Why heat your lather?

[stiggs]

Just wondering what are the benefits of heating the soap lather before applying it on your face. I heard about it on a video on youtube but I didnt pass any attention to it but now I see a popular thread here talking about how to heat it.
How important is it to heat your lather? Does it help soften the hairs or increase the quality of the lather?

Thanks for your help:001_smile

[Wetshavemike]

Hot lather is optional, but it sure feels nice. I heard it helps soften the skin and beard as well. I always use warm lather, until one weekend when I had no way to heat it, and I really missed it. However, cold Prorasso on a hot humid day would probably be a great way to refresh your face. I am going to try that. Has anyone tried that?

[mharris127]

I heat my lather because it feels better than cold. I find that filling a small tupperware bowl with almost-boiling water up to the level of a puck's height, then placing my mug with puck safely inside into the hot water-filled bowl (without allowing the hot water to make contact with the puck itself) for about three to five minutes heats the lather without melting my puck to smitherines. This "double boiler" method does not accelerate the use rate of my VDH pucks. I found that adding this hot of water directly to my puck-filled mug caused the puck to melt and too much thick, overly gooey lather found its way onto my brush using VDH. I went through a full puck of VDH in about six shaves (instead of the usual 15-20) adding 210 degree water directly to it each time, even though I only let it sit a couple of minutes before dumping the water off of it and loading my brush. Either method produces very warm lather that isn't hot enough to burn the skin.

[gash]

Cold lather gives me the willies.

[ackvil]

It feels nice and some think warm lather works into your beard better - but I don't see any difference.

There are times when I like to do a cold water shave but with warm lather.

[Deltaboy]

Warm lather feels nice in the winter I going to try cold lather this summer with my CO Bigelow. :thumbup:

[Loric]

Warm lather feels nice in the winter I going to try cold lather this summer with my CO Bigelow. :thumbup:

+1 its just a luxury some people enjoy. That and some scuttles are real pieces are art, I have to admit I almost purchased a couple just to have them on my sink :lol:

[maxman]

Like others, I think that warm lather feels nice, but isn't mandatory for a good shave.
Soaking the hair with water is more effective than heat IMHO.

[Monkeyboy]

I soak my brush in hot water and my first pass is warm but by the second or third it is room temp.

I've experimented with doing a homemade skuttle but it has a negative effect on the lather - makes it go from rich and creamy to thin and runny.

[Deltaboy]

Water was too hot.

[Bumgardner]

I think it just feels better when the lather is warm. I don't mind room tempature lather though.

[mharris127]

I soak my brush in hot water and my first pass is warm but by the second or third it is room temp.

I've experimented with doing a homemade skuttle but it has a negative effect on the lather - makes it go from rich and creamy to thin and runny.

That depends on the brand of shave soap you use. I get very nice lather from VDH this way, maybe a little thick and gooey by the last application at times actually. Definitely not thin and runny by any yardstick.

[stiggs]

Warm does sound good I have to say.

Did anyone invent some sort of electricity free water heater / kettle with a shaving adaptor so we can have how water on demand if there's none in the tap? :)

Ps. what is a puck ? its a new one on me, ha.

ahh a hockey puck for the soap bar, I just realised that looking at the pic of the tabac puck in the other thread

[Misunderstood]

Warm lather feels nice in the winter I going to try cold lather this summer with my CO Bigelow. :thumbup:

That,s what sucked me into heat.

[Greyfox]

I do it because I like it. That's the best reason for me.

[mandoman]

it just feels right :001_smile

[Gregny2002]

I just think it feels better, but I've heard of people who shave with ice water, which could be good for the summer.

[Fairchild86]

I do it just because it feels so good. They warmth may also help to soften the beard but I'm not certain on than.

[Geordon]

How important is it to heat your lather? Does it help soften the hairs or increase the quality of the lather?


I suspect that there is little to no "actual" benefit to hot lather, but as others have said, it sure feels nice! Especially on a cold winter day, warm lather is a little piece of luxury heaven!

[Phat Tony]

I like hot lather. I put a mug in a little party dip warmer filled with water. Once I face lather, I place the brush in the mug to keep it warm.

Cold lather actually results in a nasty shave for me, so I don't do it.

[jwilock]

Easiest question yet to answer ... it feels good!

[takeshi]

How important is it to heat your lather?
You need to ask yourself that question. If you don't know the answer then try it out and see. Like many things here, it's a matter of preference (YMMV).

[mharris127]

Warm does sound good I have to say.

Did anyone invent some sort of electricity free water heater / kettle with a shaving adaptor so we can have how water on demand if there's none in the tap? :)

Ps. what is a puck ? its a new one on me, ha.

ahh a hockey puck for the soap bar, I just realised that looking at the pic of the tabac puck in the other thread


I have been using a electric pitcher-type water heater. Heats up to eight cups of water in about three minutes. If you don't have electricity or hot water I guess you could heat water on a gas burner such as a camp stove (or a kitchen stove if you have access to one).

[Cagliostro]

I've been cold shaving for a while now, every thing done cold except for the razor...I do run it under hot water. Hot shaving is also good, I some times like the feel of hot slippy lather specially in winter.

[packersfan117]

I like the warmth. I'm a recent convert from goo-and-cartridge shaving, and the shave gels from aerosols were always too cold. My pores would shut and the shave would be inferior. I've been using a puck of Williams (yeah, I know, it's rubbish) and a boar brush, but using it warm or hot is better than anything I ever used in an aerosol can.