Post your Shaving Cream Lathering Techniques

[Scotto]

OK, kids, time for more reference material for us all to compile for those in need. First it was Shave Sticks (http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=1345), now for shaving creams.

Here is my technique:


Put bowl in sink. Fill with wicked hot water
Put brush in mug. Fill with wicked hot water
Turn on mug warmer (http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=1024&highlight=warmer) (optional)
Go take a shower
After shower, dump out water and re-fill bowl with wicked hot water
Re-heat brush briefly in hot water
Hold brush bristles down to let excess water drain out. Do this until flow stops
Give the brush a healthy shake, depending on its size. For a small brush I shake very little out. For a larger brush, a bigger shake.
Open cream container and scoop out a healthy amount, perhaps the size of a large nut*
Put cream on bristles (or in bowl)
Whip that lather into Great Big Gobs of Cool Whip (tm), using your bowl
If you need to add a sprinkle of water to get the right consistency, go ahead.
While bowl is not in use, place on mug warmer to stay nice and toasty


*I used to do the "poke and twist" method, but I feel this helps me gauge the cream amount better.

[bladerunner]

Hi-I usually put a few drops of hot water equivalentto half a teaspoon in the bottom of the mug. Then I take a spreader of shaving cream and spread it around the bottom of the mug. The trowel type spreader is more practical. I wet my brush with hot water and wipe off the excess cream from the spreader with it, then I mix it in the mug to produce a warm lather. If need be, I repeat.
For hard soaps-right now I'm using Col Conk's Bay Rum and Proraso. I just wet the brush and go around til a decent lather is formed. The Col Conk soap takes a while to produce a lather, while the Proraso is almost immediate and generous, not to mention sensational on the skin.

[rtaylor61]

I try to keep things simple. Once out of the shower, I dry my hair before shaving, so I have a few minutes.

Soak the brush in hot tap water

Add dollop of shaving cream into my mixing bowl, accompanied with about half a teaspoon of hot water

Let the brush drain and give a good flick or two to eliminate excess water (varies depending on the brush I am using)

Whip up the lather, adding additional drops of water as needed

Run hot water over the bottom of the bowl (I use a stainless steel mixing bowl, just hold at an angle)

Apply lather

I run hot water over the bottom of the bowl between passes and re-load the brush...great hot lather!

Randy

[apm]

Hi everyone,

This is my first post. BTW-I think this site rocks.

I use a veg based shave cream w/o animal products. I break out if I use shave creams that have animal ingredients. Hope this helps veg based shave cream users. Any suggestions would be appreciated

The shave cream I use already comes in a flip-top crock. Since it is veg based it doesn't create a lot of extra foam or whip. I've found that the super fluff initially just made me think that better, but in reality it was just fluff.

The stuff I use doesn't fluff. All I have to do is add hot water to the brush, do a couple of quick stirs and the cream is ready to apply.

The shave cream is then warm and creates a thin barrier. The sc I have is for sensitive skin. My understanding is that is has a lot of built in moisturizers. The great thing is I don't do a post shave because the shave cream is so moisturizing.

I think the technique is important, but if the shave cream is crap, well then so is your shave.

[gage0921]

After my shower I fill the sink with hot water and soak my brush while I dry off. After draining the brush and giving it a good shake I stick the tip of my brush in the cream and swirl, then build lather on my face. I let the lather sit on my face while I put away my shave cream then shave.

[Kyle]

1. Put bowl in sink and fill sink with hot water.
2. Remove bowl and put brush in it to soak.
3. Put shaving "cube" (CAR's product) in the sink.
4. Build lather on the cube.
5. Drop a finger full of paste into the brush.
6. Lather on face.
7. Refill core of brush with water.
8. Relather face & begin shave.

I am not a true "method shaver" but have really enjoyed what the cube does for the lather. It allows you to continually add water to the brush without much risk of washing the lather out. After several passes, the lather reaches a thick consistency that is fantastic for the t/c phase.

Kyle

[mrob]

Though I'm new to wet shaving, I've shaved in the shower for years, just using whatever cheap disposable razor and canned gel or cream (Barbasol!) was on sale at the grocery store. I wasn't really *happy* with my shave--lots of stubble, a few nicks from time to time, etc.--but didn't know that this was an option. . .

I've now upgraded my products, and am using a brush and a M3T, but still am shaving while in the shower. I have a nice little suction shelf in the corner of the stall on which sits my small stainless steel mixing bowl, tub of Trumpers Sandalwood and Prorasso, and my small but mighty SR101 shave brush. I also have a no-fog suction cup mirror afixed to the side wall of the stall. Here's the routine:

•fill up my bowl with hot water, and let the brush soak while I shower

•shower and shampoo--rinse

•empty the bowl, leaving a few drips in the bottom

•put a small dollop of Trumpers cream in the bottom of the bowl, or in my hand--I/m still experimenting :confused:

•whip up my lather

•apply to face--return brush to bowl

•shave--1st pass with grain, 2nd sideways

•rinse brush under showerhead, rinse razor, rinse and empty bowl

•rinse face under showerhead

•towel off, splash ice cold water on face and apply A/S

This seems to work for me, and is a less cumbersome process than showering, then drying off, then shaving in the sink. The whole shaving process happens in a warm, moist environment, my "stuff" is all right there on the shelf, and it takes less time.

Am I missing something?http://badgerandblade.com/vb/images/smilies/confused.gif

[Justso]

mrob,

No, I wouldn't say you are missing something. If you shave in the shower and it works for you, I say keep doing it. I personally have not shaved in the shower since I started the whole wet shaving routine for a couple reasons and I've posted this before, so I'm sure I'll get lambasted here shortly..

