Originally Posted by BladeRunner001

Well...we've all seen this debates: face lathering or bowl lathering.

This post is to put in my $0.02. Comments appreciated.

To the bowl lather aficionados out there (yours truly included):

Whether you realize it or not, you are doing both. Here's why: when you bowl lather for that golden couple of minutes to achieve/build that uberlather and feel the pride and joy flow through every fiber of your body and face the mirror and say the the face latherers:

"Hahhh...you don't know what you are missing and certainly don't know what you are talking about"...

STOP and consider the fact as soon as you are done bowl lathering, you take that scoop or perfect lather from the bowl and put it to your face and in the time it takes for you to rub that creme into your beard (using your brush), all the while thinking how ridiculous face lathering must be, you continue to build more lather!!! ...on your face, that is. Not the bowl.

So, in effect, we are ALL "closet" face latherers of some sort...Are we not?

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You make a very good point. Out of face lathering and bowl lathering, I personally like face lathering better. As I am creating lather on my face, it is also softening and standing up the whiskers at the same time, so I get more time with the lather on my face. With a bowl, the lather is on my face half the time it is when I face lather.

I'm not sure what I do. I just swish the brush around until I think there is enough soap on it, and rub it into my beard. I don't build up a lot of lather in the bowl because it will just get poured down the drain, and waste my soap. Is that face lathering?

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Originally Posted by Gigmaster

I'm not sure what I do. I just swish the brush around until I think there is enough soap on it, and rub it into my beard. I don't build up a lot of lather in the bowl because it will just get poured down the drain, and waste my soap. Is that face lathering?

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Yeap...I think you are face lathering

I'm all about time efficiency. If I lathered in a bowl, I'd end up spending twice as long to do the exact same thing!!!

For some of us building lather in a bowl is just part of the experience. Shaving is more than a chore at that point so we don't mind taking the extra time. We're having fun.

Also, my technique is a little different since I'm female. Legs are big and have a lot of surface area to shave. If I try to lather all at once toward the end the quality of the lather starts to drop. I lather a little and shave a little and then lather a little more and shave a little more as I work my way around. I'm more about quality than speed. A bowl is a handy storage place for the lather I haven't used yet.

Lori

I have a nice ribbed pewter soap dish that rests nicely in my off hand, and enjoy the ritual of making lather in that. Plus, I'm messing around with a bunch of different soaps and it gives me a closer view of how each one behaves.

Once on the face, I don't know how much more the lather develops. I suspect it breaks down and re-develops as I manhandle it into the stubble. If I do a second pass, then I'm just spreading the bowl lather.

Im about half and half

I tend to bowl lather creams and face lather soaps. I enjoy doing both for different reasons but I usually bowl lather to heat up the lather and enjoy the experience.

I do both, but I do it on purpose.
For soaps, I face lather only. I'll start with a wet brush and swirl and load the soap right on the puck. If it's a stick, I go directly to my face with the stick then a slightly drier brush.

I use a bowl for creams, and i'm not so much making lather as loading my brush. I'll take a wrung out wet brush, swirl a few times to get some soap, and then start to load the brush in a small bowl. Once I start to see lather form, I take a look and judge how wet it is and start applying the brush to my face and adding water as I go.

If I'm doing uber lather (current favorite is MWF and T&H Rose). I'll typically use a larger bowl and in that case I'll load the brush on the soap and add a snurdle of lather directly into the bowl and start my mixing there. Then complete on my face.
Although my favorite way to make my favorite uber lather is to use my self made MWF shave stick, and then start the cream lather as I normally would and then mix directly on my mug =).

Scuttles are nice, but I don't have room for them on my sink.

Just my 2 cents..

FWIW: I mug lather. I lather in the mug til it looks just right, then I lather on my mug.


Once the lather spreads out on my face it's got too much surface area and dries/evaporates/disappears too quickly and too easily. If I work it in my Old Spice mug I can get the moisture and consistency right and have a nice shave. When I've tried face lathering, it just ends up being a fight and that's not enjoyable.

some of us build lather on our hands and then slap it on like aftershave. we who do this are not closet face latherers; we are closet palm latherers. and we will not be pressured to come out of that closet for all your facial temptations