Lathering with soaps

[Jodanster]

What is the best way to lather soaps? I usually use creams and lather in a bowl. Just got a delivery of 2 handmade shave soaps from a small company here in the UK and want to try one out tomorrow morning. Do I swirl the brush on the soap and then lather in bowl (or I suppose directly on face)? Any tips, most welcome.

[Little Joe from Mexico]

It's all a matter of preference. I do a combination of all of the above I guess. I load up brush, take it to a bowl where I might add a little more water if needed, then I continue lathering on face by brushing in circular motions then finish with painting strokes to distribute evenly.

Try different methods to find out what works best for you.

Joe

[TromboneGuy]

I get best results from loading the brush (and I mean really loading the brush) and then lathering directly on my wet face. For some reason I find the results aren't nearly as good if I try to build the lather in a bowl first.

Creams are different. Some creams (Kiss My Face) seem to require use of a bowl to get started. Some (SCS) seem to require lathering directly one the face. And still others (T&H, Taylors) work great either way.

[Boogie]

I also later directly on my face. I usually get the soap wet first, then drain of the water, then take my presoaked brush and swirl, mash, spin, twist and everything else on the soap. I really beat my brush up on my soaps. But I really get my brush loaded with soap. I then move the brush to my face and spend a few blissful minutes building lather on my face by doing swirls and small scrubbing motions to really work the later into my stubble. Hope this helps, enjoy!!:thumbup:

[FloppyShoes]

I soak the brush, shake it a couple of times, swirl 5-10 times depending on the soap then build the lather on my face. I find lathering in a bowl adds too much air to the mix and takes away from the free exfoliating scrub.

[Edcculus]

Glycerin soaps - in a bowl
other soaps - on the face

[Steerpike]

I woould seccond building lather on the face. The wooden bowls get a lot of negative press form people who want to use them like a shave mug to make lather in. This is not what they are for, they are just to hold the soap. You charge up the brush on top, erring on the side of drier rather than wetter (unless you want to be there all day, make a lot of mess, and use up a lot of soap very fast), then transfer to your face and start making it lathery. I think this makes a lot more sense than preparing the lather in a separate container, as the more time the lather sits on your face, the better it is able to soften your stubble up ready for the blade.

[ratcheer]

What is the best way to lather soaps? I usually use creams and lather in a bowl. Just got a delivery of 2 handmade shave soaps from a small company here in the UK and want to try one out tomorrow morning. Do I swirl the brush on the soap and then lather in bowl (or I suppose directly on face)? Any tips, most welcome.

Lots of different ways work well for different people, but I have arrived at the following way that works consistently well for me.

I have two heavy ceramic cereal/soup bowls, black, about 6 or 7 inches diameter. I fill both with hot water and let them stand for a couple of minutes, soaking my brush in one of them.

Then, I empty one of them and put the soap cake in it. Then I shake most of the water out of the brush and start lathering in the bowl. I put in a few drops at a time of hot water until I get the lather consistency I want. Then I remove the soap cake, placing it aside to dry after wiping as much lather from it into the bowl as is practical.

Finally, I empty the water from the other bowl and refill it about half way with fresh hot water. I nest the lather bowl into the hot water bowl to keep it warm while I shave. After lathering for each pass, I place the brush in the lather bowl to keep it warm.

Its not really as much trouble as the description sounds. :wink:

Tim

[galpman]

I get best results from loading the brush (and I mean really loading the brush) and then lathering directly on my wet face. For some reason I find the results aren't nearly as good if I try to build the lather in a bowl first.

Creams are different. Some creams (Kiss My Face) seem to require use of a bowl to get started. Some (SCS) seem to require lathering directly one the face. And still others (T&H, Taylors) work great either way.


+1 Works best for me as well. Can really generate a great lather:badger:

[Doc4]

I generally get half-way to a lather off-face, and then lather up on my face: with creams I use a bowl, and with soaps I start the lather right on the soap cake without transferring to anything but my face.

[BroJohn]

Scott --

Generally, I wouldn't bother with a bowl for any soap. Like everybody says, really load up the brush and go directly to your face. I think you'll be surprised at how well that works. ...and shave sticks work really well.

-- John Gehman

[TromboneGuy]

Scott --

Generally, I wouldn't bother with a bowl for any soap. Like everybody says, really load up the brush and go directly to your face. I think you'll be surprised at how well that works. ...and shave sticks work really well.

-- John Gehman

Hoo boy yes. You just have to watch out - there's a fine line between "enough water to make the lather explode" and "slinging lather all over the mirror". :eek:

[Jodanster]

Scott --

Generally, I wouldn't bother with a bowl for any soap. Like everybody says, really load up the brush and go directly to your face. I think you'll be surprised at how well that works. ...and shave sticks work really well.

-- John Gehman


You are most certainly correct about the shave sticks!! :thumbup:

Thanks for the tip John.