I tend to leave my lather just a little on the thin/watery side in the bowl for the first pass. I'm going to work it in, especially if I've let my shaves slide and the beard is a little on the long side. Takes some work to get the lather down to the skin and the hair fully covered, so it's usually just about right when I'm done with the brush work.

The second pass when %95 of the hair is gone I can thicken the lather and just paint it on real quick.