Thread: How long do you let your lather sit?

Anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes, depending on what I choose to do between lathering and shaving

I typically do a combination. I strop a bit before I hit the shower and then when I get out of the shower I'll work in my lather than strop a bit more before the razor touches my face.

JF

I soak a hot wash cloth and hold that on my face for 45 to 60 sec. Then whomp up a nice heated lather in my Scwartz scuttle apply the lather and again wrap the hot wash cloth on that for another minute. Sometimes I'll substitute a pre-shave oil or Valobra stick or Musgo real glycerin soap for the second face soaking. Then I apply the lather for shaving and strop the razor. Usually there is much lather left over and use up what I need through my routine.
Mike

If I hot shave I will shower then lather, strop, then apply a steamed towel. After it cools I will repeat. Then I relather and shave. This whole process will take about ten minutes, plus or minus.
If I cold shave I just apply the ice cold lather one quarter of my face at a time then go straight to shaving. Then move on to another quarter. This whole shave takes about ten minutes.

-G

I strop my razor first, then take a hot shower. Afterwards, I craft my lather, apply it and massage it into my beard, rinse and apply some bay rum to my beard, then relather.

I shower, lather, strop, freshen up the lather with a few more drops of water and another pass of the brush, then shave.

I suspect though, that since the primary purpose of the lather is to hold moisture against the skin so the hairs can absorb it and soften, that if you wash and wet your face down really well in the shower and shave immediately afterward, there probably isn't much gained by having it on while stropping...

On the other hand, if you're shaving without showering first (e.g. such is the case in a barber shop), then letting it do its moisturizing work on the hairs while stropping - or, better yet, preceeding it with a steaming towel - is no doubt of immense benefit.