useing lather as a pre shave preperation

[sylphr]

I have tried to find the thread where I originally found something like this mentioned but I have been experimenting. I heat water for coffee in a kettle and after it cools from the boil for a bit I fill my scuttle before bathing. and soak the brush. The soap in my scuttle is Col. Conk lime glycerin soap and it lathers fairly well when its warmed up.
-I lather my face with the Col. Conk soap and use whats left in my brush and make uberlather with a snurdle TOBSt cream in a bowl
-Hot towel on the face or just a hot water splash and then re-lather from the bowl
Seems to help get all the whiskers standing up. Has anyone else done something similar?

[Blix]

My prep is pretty much always massaging some lather into my beard for a minute or two before I start shaving, works very good for me.

[Gammaray]

I know all the Proraso fans will be upset with me because although expensive it seems to be everyones favorite. I like Proraso pre-shave too. However, Barbasol has more stearic acid (beard busting softener) than just about anything you can buy for less than one dollar at Wal-Mart. And one can lasts a year. I thin layer is what I use right after my shower while preparing my brush, cream and stropping the straight. About ten minutes later I wash it off and go for it. The whiskers can't get much softer. The more time you leave it on the better.

[thebigspendur]

I usually lather up and let the lather sit on my face while I strop and do a few other things.

[pixelfixed]

Head shave in the shower,lather head and face,shave head,rinse,dry,go to sink,relather face, shave.
Works for me.

[htmitten]

When I was growing up the barbers used to apply lather, then wrap a hot wet towel for a couple of minutes.

[AFDavis11]

I know all the Proraso fans will be upset with me because although expensive it seems to be everyones favorite. I like Proraso pre-shave too. However, Barbasol has more stearic acid (beard busting softener) than just about anything you can buy for less than one dollar at Wal-Mart. And one can lasts a year. I thin layer is what I use right after my shower while preparing my brush, cream and stropping the straight. About ten minutes later I wash it off and go for it. The whiskers can't get much softer. The more time you leave it on the better.

This is really an inexpensive option too!

[jhenry]

I agree. You can use lather as a beard prep. I use it occasionally, but like the menthol in my Proraso or Vitos pre-post shave cream.

The Robeson Straight Razor Co. recommended the lather option--along w/ bay rum--to prepare the beard for shaving in the early 20th century in their promotional literature.

[AxelH]

Disatisfying soaps or cream can be utilized as body soap (maybe just the soaps), combining with other sub-par products (not an uberlather but a surviceable hybrid), or as beard-prep softeners. I could soap up my hands with hand soap for the shave prep but if I've got the soaked brush and lathering bowl out already...

[supersco]

This is a little off topic, but I find that applying regular hair conditioner right before I get out of the shower works nicely.