I have about 5 shaves in so far, I used a soap puck and a shaving mug(looks like coffee mug) that I picked up at a flea market. I have just been adding water to the mug/puck and building my lather in it, it has worked so far.

This last weekend I had a chance to go to the "Art of Shaving" store in Dallas, I picked up a soap puck in the wooden bowl. I figured at that point I would start researching the proper way to use the wooden bowl, many youtube videos later and reading on these forums. I am confused.

Do I use it like I did the mug/puck? and build my lather on top of the wooden bowl/puck? or am I suppose to have a shaving bowl separate from wooden bowl/puck to build my lather in? or are you suppose build it in your hand or face?

Last night I tried to build it in my hand and it just didn't work well, almost no lather at all.....

sorry for the dumb question......