As I shave in the morning before work I don't have much time for fancy lathering and heating. I usually just drop my brush and cloth into the sink fill it with hot water and take my shower. I then get out grab brush and either work the soap in my mug slop it on and then take a raor to it. It works very well for me. In the past on a weekend I would put very hot water in my scuttle and soak the brush in there and get very hot soap lather on my face ok but not worth the trouble on a daily basis.