Thread: New Guy Lather Questions

Hey fellas, I'm new to straight shaving, and just have two lather questions. I'm using Conk's Bay Rum soap; after reading the various posts on this site, I now know that this isn't the best soap, but I'm still learning. Now, for my questions:

1) Should I be making enough lather at the begining to cover all of my passes, or build new lather between each pass?

2) When there is excess lather in my mug when finished shaving, should this be cleaned out or reused?

Thanks for all of the help.

you need to make enough lather for all your passes, and after you are done rinse what is left off.

+1 to mainaman. If you build lather this way it's also a good test to see if your lather is quality and that you're building it properly. If any of those are not up-to-snuff the lather will not hold for all passes.

Originally Posted by mainaman

you need to make enough lather for all your passes, and after you are done rinse what is left off.

Hello, Chay2K:

My friend mainaman offers sound advice.

I might add one more note: if by chance you feel, say, on the third pass your lather is not enough, it's all right to give your brush a few swirls in the soap and then build some more lather in your lather bowl. If you face lather, the same rule applies: a few additional swirls of the soap and build lather on your face. You might have to add a little water here, but that's all right, too.

Definitely wash everything after the shave.

Regards,
Obie

Originally Posted by mainaman

you need to make enough lather for all your passes, and after you are done rinse what is left off.

+1 on Stefan's advice

Make enough for 3-4 passes...You'll get the nag of how much soap to load after a few tries...If you fall short at the beginning, you can always load up (as Obie suggested) and face lather (that way you don;t spend too much time bowl lathering in between passes)

I know that most will disagree, but there is no need to remove the residual lather at the end of the shave. The dried residue will still be perfectly useable when building lather on the following day.

Good advice has already been given. I'd just like to add, always put lather on your face when you make a pass.

Its sometimes tempting to go back and touch up an area without any lather on it if you find you missed a spot at the end or something. Dont do that, always take the time to re-apply lather to the area. Your face will thank you for it!

Originally Posted by Utopian

I know that most will disagree, but there is no need to remove the residual lather at the end of the shave. The dried residue will still be perfectly useable when building lather on the following day.

It's soap and wont hurt a thing. Unless you vary your soaps from time to time and do not want one mixed with the other, there is no need to rinse it out.

Originally Posted by Utopian

I know that most will disagree, but there is no need to remove the residual lather at the end of the shave. The dried residue will still be perfectly useable when building lather on the following day.

I actually agree...I tried that too and the "used" lather is equally good the next day. However, keeping the old until the next day is just not worth it for me. I clean up (less "stuff" on counter that way and less clutter) and just use a fresh batch the next day

Originally Posted by BladeRunner001

I actually agree...I tried that too and the "used" lather is equally good the next day. However, keeping the old until the next day is just not worth it for me. I clean up (less "stuff" on counter that way and less clutter) and just use a fresh batch the next day

I don't understand the source of the clutter. Whether your lathering mug does or does not have lather in it, the mug takes up the same amount of space.