Newbie Check-In and ?s

[MasonM]

I suppose I should have made my first post here instead of Razors. I've already discovered that there are some really helpful people here.

I live in Florida. Well, most of my stuff lives in Florida, I'm a trucker so I actually live on the road and visit my stuff now and again.

I bought a Futur a couple of weeks ago and really enjoy it a lot. I am wanting to learn all of the ins and outs of proper wet shaving now that I have a good razor.

I have an old shaving mug, brush, and a cake of Williams soap I try to use when i'm home from the road, but I suppose I just don't know the correct technique to using them as i never can get a decent lather from it and always wind up going back to using a canned cream.

I know Williams isn't exactly a top of the line soap, but it should do something more than it does I think. Could someone point me to a good resource for learning the correct technique of using soap and a brush, or offer pointers?

I'm planning to order QEDMan sticks for the road.

Thanks a lot, in advance.

[Dinder1]

Welcome Mason, It sounds like you need a top notch travel kit with all that truckin around that you do.
Cheers, DJ.

[rusirius]

I'm probably the last person that should be giving advice since I'm having a problem with the lubricity of my own lather at the moment, but I know my technique is good, so hopefully you'll have better luck... ;) Basically it's like this...

Pour some hot water in the mug with the soap and set it to the side to soak for a moment.

If your using a bowl for your lather, fill it with hot water and soak your brush in it... Otherwise, if your lathering on your face or hand, just fill the sink and soak the brush in there...

If you up for it, get a towel soaked in hot water and let it stay on your face for a couple minutes, otherwise at least be sure to rinse it in hot water for a couple minutes (preferably after a shower helps too).

If your using a pre-shave, you can apply it before the towel.

Now your all set. Dump the water out of the mug with the soap. Take your brush out of the water and shake it a couple times to get some of the water out.

Now begin swirling the brush on the soap till you just start to see lather forming.

Now you can set the mug off to the side and begin generating your lather in your bowl if your using one, or hand if your using that, or if you prefer just start right on your face. Depending on the brush your using, and it's quality, this can be a quick simple process, or a long difficult one. Just keep whipping till you've got a good lather built up. When it's good it'll kinda resemble the "Colgate" shave cream in a can, nice and thick, and it will form peaks that can support themselves...

Once you got to that point, apply it to your face if you weren't working up the lather directly on your face.

If the lather is too dry you may have to add a few drops of water.

[MasonM]

Welcome Mason, It sounds like you need a top notch travel kit with all that truckin around that you do.
Cheers, DJ.
Thanks. Yes, I'm in the process of changing mine over from the old canned cream and catridge to my new Futur and quality soap or cream.

[MasonM]

I'm probably the last person that should be giving advice since I'm having a problem with the lubricity of my own lather at the moment, but I know my technique is good, so hopefully you'll have better luck... ;) Basically it's like this...

Pour some hot water in the mug with the soap and set it to the side to soak for a moment.

If your using a bowl for your lather, fill it with hot water and soak your brush in it... Otherwise, if your lathering on your face or hand, just fill the sink and soak the brush in there...

If you up for it, get a towel soaked in hot water and let it stay on your face for a couple minutes, otherwise at least be sure to rinse it in hot water for a couple minutes (preferably after a shower helps too).

If your using a pre-shave, you can apply it before the towel.

Now your all set. Dump the water out of the mug with the soap. Take your brush out of the water and shake it a couple times to get some of the water out.

Now begin swirling the brush on the soap till you just start to see lather forming.

Now you can set the mug off to the side and begin generating your lather in your bowl if your using one, or hand if your using that, or if you prefer just start right on your face. Depending on the brush your using, and it's quality, this can be a quick simple process, or a long difficult one. Just keep whipping till you've got a good lather built up. When it's good it'll kinda resemble the "Colgate" shave cream in a can, nice and thick, and it will form peaks that can support themselves...

Once you got to that point, apply it to your face if you weren't working up the lather directly on your face.

If the lather is too dry you may have to add a few drops of water.

Thanks very much. I think I have already spotted where I have been going wrong. I didn't know one was supposed to put hot water in the mug with the soap. No wonder i could never get it to lather :rolleyes:

I'll give this a go first thing tomorrow morning.

