Thread: Bowl lather - application question

Okay. There are literally 1000s of videos on face lathering. And each one shows the person building a thick lather over time on the face repeatedly going front-ways and back-ways and side-ways and circular motions etc.

But my question is this ... for those of you who bowl lather instead ... since the lather is already in its (near) final thick, slick, merange-like state in the bowl, just how much application on the face to you do? Do you still work it into the face with lots of repeated motions? Or do you simply use the brush to 'paint' the lather onto your face in a few simple, quick strokes?

I know that a couple days of growth will always require the lather to be 'worked' into the skin and hair regardless of method but if you shave every day - or even every other - it seems like all the work is done already the bowl so only a quick application to the face is truly necessary.

Just wondering what other bowl latherers were doing.
-s.

I do both face and bowl lather; face lather on the go, and bowl at home.
When I use a bowl, the lather is good enough to go, but I like the feel and slight exfoliation of working the lather in.
The feeling of having my face 'worked over' by a brush regardless of face or bowl lathering is one of the perks of wet shaving.

I work the lather into my face, as this helps it get under the whiskers and soften them up. Just merely "painting" it on does not produce the same results as working it in. It also just simply feels good.

From my understanding it's the working of the lather in with the brush that lifts the hair and readies it for the slice. And it feels good 😂.

So I always work it in regardless.

Geek

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As others have said, I work it into my face. To me it's important for a close shave to get it into the whiskers before you start.

I only face lather so, by default, the lather is worked.

After lathering I let it rest for a minute or two to perform its majic on the hair.

One approach is to just build a proto lather in the bowl, only takes a few seconds, then go to the face.

it just seems like with only one days growth there really isnt that much 'working into the skin' necessary. should only require a few strokes to get your face lathered and ready to accept the blade. the rest is just ritual - i.e. more want than need.

same question goes for 2nd and 3rd pass. since 90%+ of the hair is removed by the first pass, the 2nd or 3rd pass doesnt require nearly as much lather or prep.

Originally Posted by rolodave

I only face lather so, by default, the lather is worked.

After lathering I let it rest for a minute or two to perform its majic on the hair.

I also like to let it sit for a minute or two. I've gotten into the habit of stropping right after lathering specifically for said magic.

I build mine in a bowl. We have fairly hard water & that way if I screw up I can see it & start over without washing my face. Once done tho, I do spend a good 30-45 seconds working it in with the brush. Usually, if I have plenty of time, I do the first coat and massage that in really well with my hands, then another hot towel before reapplying and getting down to business.