1. My hands get slippery in the shower and if I'm trying to hold a Vision razor with the water running constantly, I could lose grip on it and drop it. Now I use the Vision with the most aggressive setting I can get. I don't want to drop that thing on my foot (or other appendage) and slice myself good.

2. I don't want all that hot water running up a huge bill with the time it takes me to shave properly. Usually my shaves take 10-15 minutes in the morning. That's a long time time have water running. I just prefer to do it in the sink

3. Make sure you aren't leaving your brush in the shower after you shave, as it may not dry out and start mildewing.

[Kyle]

Before I started DE shaving, I shaved in the shower. While re-learning how to shave, I got out of the habit. I have thought about it but echo Justso's concerns about the water waste.

[mrob]

mrob,

No, I wouldn't say you are missing something. If you shave in the shower and it works for you, I say keep doing it. I personally have not shaved in the shower since I started the whole wet shaving routine for a couple reasons and I've posted this before, so I'm sure I'll get lambasted here shortly..

1. My hands get slippery in the shower and if I'm trying to hold a Vision razor with the water running constantly, I could lose grip on it and drop it. Now I use the Vision with the most aggressive setting I can get. I don't want to drop that thing on my foot (or other appendage) and slice myself good.

2. I don't want all that hot water running up a huge bill with the time it takes me to shave properly. Usually my shaves take 10-15 minutes in the morning. That's a long time time have water running. I just prefer to do it in the sink

3. Make sure you aren't leaving your brush in the shower after you shave, as it may not dry out and start mildewing.

Thanks--I appreciate your advice. Maybe I'll turn off the water while I shave, and move the brush outside the stall while it dries.

[vespergo]

fill bowl with warm water. let brush soak for 30 seconds. drain bowl. let brush drip till all water drips out for 8 seconds or so. put some cream into bowl.. swirl until a nice thick consistency appears that is uniforma throughout...

apply and enjoy shave.

[beatsjunkie]

1. put kettle on stove
2. fill mug with hot water from tap
3. when kettle whistles - dump hot water from mug and replace with boiling hot water
4. take mug to bathroom
5. turn on shower
6. place brush in mug of hot water
7. shower
7.1. dump hot water
7.2. load brush with shaving cream
7.3. build decent lather in mug
8. lather
9. strop razor 30 x
10. refresh lather
11. shave
12. optional second lather
13. optional second pass
14. rinse face with hot water
15. rinse face with cold water
16. aftershave balm
17. breakfast

[ratcheer]

Run very hot water from tap
Fill two black ceramic cereal bowls
Wait a minute, empty and refill the two bowls (for more heat)
Soak brush in one of the bowls
After a minute or two, while prepping my face, empty one bowl and add the cream
Shake out brush pretty well and start lathering
Add hot water a few drops at a time while lathering, until I get the lather I want
Empty the other bowl and fill about half way with fresh hot water
Nest the lather bowl into the water bowl to keep it warm
Shave and enjoy

Tim

[Sue]

The key is to have a really big 'Lathering Bowl' LOL. This one came with my Kitchen Aid mixer. I can make enough lather to shave an elephant! :biggrin:
Sue

[patrisVII]

0. breakfast
1. put kettle on stove
2. fill mug with hot water from tap
3. when kettle whistles - dump hot water from mug and replace with boiling hot water
4. take mug to bathroom
5. turn on shower
6. place brush in mug of hot water
7. shower
7.1. dump hot water
7.2. load brush with shaving cream
8. build lather on face
11. shave
12. optional second lather
13. optional second pass
14. rinse face with hot water
15. rinse face with cold water


Modified it a bit, but mine is the same as BeatsJunkies

[rikrdo]

Mine's a bit different....:wink:
************************
Fill sink with piping hot water
Fill lather bowl with 2-3 oz piping hot water and stick in sink
:eek: Load DRY brush with cream :eek:
Take brush to bowl and build lather
....add more water to bowl when needed.

[Prince]

The key is to have a really big 'Lathering Bowl' LOL. This one came with my Kitchen Aid mixer. I can make enough lather to shave an elephant! :biggrin:
Sue

You are the queen on that one. My wife would not like me using her Kitchen Aid bowl. 5 qt bowl full of lather. What to do, what to do.

Kudos for the original use.

1. Heat bowl with hot water
2. Heat mug with hot water
3. Place brush into mug
4. Dump out water in bowl
5. Add cream
6. Give a good shake or two to the brush
7. Lather away

[Fuzzy Face]

Sue, I like the Kitchen Aid lather bowl!

1. fill coffe mug w/distilled water and get my large coffee cup (which holds a thin metal bowl inside, surrounding it with VERY HOT water) and fill it with tap water. put these in the microwave for 2 minutes on high. press start.
2. walk into bathroom. turn on hot water in the sink. put "Da Cube" in the water and let it soak with my HD razor.
3. get my coffee mugs out of the microwave. (HOT!)
4. place mugs on the sink. Place brush in distilled water mug to soak. place thin metal bowl insert inside the other coffee mug, letting it float in the hot water absorbing the heat.
5. pick up "Da Cube" out of the sink and then take up the brush out of the distilled water and start scrubbing away making lather.
6. add a couple squirts of "Activator" into the center of my brush and keep building.
7. add some "shave paste" and build the lather some more.
8. put brush in metal bowl (hot!) and let it warm while I put some prorasso pre-shave on my face and then get a damp washcloth and nuke it for 25 seconds.
9. place hot wash cloth on face for 1-2 minutes.
10. NOW I'm ready to lather up and swipe the wiskers off my face in 3 passes from 3 directions.
11. wash with hot water
12. wash with cold water
13. Apply the Waleda Razierwasser. Very nice!
WOrks for me!:wink2:

[Rufus]

I gently dab my brush into the bowl of shaing cream and lather on my face. As this is not complicated enough for me, I am planning on buying one of Sara's (Nova Scotia) Ayars lathering bowls (named after Jim @ Vintage Blades I understand, the inventor) was also thinking about a Moss Scuttle. Any thoughts? I am not at all familiar with scuttles so don't even know if they are appropriate for shaving creams.