[rusirius]

Most of the soaps are fairly hard, and especially if you have a really soft brush it can be a pain to get much soap worked off. Soaking it in water for a couple minutes before softens up the outside layer and helps that process. After it's soaked, pour the water off of the soap, but don't "rinse" it out again or anything like that... ;)

[Keith5698]

I've been having the same problem getting a good layher with the soaps. The creams are lathering great, but Not so much with the soaps. I'll have to try the hot water on the soap, and see if that improves things.

[GoTeeGuy]

Hi Mason,

Welcome to B&B! :001_smile

I've been using Williams Mug Soap for the past 10yrs or so and have always found it difficult to get a good lather. Lately, I've been adding a bit of aloe vera gel and glycerine to the soap, which has really helped. I keep my soap in a fairly large, shallow, coffe mug; as such, I create my lather there as opposed to using another bowl or my hand. I find I can add more water if needed and this helps reduce clutter in my bathroom.

Hope this hepls!

[MasonM]

Most of the soaps are fairly hard, and especially if you have a really soft brush it can be a pain to get much soap worked off. Soaking it in water for a couple minutes before softens up the outside layer and helps that process. After it's soaked, pour the water off of the soap, but don't "rinse" it out again or anything like that... ;)
Thanks, that makes sense.

[MasonM]

I've been having the same problem getting a good layher with the soaps. The creams are lathering great, but Not so much with the soaps. I'll have to try the hot water on the soap, and see if that improves things.
Good luck

[MasonM]

Hi Mason,

Welcome to B&B! :001_smile

I've been using Williams Mug Soap for the past 10yrs or so and have always found it difficult to get a good lather. Lately, I've been adding a bit of aloe vera gel and glycerine to the soap, which has really helped. I keep my soap in a fairly large, shallow, coffe mug; as such, I create my lather there as opposed to using another bowl or my hand. I find I can add more water if needed and this helps reduce clutter in my bathroom.

Hope this hepls!
Thanks.

I tried it again this morning and wound up just using the canned goo (Neutrogena) as I just couldn't get it to lather. I suppose it could be my brush causing some of the problem as it's just a cheapo and it's pretty old.

I guess I'll stick with the canned stuff until I can afford to order a good brush and shave stick from Charles at QED. The Neutrogena gel is actually not all that bad anyway.

[MasonM]

I tried it again today with the Williams and my ratty cheapo brush. I followed the tips from you fine gentlemen and did actually do a bit better today.

I worked up the lather on the palm of my hand (I need to get a bowl I guess) and while the Williams still didn't produce what I would call a good lather, it did lather better than it has in the past. That's a small bit of progress anyway.

One of the problems I had today was with it getting cold. By the time I had it lathered as well as I could and was ready to apply it to my face, the stuff was cold and didn't feel very good at all.

I had soaked the brush in good hot water for about 5 minutes prior to starting.

How do I keep the stuff nice and hot long enough to apply it to my face?

[Leisureguy]

A reasonably thick lathering bowl that you fill with hot water before you shower should keep the lathered brush warm if you leave it in the bowl. And yes, do try using a bowl to develop the lather.

[MasonM]

A reasonably thick lathering bowl that you fill with hot water before you shower should keep the lathered brush warm if you leave it in the bowl. And yes, do try using a bowl to develop the lather.
Thanks, I'll give it a shot. After doing some additional reading I think the boar bristle brush may be the main problem as I read they don't retain heat nearly as well as badger.

[gc_30286]

you really really need a wide shallow bowl to make lather in (ok you dont need but it will make it much easier). i float my bowl in the sink while i shave to keep it warm but putting it on top of another bowl filled with very hot water probably works better. i still shave with williams sometimes and the thing to remember with soaps is they take much longer to lather than creams. i get most creams ready to go in less than one min, but williams needs to be whipped for 2 min or more to get that stiff lather.

here is how i lather with williams

pour hot water in mug (over soap)
soak bowl and brush in hot water while i take a shower
pour excess water off soap
drain bowl
lift brush and hold it bristle down until it stops dripping
give the brush a small shake
work the brush over the soap to "charge" it
bring the brush to the lather bowl and work it until you get that stiff lather
and i mean UNTIL you get that stiff lather
you may have to add some water but it should be just a few drops at a time.

