lathering up with Proraso?

**baconeater** · 07-31-2006, 12:15 AM

What's the best technique to lather up with Proraso? I've been using hard soaps for years and only recently picked up a tube of Proraso. I squirt 1cm into a bowl, but it's so waxy that my brush just pushes it around the bottom and it never breaks down and lathers up. I ended up mashing it into my hand and then only my face, but there wasn't much lather. Any tips?

**AACJ** · 07-31-2006, 12:47 AM

Are you using enough water? And what temperature is it? I use HOT water and let my brush set in the hot water in the mug for a while to heat up the mug. When I put any type of cream in after dumping my hot water, it usually ends up melting in the hot mug.

**bigDee** · 07-31-2006, 03:50 AM

My first shave was with Proraso. I just added a little more water, then a little more cream. Its hard to get the ratio right but I managed pretty good.

**Kyle** · 07-31-2006, 04:05 AM

Originally Posted by baconeater

What's the best technique to lather up with Proraso? I've been using hard soaps for years and only recently picked up a tube of Proraso. I squirt 1cm into a bowl, but it's so waxy that my brush just pushes it around the bottom and it never breaks down and lathers up. I ended up mashing it into my hand and then only my face, but there wasn't much lather. Any tips?

Baconeater,
Welcome to B&B.

It sounds like your tube is mildly dried out. It is, however, still very usable. What I have done in similar situations is after squirting the cream into the bowl (I would recommend using about an almond sized dollop), put about 1/2 teaspoon of water in with it and mash/mix the two together with your index finger. You should now have something that will respond better to your lathering attempts.

**crackstar** · 07-31-2006, 04:06 AM

Dee, I agree with you on that, Proraso generally does need a little more water to get the lather just right.

Jeff

**webguru24** · 07-31-2006, 03:18 PM

When I lather Proraso, I use a cheap $3 dollar cereal bowl and let the brush soak inside the bowl with plenty of hot water for a couple of minutes. Then I dump the water out and squirt the cream into the bottom of the bowl, then I give the brush a quick flick and start mixing, it usually produces some really good lather in a short amount of time. Good luck, Proraso has quickly become my favorite cream over the last couple of weeks.

**Agent86** · 07-31-2006, 07:40 PM

Originally Posted by Kyle

It sounds like your tube is mildly dried out.

I was thinking the same thing, as I find Proraso super-easy to lather.

**baconeater** · 08-01-2006, 10:06 AM

Thanks for the tips about heating up my shaving bowl. I think that helped this morning. The dollop of Proraso softened up when it hit the hot metal bowl. It wasn't perfect, so I think I need to heat up my bowl more. I guess I'll soak it longer.

**javyn** · 08-06-2006, 12:09 PM

I'm thinking 1cm of cream is definately not enough. How big is your brush bacon?

**Dinder1** · 08-06-2006, 12:25 PM

Originally Posted by javyn

I'm thinking 1cm of cream is definately not enough. How big is your brush bacon?

I agree, I would try 2 to 3cm and see how much lather you get.
Cheers, DJ.

**Pete_d** · 08-07-2006, 11:02 PM

--Reposted this from another thread which up and died straight after. It is actually more on topic for this thread --

I've just been overhauling my shaving stuff, after years of unnecessary shaving rash. Got some Proraso in the Green Tub, i had some questions in relation to this product compared to the tube.

Out of the Proraso Green tub and Green Tube:

1. Which is the stronger smelling?
2. Which is easier to get to a serious lather?
3. Which provides a stronger cooling sensation?
4. Which provides a smoother shave? (In your opinion?)

so far i really like this stuff, and my KoS and Somerset Oil/Gel collection is being phased out. Next to be upgraded is the Mach 3, but baby steps right now.

PD

**guenron** · 08-07-2006, 11:13 PM

Pete,
All you are going to get to those questions is opinions, and opinions are just like the south end of the alimentary canal, i.e. everyone is entitled to have one.
My advice is try both. These are no HIGH $ purchases and you get the opportunity to enhance your expertise on such erudite issues. It might even lead to advanced specialities such as the numerous comparisons of every possible shave cream to every other shave cream.

After all, these questions are at least as challenging as the ubiquitous, "Has anyone tried ....?"

**rossination** · 08-07-2006, 11:36 PM

I think that another thing that we forget to do is just to use enough cream! Enough of this "pea-size" stuff - I always use about a nickel sized dollop of Proraso.

Sure, it may "cover up" some of my lathering techniques (it's super easy to get a bunch of lather if you start with more cream), but I always get a good shave out of it when used this way, and the stuff is cheap enough that I don't feel like I'm really wasting much.

**rikrdo** · 08-08-2006, 12:35 AM

Not that I am ANY kinda expert, but....
I do use Proraso and I am having good results.
My hardware:
1. Shaving mug (ceramic).
2. Mr. Coffee cup warmer.
3. Proraso Green in-da-tube.
4. C&E Best Badger brush
5. Water.

My Technique:
1. Fill mug 1/2 full with water.
2. Nuke it for 2 minutes.
3. Set mug on Mr. Coffee cup warmer (on "ON" position).
4. Place brush in mug.
5. Shower.
6. Dump mug into sink and add dime sized dollop of Proraso to mug.
7. Shake water from brush and start to build lather in mug.

Of course, YMMV

**McNutt** · 08-08-2006, 12:44 PM

I have both the soap and the cream and prefer the soap. It doesn't do anything better than the cream, I just prefer soaps.

**jduffy** · 08-08-2006, 01:13 PM

I'm always amazed at how quickly Proraso builds lather. I use the almond sized dollop and it gives great results every time. I don't think it's quite as slippery as say C&E Sweet Almond Oil, or Geo F. Trumpers Violet but it certainly does get the job done.

I wonder if it would be possible to have some tests done at MIT to see which cream provides the most lubrication.

- Jim

**rahul325** · 08-18-2006, 08:51 AM

i picked up Proraso from target yday and this is gonna be added to my regular rotation of creams. i used about 1.5 cms of cream. as mentioned above, i soak the brush is hot water and also the shaving bowl is filled with hot water b4 i lather up in it. it was pretty easy to lather up, but not as easy as Trumpers or T&H.

**javyn** · 08-19-2006, 07:23 AM

If you are measuring your shaving cream in metric....then I say that automatically means you're not using enough! Instead of a cm try an inch...imagine it is toothpaste going on your toothbrush. I think everyone will have much better results with that amount of cream to work with.

**av8or234** · 08-21-2006, 08:27 AM

I've been using the Proraso in the tube for about 2 weeks now and have had good results with this method:

1. Warm bowl and brush in sink full of hot water while I shower.
2. Dump water and let brush drip itself out.
3. Almond sized amount of Proraso in bowl.
4. Use still very damp brush and plop it on to the dollop of cream and start swirling.
5. After about a minute or less, lather up and go!

**Newtoit** · 09-29-2006, 09:38 PM

We'll I'm new to this shaving technique. I'm using proraso cream, a Merkur HD with feather's and a saville row brush. I am having similar difficulty lathering the proraso but after reading the replies I think a hotter bowl and a little more cream will do it.

The question I have is this, when doing the first pass I notice my face to be relatively dry under the lather. is that due to poor lathering or should I be adding water to my face at various stages throughout. I watched the instructional videos but I don't see where it was well addressed.

Thanks.