[Boogie]

I’m a shave in the shower guy, and I went to Wal-Mart and bought a cheap fog free mirror for about 7.00 that I have in the shower.
I start by filling my shave bowl with water as hot as I can get out of my tap, and let my brush soak while I shower.
After I have cleaned off, but while still in the shower, I empty my bowl and flick out my brush some.
I lather directly on my face (I only use my shave bowl for soaking my brush while I shower) so I load my brush up with what ever shaving product I have decided to use and spend about 2-3 minutes building a nice creamy lather on my face.
I then proceed to have fun with my 66 SuperSpeed.

My showers are much more fun nowadays.

[steveo]

I fill sink with hot water.Put brush and old spice shaving mug in sink.(Thinking of getting a larger shaving bowl or scuttle).Take shower .Empty sink drain brush .refill sink with hot water.Hot towel my face while i'm lathering.

[Chase-p]

1. Fill sink with HOT water, and soak brush
2. Shower
3. Empty and refill sink (Hot again)
4. Put some cheap glycerine soap on brush and lather up some
5. Put a bit of cream in brush and lather up in hand
6. Lather and shave

In between passes, I drop a bit of water in the center of the brush to keep it warm and hydrated. It's kind of a mix of Mark's "Superlather" and a bit of the method shaving technique I learned from CAR when I stopped by his shop. I don't like the thickness of most creams, but I don't have as good of luck with soaps with our water. It makes a wonderful silky lather.

[Nick75]

When lathering with creams, I do the following (I won't include soaps for now):

1. Fill mug with hot water from tap.
2. Clean teeth whilst hot water warms mug.
3. Empty mug and then place brush in mug and refill it with hot water from tap.
4. Fill lathering bowl with hot water from tap.
4. Take a shower.
5. Get out of shower and empty water out of mug (without shaking brush)and refill it with piping hot water from tap and place brush back in mug.
6. Put a warm facecloth to my face a few times over (soaked with warm water from tap)
7. Take brush out of water, hold it over sink to let water drain off it, then flick it gently twice.
8. Empty water out of lathering bowl, and squirt almond size blob of shaving cream into lathering bowl/or scoop some shaving cream with finger out of the tub.
9. Swirl the brush a good few times in the lathering bowl so it picks up all the cream and there is now a layer of thick cream at the bottom of the bowl. I now turn on the hot water tap very gently until the water only just starts trickling out.
10. Hold the lathering bowl under the tap only for a split second.
11. Swirl the brush in the bowl for about 10 seconds.
12. Repeat steps 10+11 until I think the lather is looking ok (usually about another 3-5 times, depending upon the particular cream I use) . For each repetition of 'step 11', I make sure I work the water from the tap completely into the lather with my brush before I place the bowl back under the tap again.
13. Apply lather to face.

[saladbar2000]

Hello all! New to badger and blade. I've been using a feather razor RG for about 6 months. My current technique is as follows

1. fill shaving cup/mug with hot water from tap. Let brush soak
2. apply feather pre-shave and massage into face
3. soak a wet towel with super hot water and squeeze out the excess. steam face for approximately 2 minutes
4. whip up some lather with badger brush in the palm of my hand with the art of shaving unscented cream
5. apply lather to face
6. shave and stuff

[badgerman]

I fill the bowl with hot water and soak the brush in it.
While the brush is soaking, I wash my face with hot water and regular soap.
I discard the now lukewarm water from the bowl and from the brush and I wet the brush with fresh hot water.
I gently flick the brush to remove excess of water.
I put a dab of cream into the bowl if it's from a tube (or I dip the bristles into the jar).
I swirl the brush into the bowl just enough to start some light bubbly lather.
I put the brush to my face and I do the real lathering there. I take a good couple of minutes or more to work the lather deep into the beard. I alternate between circular and "painting" strokes. When the lather thickens, I dip the tip of the brush in hot water and go on.
This is the most relaxing part: talk about canned foam!
I shave once (no details here, the thread is about lathering, right?).
I lather up again for the second pass, with some hot water, if I need it. Too bad, the lather has cooled by now, but this is hardly an issue, since the hair is already quite soft.
I do the second pass.
I leave the gear as it is and take care of my face: warm rinsing, (alun block sometimes), cold rinsing, liquid a/s, balm.
I don't forget to feel great. :thumbsup:
I rinse the brush by stirring it in the bowl under the tap (this also rinses the bowl, did you know that? :wink: ). I rinse the razor too.
I flick the brush and the razor and I wipe the bowl dry and store the gear.

[raffijian]

-Fill shaving mug with hot water that was boiling from a tea pot.
-After a few minutes of this heating the shaving mug, I empty the bowl and start mixing shaving cream, using about the size of a dime.
-I let my brush soak from the warm tap water from the sink. I prefer to not use extremely hot water on my brush so as to not damage it.
-One quick snap of the brush to get the excess water out.
-Start mixing the cream for 10-15 swirls or until desired consistency is achieved.
-I then get a second, larger bowl and fill it up with some of the hot water from the tea pot.
-Put shaving mug in the larger bowl that has the hot water to keep the cream and brush warm.

This is an inexpensive method compared to using a Moss Scuttle, which uses the same methodology.

[MotoMike]

fill mug containing hard soap with killer hot tap water, soak brush in the mug while I am preping my face. after a couple minutes I dump the water, put a dollop of cream on the soap, build a thin lather. then I transfer the hot brush to my face and really build a lather on my face until I get perfect consistency. Shave, repeat the face lather. usually only two passes. Works for me.