as alway just IMHO

matthew

[MasonM]

you really really need a wide shallow bowl to make lather in (ok you dont need but it will make it much easier). i float my bowl in the sink while i shave to keep it warm but putting it on top of another bowl filled with very hot water probably works better. i still shave with williams sometimes and the thing to remember with soaps is they take much longer to lather than creams. i get most creams ready to go in less than one min, but williams needs to be whipped for 2 min or more to get that stiff lather.

here is how i lather with williams

pour hot water in mug (over soap)
soak bowl and brush in hot water while i take a shower
pour excess water off soap
drain bowl
lift brush and hold it bristle down until it stops dripping
give the brush a small shake
work the brush over the soap to "charge" it
bring the brush to the lather bowl and work it until you get that stiff lather
and i mean UNTIL you get that stiff lather
you may have to add some water but it should be just a few drops at a time.

as alway just IMHO

matthew
Thanks for the tips. I'll eventually use a bowl here at home but as I spend most of my time (3 out of 4 weeks) on the road where a bowl just isn't workable, I am currently trying to perfect my techniques for the road.

Great tips on the Williams, I'll have to give that a go.

[gc_30286]

a small metal bowl would probably work (as long as it is wide enough to swirl the brush in) you could get these cheaply from most anywhere, and it would be pretty travel friendly. i have heard many suggest the ones from bath and body works in most malls (although i have never tried myself)

matthew

[rusirius]

Thanks for the tips. I'll eventually use a bowl here at home but as I spend most of my time (3 out of 4 weeks) on the road where a bowl just isn't workable, I am currently trying to perfect my techniques for the road.

Great tips on the Williams, I'll have to give that a go.

Try working it directly on your face then... IMO not as good as a bowl, but when your traveling you won't have to worry about carrying a bowl along. Also because your working the lather directly on your face, it will feel much "warmer" since the warm brush and hot water will go straight to your face. Just as you found lather kind of easy to work in your hand, the same will be true for your face. Plus the extra time on your beard will help soften even further. Give it a shot and see if you have better luck!

[MasonM]

a small metal bowl would probably work (as long as it is wide enough to swirl the brush in) you could get these cheaply from most anywhere, and it would be pretty travel friendly. i have heard many suggest the ones from bath and body works in most malls (although i have never tried myself)

matthew
Thank you.

[MasonM]

Try working it directly on your face then... IMO not as good as a bowl, but when your traveling you won't have to worry about carrying a bowl along. Also because your working the lather directly on your face, it will feel much "warmer" since the warm brush and hot water will go straight to your face. Just as you found lather kind of easy to work in your hand, the same will be true for your face. Plus the extra time on your beard will help soften even further. Give it a shot and see if you have better luck!
Thanks, I'll give that a try.

[Leisureguy]

On a recent trip I opened the bag I'd checked and found that the thick ceramic cereal bowl I'd brought as a lathering bowl was broken. So, willy nilly, I ended up building the lather in my cupped hand and directly on my face. I was using one of QED's soaps, and it really worked well---mainly, I think, because the Simpson Major Super travel brush is a size that allows one to work it vigorously on the face or in the cupped hand. And, though it's small, it holds plenty of lather for multiple passes---the most I did was 4, and there was still plenty of lather left.

So if you're traveling, I do highly recommend that brush. And with it, building the lather directly on your face from a good soap like QED's is no problem at all.

[MasonM]

On a recent trip I opened the bag I'd checked and found that the thick ceramic cereal bowl I'd brought as a lathering bowl was broken. So, willy nilly, I ended up building the lather in my cupped hand and directly on my face. I was using one of QED's soaps, and it really worked well---mainly, I think, because the Simpson Major Super travel brush is a size that allows one to work it vigorously on the face or in the cupped hand. And, though it's small, it holds plenty of lather for multiple passes---the most I did was 4, and there was still plenty of lather left.

So if you're traveling, I do highly recommend that brush. And with it, building the lather directly on your face from a good soap like QED's is no problem at all.
Thank you. That's one of the brushes I have been looking at.