Lathering Theory

**lvsc10** · 11-19-2009, 10:46 PM

I recently read that after you apply your shaving cream/soap, you should wait approximately 1 to 2 minutes before you start shaving. The author of the article said that it takes that long for the cream/soap to work effectively on your beard. Here my question. It seems that if you wait that long to start your shave, the shaving cream will dry out and you will be pulling on your beard causing severe razor burn. Seeking comments. Thanks

**mdunn** · 11-19-2009, 10:54 PM

If lather is on your face for too long then yeah, its going to dry out and you'll have a bad shave. But one or two minutes shouldnt be killing the lather, if it is then I suspect its too dry to begin with.

**Drubbing** · 11-20-2009, 01:13 AM

As marcus says, if lather dries up after 1 or 2 minutes, it's been made too dry to begin with.

**Sodapopjones** · 11-20-2009, 01:33 AM

Originally Posted by Drubbing

As marcus says, if lather dries up after 1 or 2 minutes, it's been made too dry to begin with.

I agree with this statement, however I would rather have a hot towel on my face for 1-2 minutes than soap/cream.

**michiganlover** · 11-20-2009, 05:00 AM

Leaving lather on your face to soften the beard is the focus of "Kyle's Prep", you have read about "Kyle's Prep" correct?

Kyle's Prep

**paulboeck** · 11-20-2009, 05:21 AM

Originally Posted by Sodapopjones

I agree with this statement, however I would rather have a hot towel on my face for 1-2 minutes than soap/cream.

How about both? See below.

Originally Posted by michiganlover

Leaving lather on your face to soften the beard is the focus of "Kyle's Prep", you have read about "Kyle's Prep" correct?

Kyle's Prep

It's essential for me. I tried to skip it recently and just face lather for a couple minutes. Results were NOT good.

bluefoxicy · 11-20-2009, 05:28 AM

Originally Posted by lvsc10

I recently read that after you apply your shaving cream/soap, you should wait approximately 1 to 2 minutes before you start shaving. The author of the article said that it takes that long for the cream/soap to work effectively on your beard. Here my question. It seems that if you wait that long to start your shave, the shaving cream will dry out and you will be pulling on your beard causing severe razor burn. Seeking comments. Thanks

A book I recently posted seemed to advocate having the shave soap puck in the mug, firmly seated in the bottom such that water won't trap, and cleaning it out after each use. The goal was to get a very heavy lather that won't dry out, by lathering entirely on the soap puck.

I haven't tried this, but apparently your lather's supposed to not dry out.

You could always wipe it off after 2 minutes and re-lather.

**lvsc10** · 11-20-2009, 05:46 AM

Interesting. Thanks for the comments/insights. I'm going to try several different approaches and evaluate the results.

**kingfisher** · 11-20-2009, 06:01 AM

All the original Gillette razor instructions suggested leaving lather on the face for one to two minutes before commencing the shave. Every one of them.

I believe this was a common practice for years and years. I do it every day.

I agree with the others that if your lather doesn't last that long on your face there is something wrong with your lather to begin with.

Thus, there are potentially TWO benefits from this practice: 1) your beard will soften up, and 2) you will be provided with some good feedback about the quality of your lather.

(By the way, I kill two birds with one stone and use that time to brush my teeth. When I heard about somebody else doing that I thought it would be weird or difficult, but it's no problem at all.)