[OldFashioned]

What is the purpose of step 1 if you do it in step 5 and also on step 5, you re-fill with hot water but never mention dumping it. And what is the purpose of a mug in your routine? Thanks.


OK, kids, time for more reference material for us all to compile for those in need. First it was Shave Sticks (http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=1345), now for shaving creams.

Here is my technique:


Put bowl in sink. Fill with wicked hot water
Put brush in mug. Fill with wicked hot water
Turn on mug warmer (http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=1024&highlight=warmer) (optional)
Go take a shower
After shower, dump out water and re-fill bowl with wicked hot water
Re-heat brush briefly in hot water
Hold brush bristles down to let excess water drain out. Do this until flow stops
Give the brush a healthy shake, depending on its size. For a small brush I shake very little out. For a larger brush, a bigger shake.
Open cream container and scoop out a healthy amount, perhaps the size of a large nut*
Put cream on bristles (or in bowl)
Whip that lather into Great Big Gobs of Cool Whip (tm), using your bowl
If you need to add a sprinkle of water to get the right consistency, go ahead.
While bowl is not in use, place on mug warmer to stay nice and toasty


*I used to do the "poke and twist" method, but I feel this helps me gauge the cream amount better.

[OldFashioned]

I think this is the simplest one. I plan to do this but I shave in the shower. Only difference is I might have a second bowl filled with really hot water just to keep my 1st bowl with lather hot for the 2nd pass.


You are the queen on that one. My wife would not like me using her Kitchen Aid bowl. 5 qt bowl full of lather. What to do, what to do.

Kudos for the original use.

1. Heat bowl with hot water
2. Heat mug with hot water
3. Place brush into mug
4. Dump out water in bowl
5. Add cream
6. Give a good shake or two to the brush
7. Lather away

[Nancy Boy]

1. squeeze or finger dollop snurdle of cream in shaving bowl.
2. apply Prep or 3P to beard.
3. run brush under hot water for a minute or so.
4. give a gentle shake.
5. whip cream up in bowl, adding water if necessary.
6. apply cream.
7. stop and appreciate aroma.
8. shave.
9. re-apply and do second pass to problem areas.
10. rinse face with cold water.
11. pat dry with shaving towl and splash on Dickinson's Witch Hazel.
12. before leaving for the office, splash on aftershave of choice.

Life is wonderful.:smile:

[MikeNYC]

1. Hot Shower
2. Put face for around 2 more minutes under warm water from sink, while the brush is getting hot and wet.
3. Pre-shave oil.
4. One shake of the brush an then make up a lather while letting for my face to absorb the oil.
5. Lather up and shave.

I love my life!!!

[SittingBull]

Here's what I do,

1. Fill sink with hot water.
2. Put bowl and brush into this water.
3. Have face wash and pre-shave etc.
4. Remove brush and bowl, empty out water back into sink and shake off excess water from the brush.
5. Add cream and lather.
6. Lather face.
7. Now, to keep the lather warm between passes I put the bowl back into the sink so it floats. This keeps the lather warm and doesnt need and electronic gizmo's.

The power of buoyancy

[MaxTennessee]

Step by step shaving for me (Including hair shaving that I do 5 days out of 7, get lazy on week-ends usually!)

1. Put my badger insode my mug;
2. Start the hot water, when there's steam out of faucet, I put my mug w/ badger under it;
3. Let the mug fill up andgetting water in the sink (The mug blocks the sink's drain);
4. Turn off the faucet and get a boiling hot shower;
5. Empty the mug, letting only a really small amount of water in the mug and then squeeze my badger so it's only moist, not wet;
6. Put an almond size amount of wonderful T&H in the mug;
7. Do circles motions inside the bowl to create a good lather and then put it on my face;
(Just so you know, I take boiling hot showers so I don't feel the need to put a hot towel on my face before shaving)
8. Shave face;
9. Rinse the bowl and the badger with hot water;
10. Leave, again, some water in the mug, this time maybe twice the amount I use for my face;
11. put some Headblade shaving cream in the mug (again, twice the amount I would use for my face);
12. Build more lather;
13. Apply shaving cream all over my head (This part feels sooooo good!);
14. For my head, I use my Gillette power fusion thingy, the orange shaking one with five blades cartridge);
15. Shave all the head against the grain;
16. Rinse my head and face with cold water;
17. Apply some Headblade Matte Headlube on my head;
18. Apply another aftershave on my face (depends of my mood I guess);
19. Sometimes I put T&H aftershave in cream in my face before putting a liquid aftershave. In this case, I put the aftershave basically only for the scent.

That's about it!

[dreadpirate]

I use Trumpers soap in a bowl and a DOVO olive wood brush.

1. Prep my face with either (a) a shower, or (b) wash with hot water and soap
2. Run my brush under the tap with the hottest water
3. Point the brush down and let the excess water run off the brush.
4. Swirl the brush in the soap until it is loaded with soap.
5. Wet face if required and lather directly on the face. I lather for 45 seconds or so.

I easily have enough lather on the brush for four passes.

[OldFashioned]

I have a pretty simple approach too. I will do as dreadpirate if Im using the soap but for creams.

1) In the shower I let the steam and hot water get it prepped
2) Run my brush right under the hot shower head (it is hotter at the core of the head)
3) Ring out excess water, I like to get rid of a good amount of water as I can't get lather with too much water.
4) Add cream to brush head and lather on my hand to BUILD it, then I apply to my face and continue lathering til its rich and creamy. Takes about 1-2 minutes.

[DaveAri]

3. Put shaving "cube" (CAR's product) in the sink.

What exactly is a Shaving "Cube"?

