Thread: Your Techniques (creme)

I am sure this has been asked some time in the past, but since there are obviously new members with possibly new answers... FOR CREME USERS (I have posted an identical thread for soap users)

How do you build your lather? Do you load your brush? Do you squirt some in a mug? How do you, personally, prefer to build your lather?

I make mine in a bowl by taking a pea- or almond-sized amount (depending on the creme) and going at it until I get what I want. Since I mostly uberlather, I load my brush a couple of times and mix in some glycerin and mix all of this into a fabulously thick and moist lather. Works for me

Depends on the cream but for most of them, I simply lightly turn the tips of my brush on the surface and then face lather. Works like a charm and my creams last forever. Always have plenty of lather for at least 2 passes with this tecnique. For creams that come in a tube I use an almond size dollup and lather in a bowl.

I have a very large (double) scuttle. It seems to make a huge difference in lather building. It's over 6 inches in diameter. Creams that were so so in the past now lather more easily. Brush type also plays a role. A heavy dense brush, like a Rooney, may take more cream than others.

For Shave creams, I use a Demitasse spoon, and usually load just the tip of it. Maybe 1/2 an almond. For most creams, I find that's more than enough. I'll take it off the spoon with my finger and smear it in the bottom of the scuttle. I'll give it a minute to heat up, then start working it with the brush, add water, a very small amount at a time, maybe a teaspoons worth, keep whipping, and Voila...! Add water as needed...

i pull up a small amount of cream and smear it on the edge of my chin.. then take a damp brush to it.

For creams, I soak my brush in warm/hot water in my lather bowl. When I get ready to make the lather, I'll pour out the water and shake/squeeze out most of the water from the brush, put a little cream in the bottom of the bowl (pea to almond size amount), then work it into a lather. Add a couple drops of water as needed. I'd rather start out dry and add water than try to take some out...

i always have trouble with creams. but the way i do it is just putting a small dollop (about almond size) in the bottom of a hot mug and gradually add water and whip it up with my brush until i get enough lather to use

-dan-

Originally Posted by sinnfein

i always have trouble with creams. but the way i do it is just putting a small dollop (about almond size) in the bottom of a hot mug and gradually add water and whip it up with my brush until i get enough lather to use

-dan-

Hi Dan,
Try a variation on your theme...put the almond-sized creme in the mug, but now don't add water yet (maybe just a few drops). Now start whipping it up for 20 seconds, then gradually add water (literally a few drops at a time), whip for another 20 seconds and continue until you reach that sweet spot. If you add water at the beginning, you don't know how much is enough

Originally Posted by BladeRunner001

If you add water at the beginning, you don't know how much is enough

I understand what you're trying to say, but I don't necessarily agree....

Yes, conventional SRP shaving wisdom tells us if you over-soak a cream right from the start (or a soap for that matter) you will end up with a thin, watery lather. The only remedy here is to load the brush again until the ratio is correct. In general, creams are fairly soft and require very little water to begin lathering, usually no more water than what's in your brush initially so you can gradually add more to get that perfect lather.

However, this approach doesn't seem to work as well with the thicker creams like Castle Forbes and Caraceni, creams which are known water hogs that allow you to break the so-called rules. In this case it is beneficial to add some water to your dollop of cream beforehand, perhaps a teaspoon or so just to soften the cream while you have a shower or prep. I find if you don't your brush will be chasing that dab of cream around your lather bowl, resulting in a diluted lather that will not allow you to get the best performance out of your cream. Then just gradually add small portions of water as usual to attain your own perfect lather.

i may seem like a loon for saying this.. however.. i think most users of traditional shave products don't realize the product's true intensity..

you can get a an almond sized dab of proraso and add a few drops of water and get a great lather in a few seconds.. or you can add a tablespoon and really work that brush around for a few minutes and get the same effect.. if not better..

the shaving creams and soaps we use are highly concentrated.. they will hold a tremendous amount of water if we are willing to really sit there and work it..

or maybe i'm just talking nonsense.. i ask you to give it a try.. overall.. the shave experience is very enjoyable.