So almost every wet shaver is faced with the question: to bloom or not to bloom their soaps. I know tons of people who despise blooming and never do it, and I know tons of people who bloom every soap before every shave regardless of how soft it is. In the end it comes down to personal preference. For me, I bloom harder soaps like soap commander and stuff like that but don't bloom softer soaps. This thread is just an open response for people to say whether they like blooming or despise it. Go!
I've been DE shaving since 2011 and I have no idea what blooming means, I've noticed people talking about recently on forums but I'm in the dark.
Thought I'd seen it before... http://theshaveden.com/forums/threads/to-bloom-or-not-to-bloom-that-is-the-question.48727/
Ooops. Unintentional. Updated thread. Still trying to get more responses. I'm trying to have this thread be a long one with different opinions on blooming.
Still don't bloom and do not plan to start. Never did it and always get great lather with the hard and soft soaps.
I used to love blooming for the short time I did it. But do you know why? I used the left over water as preshave and in between pass wetting. Well now I mix the lather slop that invariably forms on and around the tin or gets left over in the bowl mixing that with water and use it instead. Now I don't miss blooming at all.
We're just having fun with you, we know it was unintentional. @Omaney and @swarden43 just reminiscing about how much fun was had in the last thread on blooming, much of it at my expense. And I will play ball with your discussion. How I Lather Soap that isn't a puck or stick (Hint: Pucks are just poorly formed shave sticks, per @CyanideMetal and the Gospel of Face Lathering) Scoop softer soaps into a bowl, tablespoon or so, press into bottom. Place a tablespoon of water on the soap. Load, like it owes me money, with a Plisson until it has picked up all the water from the soap surface. Add splash of water to knot of brush Wet face. Commence face lather!
It depends on the soap. Hard and dry I'll add some water. My blooming mood changes daily. When I do bloom I'll use the water as a pre-shave.
Blooming means placing water on shave soap for a few minutes before lathering. Many people feel that it produces a higher quality, and easier to work, more dependable lather.