[Perfect_shave]

1) Put brush in Moss scuttle and fill both compartments with hot water
2)Wash face with Musgo pre-shave face wash and rinse off
3)Have a hot shower
4)Drain scuttle and refill bottom compartment only with hot water
5)Shake out water from the brush and give it a couple swirls in the tub of shave cream(just enough to coat the brushes bristles, almond sized amount seems too much to me)
6)Face lather for 2 minutes
7)Shave leaving the brush in the scuttle between passes
8)Warm rinse off, followed by cold rinse down and alum block then cold rinse off
9)Thayers witchazel
10)Aftershave balm and colonge

[cymric]

Fill sink with hot water from tap. Dunk in brush and bowl. Let simmer for a few minutes, occasionally pumping the brush to press out all the air bubbles. Take out bowl, let most water flow away. Give brush a fair shake so that it's damp-dry. Either press the brush into pot of cream until there's sufficient cream on the hairs, or squeeze out what I need from a tube. Begin building lather, but do not add water just yet. Do that after the cream has become a very concentrated, smooth lather. Continue adding water and building until desired consistency is achieved. Do not warm the bowl, as many lathers become unstable at elevated temperatures and thus require a re-build halfway through the shave. Moisten face with warm water straight from the tap, than dab dry somewhat sloppily before applying lather, otherwise the brush soaks up too much moisture, and ruins the lather in the bowl over the course of the shave. Shave!

[Venom8431]

1. Heat water to boiling in electric water heater
2. Pour water into shaving mug and insert brush
3. Close drain and pour water in sink
4. Splash face with hot water
5. Dump water from mug and refill
6. Apply pre-shave oil
7. Shake brush of excess water and empty mug
8. Put 1/4 tsp of shaving cream in mug
9. Swirl brush clockwise 4-5 times, then counter, back to clockwise, and so on
10. Apply lather with circular motion to face
11. Shave for 2-3 passes reapplying lather after each pass
12. Splash face with cold water and pat dry
13. Apply Anthony Logistics ingrown hair treatment
14. Wait 5 minutes and apply aftershave
15. Clean up sink and shaving paraphernalia

[scarysharp]

Nothing fancy here. Simply wash face with unscented Dove moisturing soap using medium to almost hot water opening the skin pores and softening the whiskers. Hot rinse water expands my neck skin pores too much prior to shaving. I rinse soap off using luke warm water to reduce irritation of skin. Next I apply Barbasol Original shaving cream with hand ATG to lift the whiskers and finally shave.

[bmurching]

I seem to be an oddity. I scoop a little onto a finger (or squeeze from a tube) then apply to my face in the shower. I take 1-2 minutes to lather it up all over my face, then proceed to shave. I used to use a brush, but ended up feeling it to be a bit wasteful, and my fingers seem to go a better job than the brush anyway. It's not as elegant, but I actually enjoy feeling the stubble with my fingers, it makes for a nice before-and-after when rinsing the soap off afterward.

[ceebee]

The foregoing posts are all great techniques. I guess I must be too lazy or hurried to boil water on the stove. What I have done instead is to use 2 bowls. I soften up the brush in a Corningware bowl of hot tap water while I shower (available from Gio at Tryphon for just a couple of bucks). When I am ready to pepare the lather, I use a Sierra Club style titanium cup. The "belt loop" handle makes it easy to grip with wet hands. Once I've whipped up a lather, and applied it to the face for a first go, I set the titanium cup into the Corningware bowl pre-filled with hot tap water. The metal cup nests into the bowl double-boiler style, and because the cup is metal, the heat from the water in the bowl is transferred efficiently, and keeps the lather warm throughout the shave.

[SepticTank]

Soak the brush in the sink whilst I deal with other bathroom duties... shake the brush lightly and squirt the "almond" of cream into the brush and lather on the face. Takes a little adjustment of the amount of shaking and almond size at first but so far 100% for me.

[OldSchoolYoungin]

*after letting brush and bowl soak during a hot shower*

-Let brush drip until it stops, then give it several gentle downward shakes until nearly dry.

- Empty all the water out of the bowl

- Put generous amount of cream *about quarter-sized* in the bowl. So cheap on a per-shave basis, there's no use in skimping on product. Plus, you run out sooner so you can buy more :lol:

- Give it a few stirs, the lather will still be pretty dry at this point but it's just to get the cream associated with the brush.

- Add hot water a half teaspoon at a time, stirring (not whipping, a deliberate stirring motion) all the while until lather is no longer "pasty".

-Lather yo face.

Some of you may wonder why I just don't leave a decent amount of water in the brush, cut out the middle-man and go straight to stirring. I just prefer a more calculated approach, it's difficult to judge exactly how much water is in your brush and if I use too much it's not as thick, rich and dense as I'd like.

[freqz]

- Give it a few stirs, the lather will still be pretty dry at this point but it's just to get the cream associated with the brush.



I do the same, but hand lather-- big hands and good, hot water from the tap reduce the gymnastics necessary. I quit with the hand lather when the lather isn't quite hydrated enough and then move to face lathering using the residual moisture from my pre-lather rinse to finish it off.

[ambrose]

warm up the brush, shake off extra water, go straight to face with circular swirls and a pumping motion. This builds lather and loads it in to your brush. Add water by running your brush under a faucet that has a small stream of water flowing through. Makes a huge difference

[Redhook]

Man ya all forgot the most important part. The Coffee to have between each pass.

[SepticTank]

An alternative method (I was in an experimental mood earlier)... Wet your face, squirt half the required amount on your index finger tip. Apply it to the cheek of your choice. Squirt the other half on your index finger tip. Apply to the other cheek.

Pick up your damp brush and lather. If there wasn't enough water, dip in the sink and keep going. The excess lather will build in your brush and be ready for the next pass.

