Thread: Lathering on face

I have been experimenting with this lately.

I don't get the same lather on the face as I do in the scuttle, or at least not as fast. However, lathering on the face seems better for softening the beard and feels slicker with better glide with the same brush and soap than in the scuttle. Lathering in the Moss scuttle produces lather that looks great, but does not perform as well...

Wondering if other people notice the same.

Cheers
Ivo

Yes absolutely. I started using a bowl and then Moss Scuttle to make my lather as that's what everyone on B&B was doing when I got into wetshaving. You can make a great looking lather that way but slowly I cam around to lathering on my face.

I find that the time spent lathering on the face means I'm spending longer actually working the soap into the beard, and lifting the bristles, rather than spending that time whipping up the lather in the bowl. I found I got a much better shave that way, and my skin feels nicers afterwards. The lather seems thicker and less fluffy, and yields a much smoother shave with a straight. Also there's less to clean up after the shave.

The only downside, it is quite nice having hot lather from the Moss Scuttle in the winter!

I actually sold my scuttle last week, as I couldn't remember the last time I used it.

I saw the ad for the scuttle, Iwan

I think I'll keep mine for now... Living in FL - so not that cold in the winter here but I still like a warm brush myself

I also know that mparker lathers on the face and is very satisfied with the results(this is why I started experimenting, actually). I am surprised more people don't do it - if results are indeed better, and there is less stuff on the counter / to clean...

Cheers
Ivo

Originally Posted by Iwan

Yes absolutely. I started using a bowl and then Moss Scuttle to make my lather as that's what everyone on B&B was doing when I got into wetshaving. You can make a great looking lather that way but slowly I cam around to lathering on my face.

I find that the time spent lathering on the face means I'm spending longer actually working the soap into the beard, and lifting the bristles, rather than spending that time whipping up the lather in the bowl. I found I got a much better shave that way, and my skin feels nicers afterwards. The lather seems thicker and less fluffy, and yields a much smoother shave with a straight. Also there's less to clean up after the shave.

The only downside, it is quite nice having hot lather from the Moss Scuttle in the winter!

I actually sold my scuttle last week, as I couldn't remember the last time I used it.

I hate to hear that! The scuttle was designed as a "resting" place for your brush and the benefit was that it kept the lather warm. Although it's possible to build lather in the scuttle, that was not the intent of the design.

RT

The reason you notice a difference when you lather on your face is simply because you spend more time working the lather directly on your face, instead of building the lather in a bowl or mug and then applying it. I now build my soap lather directly on my face, but I still prefer a bowl for creams.

RT

I still have my scuttle, but it's holding batteries for my wiimote at the moment. My problem is that warm lather sounds really great, but it's probably more attractive to the northern members. Living in Houston, I prefer the feel of cool lather on my face.
I'll probably haul it out sometime in late january, and use it through early march, then it's back to lathering up on my face.

I've stopped using hot towels for the same reason. I just wash my face with a nice soap (williams shaving soap works very well), then rub on some conditioner then strop, rinse, lather, and shave.

Re: conditioner

As Kyle has posted at B&B (and I have noticed myself) some conditioners actually may impede shaving by unnecessarily strengthening the hair. I have used several of them, and the shave quality has been different. Lately I don't use any, btw.

Wondering what is the best conditioner to use in people's experience

Cheers
Ivoo

Originally Posted by rtaylor61

...I now build my soap lather directly on my face, but I still prefer a bowl for creams.

RT

Yes, Randy - I was talking about soap. I don't use almost any creams.

I think I prefer the idea of using a soap to start with, and then I get better glide and protection with them, too. So it's a no-brainer. I have only heard that creams may be more moisturizing... Anyway, I have (had) a couple of them and the Lucky Tiger shave lotion is actually quite nice. I may get some more just for the scents / moisturizing effect.

Cheers
Ivo

I had a bunch of english creams and loved the smell but disliked the shave. I kept coming back to them figuring it was just a matter of technique, but after a year or so I just decided it wasn't worth worrying about and gave them to the wife to use for shaving her legs.

The only creams I use nowadays are cremo cream and palmolive, both shave very well. Pity about the smell though.

Originally Posted by rtaylor61

The reason you notice a difference when you lather on your face is simply because you spend more time working the lather directly on your face, instead of building the lather in a bowl or mug and then applying it. I now build my soap lather directly on my face, but I still prefer a bowl for creams.

RT

Randy,
I prefer building my cream lather on my face. I find it gets worked into the beard better and makes for a better shave.

I also like the English creams too..