Thread: Keeping lather warm

Today I tried out making lather per Colleen (thegentlemansquarter.com) suggestion--by putting a small dime-sized dab of shaving cream in a bowl, adding a teaspoon of hot water, aggressively swirling it with my brush, then adding another teaspoon of hot water.

It made a really nice rich lather...but got cold very quickly.

Suggestions for keeping lather warm?

I soaked my mug and brush in hot water
the other day for several minutes while I
took a shower. It kept the lather warm
throughout my shave, WTG, XTG and ATG.
Hope this helps.

John

Suttle does the trick.

I don't have a microwave myself (hate 'em) but some people seem to heat their latter in it, after they finish whipping it up.

Maybe you can try that out sometime,
Good luck,
Bart.

Originally Posted by JGS

Suttle does the trick.

Well, I've been using a scuttle, but the little bowl just isn't big enough to build much lather in and when I use a cream, I worry about losing it by it dripping down through the holes.

I recommend a moss scuttle. You can make your own redneck variety with violet pots (two pots mated to fit within each other), find a large mug or glass measuring cup and a bowl that fits in the top, or buy one online. Another option is a bowl with high sides, and a sink partly full of hot water. Soak bowl in hot water ahead of time, change hot water in sink filling up so half of the bowl is covered with water. I'm currently working with some pottery students at my university to make me a custom moss scuttle for dirt cheap (literally! I'm playing for the clay!) so if you know any good local potters...

This may get some big nos from naysayers, but I haven't had any problems keeping lather warm doing this and have had no ill effects on the brush thus far.

I fill a mug with boiling water from the kettle before I shower, putting the brush in it to soak after it has cooled off for about a minute (so is just under boiling). I shower(5-15 mins), and by the time I get to the mug for use it's warm and so is the water in the brush. I empty the mug, and flick the brush 3 times into the sink, adding no additional water, and then either lather up on a soap puck or grab some body shop shave cream on the brush and build lather in the mug. It is plenty enough to keep the lather warm for 3 passes even though the mug I am currently using is not very thick.

alternatively, look up mantic59's videos on lather on youtube, he has some good ideas.

Preheating with boiling water is wonderful for your mug/scuttle/sink/other heavy, heat holding lather building device. I'm not sure about pouring boiling water on a good brush though, probably let that soak in normal hot water if you could. Granted, I could probably use this with my 5$ boar hair brush from Bed Bath...

I gotta get a better brush.

Originally Posted by BenMVermont

Preheating with boiling water is wonderful for your mug/scuttle/sink/other heavy, heat holding lather building device. I'm not sure about pouring boiling water on a good brush though, probably let that soak in normal hot water if you could. Granted, I could probably use this with my 5$ boar hair brush from Bed Bath...

I gotta get a better brush.

Please note I didn't say to pour boiling water on a good brush! - I said to wait a minute or two (which will cool the water a bit) before putting the brush in it.

You got two options if you arn't looking antique... Moss or Super:





(Thanks Taz for the pics)

the Moss is on the left (Blue) and the super is on the right (White, Grey, Black)

I have a super scuttle (Thanks Lynn) and I love it to death! The Moss is good for keeping the lather warm but no good at making it (or so I heard). My super scuttle can hold quite a bit of lather and still swirl up some more and keep it warm for all three passes without making a mess!