[Abdiel]

Run tap water until hot
Fill bowl/mug with hot water
take shower
go get cup of coffee ready so mirror defogs
return with java
dip brush in bowl and let soak for a few seconds
remove and shake out excess water
place needed amount of cream into bowl (I use tubes)
begin making lather
add few drops of hot tap water at a time as needed to get a nice lather

[infotech]

1. Splash hot water on my face
2. Hold brush under hot running tap water
3. Gently shake out excess water from brush
4. Swirl brush in tub of cream
5. Apply brush to face and dip in sink of water as needed until lather is the way I want it.

[neli]

most important step in my opinion is after you brush the cream on your face the first time put the brush down and massage the cream into your face with your fingers for about a good minute and then lather again with a brush
your face will get beast of the two worlds rich cream from the brush and face softening massage from your fingers

[gaseousclay]

for you experienced wetshavers, what type of lathering motion do you use? circular? or do you just slap the lather on like paint?

[prewt]

for you experienced wetshavers, what type of lathering motion do you use? circular? or do you just slap the lather on like paint?

I use a circular motion when first applying the lather to my face. People say this lifts the hair and scrubs the face, freeing up the dead skin cells... all I know is it feels good. :001_smile After my first pass with the razor, I use a 'side to side' or 'up and down' motion with the lather filled brush until I am done shaving. It seems to apply more lather than the circular technique but everyone is different.

[kingfisher]

Put hot tap water into my mug, put brush in to soak.
Take a shower.
After the shower, rinse face again with warm-hot water.
Dump out mug, shake brush a couple of times.
Put cream in mug.
Swirl with brush--about 20 times clockwise, then 20 times counterclockwise, then random motions until the lather is how I like it. Add water if needed
Apply lather to face with brush, continuing to lather with a circular motion.
Use paint-strokes to get an even layer of lather.
Shave.
Warm water rinse.
Cold water rinse.
Pat dry.
Apply witchhazel/aloe gel/peppermint oil mixture and allow it to dry.
Finally, moisturizer with sunscreen.

[asat00]

I soak my brush in a hot sinkful of water while I shower. Upon drying my face, I flick all water out of my brush and whip up a lather that consists of roughly 2 parts proraso cream, 2 parts aloe vera gel and 1 part vegitable glycerine. I work that into a regular fluffy and moist lather. I think that these additives offer more slickness, protection and moisturizing properties than the cream alone. Splash with whichazel and proraso balm. Done.

[HEADSMOOTH]

first of all you gotta take a hot shower getting your face nice and wet and then lather up with you favorite shaving cream. i use the Aveeno for sensitive skin

[htownmmm]

1. Fill hot pot with water.
2. Gather shave ingredients/tools.
3. Get scuttle and lather bowl.
4. fill top half of scuttle,insert brush.
5. Fill lather bowl.
6. pour remaining hot water into sink, place lather bowl in sink.
7. refill hot pot.
8. take shower.
9. remove brush, empty top half of scuttle, empty lather bowl.
10. fill double walled prtion of scuttle.
11. shake brush out.
12. twist and poke into cream
13. whip it good!


marty

[spanx]

1.microwave 2cups water the fill mustashe stein as necessary.
2.take shower.
3.submerge brush and dry self off.
4drain mug,hang brush till slow drip.
5.rub brush in mug for water.(that'll be enuf)
6.squeeze out a 1/4 inch cream in bowl,add a squirt of glycerin.
7.shake brush 3 or 4 times and swirl soap 20 times 10 each way.
8.pump and swirl for about 1 min.
9.ready to go.

[nmg82]

1. Fill sink with VERY HOT water
2. Fill shaving bowl/mug with VERY HOT water and place in the sink
3. Place shaving brush in the bowl/mug to soak in the water
4. Take shower
5. Empty bowl/mug of water, drain then shake out shaving brush
6. Place a small amount of cream into the bowl/mug and begin swirling the brush around on
the cream
7. Add small amounts of water (approx 1/2 tablespoon) to the cream in increments as
necessary and continue stirring for around a minute or so with the brush until I have a
generous amount of foamy hydrated goodness

[Jethro1984]

-Fill Lathering Bowl with Hot Water from tap and add brush to soak
-Shower and leave face and head wet
-Add more water to wet face and head at sink
-Add hot water to sink and dump water from bowl into sink
-Shake brush
-Load Brush by swirling in tub
-Whip lather, adding a little water at a time as necessary to build a nice lather
-Apply to face and head, and begin shaving, relathering and adding water as neccessary

[mister_met]

1. Place bowl in the sink and fill the bowl/sink with incredibly hot water.
2. Let the brush soak in the bowl while I shower. The sink seems to slowly drain itself while I'm showering. I gotta fix that.
3. Empty bowl, refill sink.
4. Shake brush
5. Put a little more than an almonds worth of Proraso into the piping hot bowl.
6. now whip it
into shape
shape it up
get straight
go forward
move ahead
try to detect it
it's not too late
to whip it
whip it good
http://www.irvinehousingblog.com/images/uploads/2009janearly/devo.jpg
7. shave

[rudy812]

I have been blessed with a soft and easy beard that can be easily cut, and I have no issues with any skin problem or allergies.

For creams or soaps, any of the high quality or highly reputable products will work. So far, I have tried most of the common top and mid range brands and even though some will work better than others, I have been satisfied with all of them. For me, I do have my preference and I must admit, the top, long running, expensive European brands are consistently the best and the most enjoyable. They have been around the longest and they have class.

Technique (I also use this technique for soaps)

Before I begin, I make sure that my beard is fully saturated with water; don't wait to long because your beard will begin to dry up as soon as you get out of the shower or after a complete facial water splashes. For me, I always shave right after a shower. After a quick towel dry, I splash my whole face with the most comfortable, warm water temperature; until I feel that my beard is fully saturated and softened.

