Thread: Bowl lather - application question

I actually learned this from a video Glen (gssixgun) has on youtube, after applying the lather letting it set on your face actually stands the hair up a bit. It is crazy after watching that I thought huh, ill give that a go. So bowl lather then apply and I let that set, it does make the hair stand up almost like poke through. Depending on my mood I will either wash this off with nice hot water and reapply or simply just shave. So many different rituals for sure but that is what makes it fun. Also trying something new now and again

I also pre-lather.

I use the soap I am least happy with in order to get rid of it.

If you watch the vids of barbers giving shaves, they almost always use a pre-lather before the actual shave. YMMV.

I do on occassion pre lather in the shower and let it stay whilst I shower, then wash off with hot water before getting out.

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Gentlemen,

The best part of the shave for me is the lathering ritual. That's why I spend time on it. That's also why I insist on top of the line silvertip and super shaving brushes, and the best shave soaps and creams I can find.

I spend time creating a silky cloud of lather in my Schwarzweisskeramik scuttle, and then just as much time lathering my Hollywood face. Working from home affords me the sweet time spent on the complete shaving ritual.

Here is my process for the first pass: I wet my face and then apply a relatively quick coat of lather and massage it in; then comes the hot towel over the lather, a routine of three applications, about fifteen seconds each; and finally I wipe off the lather and apply a pre-shave, which is almost always Castle Forbes.

Now comes lathering. Using the brush in a combination of circular and painting motion, directional and multi-directional, I spent as much time as I want lathering, three minutes, four minutes, sometimes even more. The second and the third passes require less time, but they get the necessary attention, although without the hot towel routine and the pre-shave.

Caressing my Hollywood face with a luscious brush and lather kissed by a corps of angels makes for one of life's greatest joys, gentlemen.

i may need to consider spending a little more time on my PRE-game. i shave at night (because i covet every last second of sleep/time in bed) so miss out on hydrating my face in the shower. all i do is splash some water on the face and go. but my water is so hard and my skin so dry that lather dries very quickly no matter how hydrated the lather in the bowl. it dries so quickly in fact that i segment applying lather to my face - 1) cheeks then 2) upper lip and chin and finally 3) neck. same for the 2nd or 3rd passes.

There's nothing wrong at all with only lathering in sections. That can help a lot starting out, until you're able to shave faster. Since you're not able to shave right after a shower, try the hot towel treatment. While your brush is soaking wet a hand towel with hot water & hold it over your face. Depending on towel size, you might be able to clothes pin the corners behind your head to free up your hands to start lathering. It also sometimes helps after that to lather up your face, massage it in with your fingers & then apply another towel. When that one cools after a couple minutes lather up & shave. Your whiskers should be noticeably softer and easier to shave.

Edit: my water is pretty hard too. It helps to add a few drops of glycerin in your bowl when you start building the lather. That'll help it foam up better & stay wet a little bit longer.

I just run the water till it's hot, then build a lather in my Old Spice shaving bowl, then apply said lather to face. I do like it pretty thick so the less water I use the better. Then shave, Most of the time the razor I am using is so sharp it is a ONE pass affair, a couple of others are just 2 passes. I have never had to use 3 passes to get a smooth shave. BTW, Col. Conk Amber soap is some good stuff.

I build a good lather in the bowl and while good enough to shave with right out of the bowl I take that lather and work it on my face a little and seems to make it a little richer, plus feels good. Another use of the bowl for me is that sometimes I like to mix a soap and a cream and the bowl is where I do that.

Originally Posted by xiaotuzi

I build a good lather in the bowl and while good enough to shave with right out of the bowl I take that lather and work it on my face a little and seems to make it a little richer, plus feels good. Another use of the bowl for me is that sometimes I like to mix a soap and a cream and the bowl is where I do that.

Yes, this is me too.

I get the lather to a certain point in the bowl and then finish it up on my face. Kind of a best of both worlds thing.

I sometimes use a scuttle in the winter to keep the lather nice and warm for my second pass.

Like Obie I spend a lot of time on the lathering ritual however having a Broadway Face and not a mere Hollywood face it just demands the best of everything so I lather many times and hot towel with the lather on before and after the shave. Face lathering makes my face very happy.