Van Der Hagen shave set

Just a quick newb question. I've only just ordered a straight razor, but have been using shave soaps and brushes for a while. However i have yet to use the shave soap that comes in a disk like van der hagen, or wilkinsons. I've just been using the tubed kind that whips up easily in the bowl. So my question is, DO i leave the disk in the bowl and whip up the lather on top of it? do i wet the brush, rub it on the soap disk, then prepare lather in the bowl? and can these shaving soap disks dry out if you just leave them in the bowl? sorry so many questions, like i said i'm a newb to this old school stuff haha

I used to keep the soap in my mug, but now I do it like I saw on the youtube. I whip up some soap on the brush first, and then make the lather in the mug.

YouTube - Mama Bear Demonstrasjon


Enjoy! :beer2:

:)well that answers my question perfectly...thanks!
on a side note, was that video in german??

Hello, bkk:

Yes, from what I understand, that video was made for Mama Bear in Germany.

Mama Bear is an excellent soap, by the way, and the service from Mama Bear is also excellent: Mama Bears Soaps and Gift Shop , Mama Bears Shaving Soaps and Bath Products for the Discerning Gentleman and Lady

Regards,

Obie

I used to make lather in the same mug that I kept my soap in when I first started out because I didn't know any better. I struggled to perfect my lathering. I finally saw the video posted above and others and the light bulb went off. I was wasting alot of soap. Now I charge in my mug and go straight to face lathering. Face lathering with VDH was much better but still not great.

I watched the mama bear video I thought I would try the pumping technique to charge it a little bit more in the brush (this morning actually) and I got a great lather from the VDH for the first time. This is with a badger brush. My VDH boar brush never would give me a good lather.

Also, you asked about wetting the brush and prepping soap....yes. Most people, including myself, put some water in the mug with the soap to soften it up a little while they shower. I usually just run water over my brush but sometimes I soak it. Poor the water out of the brush, charge your bristles and get to lathering.

There is another post on melting VDH, but it does melt very easily with shorth 10 sec bursts in the microwave. This will help keep your puck from swirling all around while you are charging your brush.

Even though I have a scuttle I rarely use it. Basically I wet the brush swirl it in the dish the soap is kept in and make the actual lather on my face.

All my soap dishes have covers. I let them dry and cover until next use. I find if the dish stays open all the time and you rotate soaps the scent slowly evaporates not to mention little nasties can get in. That's not a problem if you only use 1 or 2 soaps however when you rotate 8 soaps like I do it's another story.