Comprehensive Guide to Lathering soaps, creams, shavesticks in a bowl and on the face

Very nice guide, I've had small issues with making enough lather to make 3 to 4 passes, but with this I should be good to go now!

 

More soap, more water, more swirls and you will have it.

 

Wow, this is as valuable a guide as exists, in my admittedly limited experience. Thanks for taking the time and trouble to put this together.

 

Nice post. I am using a puck without a cup so i do everything in the bowl with the puck in it. Will have to get a shaving cup to do it right. Had the best most comfortable shave. The pre-shave ritual (showering, then shaving really helped). Keep up the great posts. I won't be a newbie for long with such great advice.
Jeff

 

There is no "right" way. If you're getting the results you like, then there is just "your" way
Back when I started here we had a few folks who insisted that their way was the only way, the best way, etc. and if you weren't doing it their way, you were doing it wrong. That's when I came back with, "It's your shave. Enjoy it your way." Funny, but those folks aren't around any more

 

Question: Will I get better lather from a small mug that holds the puck tighter, or can I use the larger cheap ceramic mug I already own? Either way I'll be coming back here when my soap arrives...thanks for sharing!

 

I like some room to work. But that's me.

 

Great read!!

 

Thank you for a very helpful post
I'm a newbie, learning to sahve DH with a DE razor as and experiment for getting him some kit for his birthday next month.
I'm finding lathering difficult - we have very hard water here & will be looking for tips for dealing with that, as well as what works better for a lathering bowl..

 

I've heard that substituting your hard water for distilled water works. Just what I've heard - I've never tried it. But, hey, can't hurt, might help.

As for a lathering bowl, just take a trip to your kitchen. A dessert bowl, a soup or chowder mug, a latte mug, a large coffee mug - whatever suits your fancy. They all work!

 

Thanks Swarden43
Used a very smooth bowl & wondered if a rough one helped - seems not
Good idea on the water - I'll try boiled water to start with - see if it works.
Cheers

 

There are hand-thrown pottery bowls out there made just for shaving - not really cheap, though.
Many have ridges on the bottom that are reported to help create lather. I have one and I really don't see much of a difference.

 

Thank you, thats really useful as I'm also looking for bday/xmas gifts too.

Also have devious plan forming that if his son comes to stay for a while over the holidays, I would like to have an inexpensive 'kit' ready in case he likes the idea of trying himself.

 

Mine's a bit bigger than that.

Edit: No, measured mine this morning and it's right at 5"

 

Great post, thanks! Didn't realize you can face lather.

 

Update After 5 shaves - have a new slightly larger bristle (boar) brush which has made a big difference, also am finding part of it is technique/practice
Also have added another lather/shaving product which is helping, hubby giving feedback on what feels better to him and slowly it's improving.
Watching the videos have helped, but am finding one product seems to need loads more water to lather, than another - which hasn't helped when I didn't have the knack in the first place still feel like I'm getting there