During this whole time, my brush has been in a bowl or a mug, and has been saturated in hot tap water for at least a minimum of two minutes; I find, with my silvertip, that soaking my brush for more than five minute will make no different in saturation. I then squeeze all the excess water and re-soak for another minute or two and again squeeze the excess water. I then take a small dab of quality shaving cream and place it in my 5 inch shaving dish. Now if I don't know what my cream/water ratio is, I just simply add a little water in the dish, just enough to make a watery paste; then I soaked up that water and cream with my squeezed out brush, in a circular motion, until the watery paste is completely absorbed. The objective is to find, in a step by step process, the most optimum water/cream ratio for lathering. I have a preference to lather that watery cream paste on my face and not in a bowl or dish. In the beginning of this process, you will feel a drying sensation, which is normal; it just means that there is not enough water in the ratio. When I have my beard all covered, I fill my dish with hot water and place just the tip of my brush in the dish and in a slow circular motion, I watch the water soak up. I then, in my preferred circular motion, begin to feel a warm and lathery sensation on my face. I continue and repeat the process until I feel I have the optimum water/cream ratio combinations. The sensation is simple, it feels right and your skin and beard will feel saturated, soften and well lubricated for the shave. If you have too much water, continue brushing until you feel it dried up to perfection. Once you feel you have your optimum lather, you must continue brushing for at least another 2 more minute; I personally feel 3-5 minutes is optimum. If you start getting a drying sensation, again add little more hot water in the brush.


Even with this technique and process, it will be unusual to get your personal optimum lather right the first time. In my experience, what I though was right, in time I found it wasn't. In time you automatically tweak your lather to your personal perfection and mood and gain a greater satisfaction and enjoyment in wet shaving. So far, my method for the optimum lather has been the least stressful, easiest and quickest way to take out the guesswork for that perfect water/ cream/ soap ratio. Before this method, for years I was unaware that I was wasting and using excess soaps or creams, and that the ratio I was using was also totally wrong. After learned this method and technique, through trial and error and implementing from other members, posting and the universe. Water/soaps/creams ratio can be completely different from one to the other. I began retrying shaving creams and soaps that in the past that I didn't like or didn't work for me. I found, through this method and process, that I had the wrong water/soap/cream ratio. Some of those soaps and creams have now become some of my favorites:smile:


Best regard
Rudy

[prolific]

My general routine.

1.) Fill Shaving bowl w/ hot water, soak brush.

2.) Hop in shower

3.) Hop out of shower, dry off, but keep the face wet.

4.) Pour water out of shaving bowl, give the brush a gentle squeeze to let some water out, but not too hard.

5.) Swirl brush on cream just for a couple of seconds until the tips have some cream on it.

6.) Run my hand over the water and let a few drips drop off my hand into the shaving bowl.

7.) Whip up lather, add a few more drops of water as needed to create the right consistency. Usually takes about 1-2 minutes.

8.) Wet face gently.

9.) Apply lather to face until I reach the right conistency, also lift the hairs up as much as possible, this usually takes 1 minute.

10.) Shave, rinse, lather, repeat.

[icon]

An alternative method (I was in an experimental mood earlier)... Wet your face, squirt half the required amount on your index finger tip. Apply it to the cheek of your choice. Squirt the other half on your index finger tip. Apply to the other cheek.

Pick up your damp brush and lather. If there wasn't enough water, dip in the sink and keep going. The excess lather will build in your brush and be ready for the next pass.

It's exactly how I use shaving cream :thumbup1:, no bowl to wash :biggrin1:

[The_Pastor]

Here is my technique.
I will somehow leave out the soap entirely, though.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-l-522jNz6k

[hunter87597]

In east Texas, the water here is rock hard. My solution?? Primo water dispenser with hot/cold buttons.

Get brush and bowl, fill it up with 120+ degree water, and let it sit while im in the shower.

Get out of shower, place brush in mug with hot water from the dispenser, and also add more water to the bowl.

Splash the water out of the bowl, and add a peanut-sized amount of tube cream. Its enough

"Tap" excess water out of the brush. Here is the tricky part. Better to remove too much water than have too much still in the brush.

Swirl that gooey love butter around, until it looks like the sides of a calfs mouth when bottle feeding that booger. When the air bubbles are teeny-tiny, I know that that I am ready for some facial hair-deleting action.

[balaban9331]

i use a mini milk frother to make a beauty lather.although not traditional,it works nice

[bro-ham]

i use a mini milk frother to make a beauty lather.although not traditional,it works nice

I would like to see a video of that!

[jgkeegan]

I shave in the shower so......

1. I wash my face. Fairly warm water.

2. Apply a few drops of preshave-oil (currently Keihl's, pacific in the mail to me now) to my face and neck.

3. Thoroughly wet the brush by holding it under the shower head for a minute. Shake it once.

4. Apply cream with my fingertips to the brushhead.

5. Pass 1 down (with grain)

6. Relather. Pass 2 up (against)

7. Rinse.

8. Relather, Pass 3, up/down/sideways. Tro to get known rough spots.

9 Rinse. And done, unless I need to get a spot or two.

[redryder]

Hi guys, I'm still learning how to create lather. Tonight will be my 2nd attempt at DE shaving. When you whip up lather in the bowl, are you swirling the brush gently and slowly, or fast like beating an egg? Are you only using the brush tips, or the whole brush? If my brush is soaked before the whipping process, do I need to add water while whipping it up?

I'm using a boar brush and cream by the way.

[Rossmeister]

Insert new cartridge (every day)
Spray from can on my face
Distribute evenly
Shave
BBS every time








HAH!

