Where to make the lather?

[Mer]

Hi,

New guy here with a basic question.

When using soaps like this: http://www.cottonblossomcrafts.com/shave_page_7.htm

are you supposed to build the lather in the same bowl the soap is being stored or do you load the brush and create the lather in another bowl?

I looked in the photos/tutorials section and didn't see a definitive answer.

Thanks for any help,

Mer

[fuerein]

Most peoplem build the lather in a seperate bowl.

See this post for a better explanation:
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showpost.php?p=54254&postcount=2

[mantic]

This (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4ezJNJfygw) might help.

--Mark

[Mer]

It does, thanks.

So with a cream you generate the lather in the bowl and with a soap you generate it on your face. Correct?

Thanks,

Mer

[letterk]

It does, thanks.

So with a cream you generate the lather in the bowl and with a soap you generate it on your face. Correct?

Thanks,

Mer

That is one method of using soap. Personally, I like to load the brush with soap and build the lather in another bowl. I find I much more control over the quality of the lather. It's also less messy.

[kozulich]

I prefer to build the lather in the same bowl as the soap. Not to say other methods don't work, but I've never had problems getting good lather in the bowl with the soap.

Kozulich

[fuerein]

I prefer to build the lather in the same bowl as the soap. Not to say other methods don't work, but I've never had problems getting good lather in the bowl with the soap.

Kozulich

Only problem with that method is if you have certain bowl, like those wooden bowls that are frequently used by C&E, Taylors, etc. There really isn't enough room to build a decent lather. I know I've tried several times.

[Mr.Benn]

I use a separate lather bowl, primarily for the reason fuerein outlines above.

I also find it offers greater control over the quality of the lather, as well as helping to keep the lather warm.

[rtaylor61]

I've reached the point that I build the lather in the bowl with the soap. No, it's not really possible with the small wooden bowls, but with my other soaps:
http://www.badgerandblade.com/gallery/displayimage.php?imageid=3200
it's not really a problem.

Randy

[With The Grain]

...

[Ashe]

I would make the lather in a separate bowl which is heated up in warm water.

Using the soap bowl as your lathering bowl will make a much bigger mess and it gives you alot less control over the way you're creating the lather.

Isn't it also that when you create the lather in the soapbowl, that you're using more soap than you need to because you're swirling the brush in the soap itself?

[Mer]

Thanks everyone,

My equipment will be here on Wednesday so I'm doing all the reading I can to make my first attempt as easy as can be.

I'm sure I'll have more questions.

Thanks,

Mer

[kozulich]

seems like buyilding the lather in the same bowl as the soap would use up an excessive amount of soap and also make it hard to keep your lather from getting to thick vs nice and cushy.

Obviously, results are very individual, but I have to say, I've been using my C&E sandlewood soap exclusively for over a year now, building lather in the same bowl and its still not gone! If that's using an excessive amount of soap, then I guess I don't know what to say:confused1 I'm eager to finally see the end of it so I can try some of the other wonderful creams and soaps out there. That soap has cost me about $1 per month so far, and by the time I'm done with it, it'll probably be more like $0.80 a month. If I haven't used it all by then, I'll probably just throw it out so I can finally move on:rolleyes:

As to thickness or cushyness, yes there is less room for error this way, but as long as you stop building lather at the right point, there's no reason you can't get a nice cushy lather. You just have to develop an eye for the proper consistency and not take it too far. But even if you do, a couple drops of water loosens it right back up again.

Orest

[kozulich]

Using the soap bowl as your lathering bowl will make a much bigger mess ....

How so? Its less mess the way I see it. You've got your soap bowl and your brush and that's it. Of the two, I only clean the brush. The soap bowl just dries out and its ready to go for next time.

The other way, you've got your soap bowl, and your lather bowl and your brush, of which I would probably clean the brush and the lather bowl - twice the cleaning.

Oh, and the thing about using more soap, the way I see it, any excess soap stays in the soap bowl and gets rehydrated next time. The only waste is on the brush. OTOH, when using a lather bowl, the excess lather on both the brush and in the lather bowl get rinsed down the sink :ohmy:

Not that it's a big deal either way, I'm just not following the thought process....

Orest

[rafikz]

U can try to build lather directly on the face

[Lightwaves]

This is an interesting topic. Being a newbie, I've been building the lather in the soap bowl along with my face as well. I guess building lather on the face saves a bit of a mess in the bowl. I will have to try a separate lathering mug or something to see what the difference is.

At the end I just use a quick pass to wipe of excess lather and then let it dry with the cover on top. I would have to say part of the experience is using the soap bowl the soap came in wether its wooden, metal or ceramic, yet there are times where some of them are not too efficient like the L'Occitane bowl but you just make the best of it and enjoy it. Im learning alot just screwing around and trying different things...

[Ashe]

How so? Its less mess the way I see it. You've got your soap bowl and your brush and that's it. Of the two, I only clean the brush. The soap bowl just dries out and its ready to go for next time.

The other way, you've got your soap bowl, and your lather bowl and your brush, of which I would probably clean the brush and the lather bowl - twice the cleaning.

Oh, and the thing about using more soap, the way I see it, any excess soap stays in the soap bowl and gets rehydrated next time. The only waste is on the brush. OTOH, when using a lather bowl, the excess lather on both the brush and in the lather bowl get rinsed down the sink :ohmy:

Not that it's a big deal either way, I'm just not following the thought process....

Orest
Hi Orest,

First let me say that I haven't used any shaving soaps or shaving soap bowls so my statement was based on speculation. I certainly see cleaning benefits as you describe it, however I have some reservations about the possibility to create good lather with swirling movements due to the fact that the soap bowls typically don't allow much room to do so.

However I've seen pics in the Pictorial section where people create great lather in the soap bowl therefore I assume it's just a matter of personal preference and experience. :001_smile