Thread: Thought about showering first and lather..

There have been threads addressing whether or not to shave before a shower. I have found no noticeable difference aside from one, and I'll explain in a sec. As long as I hot towel my face, the whiskers don't seem any different. What I HAVE noticed however, is I get much more copious lather when my face is clean out of the shower. The oil on my face, or anybody's face, acts like a bubble killer so to speak. I can brush all day, but unless my face is squeaky clean, I won't get the luxurious lather that is preferred. Doesn't matter which soap/cream I use. Picture dropping grease into a sink full of soapy dishwater. The grease kills the suds. Same thing seems to apply when I get up, hot towel my face, and start lathering my sleepy face. If you're gonna shave before showering, scrub that mug first and get rid of the overnight oils. Really makes a difference for me, at least with the lather. As a side note, I've been paying attention to different soaps and the ingredients. Col Conk lime glycerine doesn't seem to lather near as fully as the amber. Citrus will also kill suds, if you get my drift. Oh that smell though. When it comes right down to it, the glyerine still makes it glide, and I have to wipe my razor less! Food for thought.

You've hit the nail on the head. With me the only difference is that when I shave after showering I find I get a more comfortable shave using the same prep routine. I think the hot towel is what really does it.