Thread: is there a wrong way to lather

I find that your method tends to use too much soap and not have a good lather (for me anyway). What I do with soaps is get the top of the puck wet with warm water- not a lot, but enough that it's standing. I take the dry brush and smoosh it in, twisting it around until I load up the brush well with soap. From there, I add some warm/hot water into my bowl and whip the hell out of it. Depending on the consistency after whipping, I'll either add more water or soap. Whip whip whip and you have a lather that is plenty wet but that will not slide around or drip.

It sounds like it's too much gear, but I have to be particular about my lather due to sensitive skin. Building lather on my face is ok, but it's not consistent enough for my skin. What I found worked really well is to experiment with different methods and consistencies. I went through a puck of VDH soap and about a third of a tube of proraso figuring out how to get it done the way I like it. It takes practice, but your face will thank you later.

The problem with lather is that the method depends completely on the softness of your water. Since I began wetshaving, I changed the settings on my softener to give me supremely soft water. I use significantly less soap since I made the change. Keep chugging away, you'll find your sweet spot. When you do all the pieces will fall into place.

From a cheap bastard's point of view, I object to steps 3 and 8. Dumping water out of the soap bowl before or after shaving means you are dumping soap down the drain. That's why you get "weeks" from a cake of soap. I get years from mine by making sure that all of the soap ends up on my face before it goes down the drain.

I only put in enough water to make the lather in a separate lathering bowl. When I'm done shaving, any residual lather is left in the bowl to be used in the next shave.

You let the old lather dry in the lather bowl? EEEEEWWWWWWWWW

Originally Posted by Utopian

From a cheap bastard's point of view, I object to steps 3 and 8. Dumping water out of the soap bowl before or after shaving means you are dumping soap down the drain. That's why you get "weeks" from a cake of soap. I get years from mine by making sure that all of the soap ends up on my face before it goes down the drain.

I only put in enough water to make the lather in a separate lathering bowl. When I'm done shaving, any residual lather is left in the bowl to be used in the next shave.

I kind of like your idea here. I think I will try it.

If you dont have a rotation it wont be in the bowl long enough to go bad, if you use a different soap everytime then you may have problems if you dont tidy up. Signed another cheap bastard.

Originally Posted by Utopian

From a cheap bastard's point of view, I object to steps 3 and 8. Dumping water out of the soap bowl before or after shaving means you are dumping soap down the drain. That's why you get "weeks" from a cake of soap. I get years from mine by making sure that all of the soap ends up on my face before it goes down the drain.

I only put in enough water to make the lather in a separate lathering bowl. When I'm done shaving, any residual lather is left in the bowl to be used in the next shave.

As another cheap bastard, that's exactly what I was thinking, although I wasn't sure I completely understood.

I'm sure it works well, though.
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Personally, I really find that keeping brush and lather warm is best. The problem is I'm a slowish shaver. I also apply the lather bit-by-bit, in 4 installments actually: right half of face, left half of face, left half neck, right half neck.

Are you kidding about the soap going bad?

I use Williams, and it is already bad. I can't believe it could get worse...

I also don't rinse off the soap after making my lather. It's just more soap for next time!

Originally Posted by toolarts

Are you kidding about the soap going bad?

I use Williams, and it is already bad. I can't believe it could get worse...

My Williams doesn't go bad and a puck lasts several months. Shaves OK too.