- Fill sink and bowl with hot water
- Put brush in bowl
- Take shower (might use shampoo/balsam on my face, might not)
- Dry hair and body (not face, but might pat dry)
- Put on pre-shave oil
- Empty bowl and shake brush
- Make lather with cream or soap
- Apply and shave, watering my face between passes
- Apply aftershave. Sometimes when wet, sometimes patted dry.

[roosclan]

Hi guys, I'm still learning how to create lather. Tonight will be my 2nd attempt at DE shaving. When you whip up lather in the bowl, are you swirling the brush gently and slowly, or fast like beating an egg? Are you only using the brush tips, or the whole brush? If my brush is soaked before the whipping process, do I need to add water while whipping it up?

I'm using a boar brush and cream by the way.
It's a little bit of all of that. Gently, but fast, using the brush tips with an occasional whipping action using the entire brush (just like beating an egg). What you don't want to do is mash down on the brush.

[DaveNJ74]

Though I'm new to wet shaving, I've shaved in the shower for years, just using whatever cheap disposable razor and canned gel or cream (Barbasol!) was on sale at the grocery store. I wasn't really *happy* with my shave--lots of stubble, a few nicks from time to time, etc.--but didn't know that this was an option. . .

I've now upgraded my products, and am using a brush and a M3T, but still am shaving while in the shower. I have a nice little suction shelf in the corner of the stall on which sits my small stainless steel mixing bowl, tub of Trumpers Sandalwood and Prorasso, and my small but mighty SR101 shave brush. I also have a no-fog suction cup mirror afixed to the side wall of the stall. Here's the routine:

•fill up my bowl with hot water, and let the brush soak while I shower

•shower and shampoo--rinse

•empty the bowl, leaving a few drips in the bottom

•put a small dollop of Trumpers cream in the bottom of the bowl, or in my hand--I/m still experimenting :confused:

•whip up my lather

•apply to face--return brush to bowl

•shave--1st pass with grain, 2nd sideways

•rinse brush under showerhead, rinse razor, rinse and empty bowl

•rinse face under showerhead

•towel off, splash ice cold water on face and apply A/S

This seems to work for me, and is a less cumbersome process than showering, then drying off, then shaving in the sink. The whole shaving process happens in a warm, moist environment, my "stuff" is all right there on the shelf, and it takes less time.

Am I missing something?http://badgerandblade.com/vb/images/smilies/confused.gif

I also shave in the shower.

1. Soak lather bowl in sink of hot water.

2. Soak brush in the water after it cools down a bit.

3. Empty out hot water, drain sink and wring out brush.

4. Load brush and whip up lather.

5. Apply pre shave oil and shave.

6. Warm water rinse, cold water rinse, witch hazel then aftershave.

[Telecaster52]

I generally smear the cream directly on my face and face lather away

[09Badger]

1. Set my Chef Choice Smart Kettle (http://www.edgecraft.com/page2g.html) to 195ºF and fill with 2 cups (minimum) of water. The kettle is in my kitchen, next to the bathroom.
2. Add almond size dollop of Classic Shaving Cream (http://www.classicshaving.com/catalog/item/522960/5202472.htm) unscented to my Original Dirty Bird scuttle (http://www.dirtybirdpottery.com/shavinggear.html).
3. Wash my face and neck with very warm (but not hot) water and uspa Awaken Foam Cleanser (http://www.uspa.com.au/store/product.asp?ProductID=2).
4. Fill sink partially with hot water and let my Rooney brush (http://www.classicshaving.com/catalog/item/2053630/2184118.htm) soak.
5. After temperature alarm goes off on the kettle I fill the scuttle.
6. Shake out excess water from the brush (3 light shakes) and spend about a minute vigorously working the cream into a good lather.
7. Splash warm water on my face and spend a good minute working the lather into my face and neck.

[linty1]

For me, I personally run a little hot under the hood (I wear t-shirts in the winter, open windows in the office in the winter etc), so I prefer cold water:
- wash my face with spectrogel/cold water, don't pat dry
- squeeze out about an almond size squeeze of product, rub on face
- run brush under tap, cold water
- very gently hold brush bristles to shed a little water
- start swirling on face to create lather
- fill mug with cold water (to wave razor in to clean it)
- start the first pass

[Speedwell68]

1. Put a small amount of cream in my bowl. Set it down on the counter with everything else I intend to use. I like it all lined up and ready to go.
2. Have a shower that is as hot as I dare have it.
3. Fill sink with really hot water. Soak brush.
4. Squeeze out the brush as much as possible.
5. Work the cream in my bowl, adding water to the tips of the brush as need.
6. Apply to my face in a painting fashion
7. Job done.

[lowcountry_sc]

I've read through most of the posts but they were getting a bit redundant, so I skipped to the end to put in my two cents. Forgive me if anyone else mentioned this one...I'm fairly new to the whole process, but have found what really works for me is this:
1.) Fill bowl with hot water and place silvertip brush in bowl.
2.) Dilly dally around setting everything up for about 30 secs or so.
3.) Give my brush a few firm shakes and put my T.O.B.S. in bowl and whip up a nice lather, adding maybe the slightest bit of water.
4.) Dip my brush in warm water and lather my face.
5.) Fill sink basin with hot water and place bowl of cream in sink.
6.) Shower, rinsing face with warm water at the very end.
7.) Drain sink and fill with hot water again.
8.) Lather (this time without dipping my brush in water) and shave

Obviously, the biggest difference in the way I do it involves the double lathering (and the addition of water to my brush when lather the first time. My skin thanks me.

[weenerdog3443]

Mines simple as could be. I hop out the shower get a fingertips worth of queen Charlotte soap and drop it in my bowl. Wet my brush, don't soak it or anything, and pound away at the soap for a minute. Then spread on face. Not too complicated