It has been awhile since I have been on here, I have been experimenting with not adding water (blooming )to my soap, I am finding that I get a much denser lather, from just the wet brush. Do you guys add water to your soap or just use the wet brush?
Umm humm. We've had a good long talk about that. No real agreement except that you have to get soap, water, a brush, and your face all in close proximity. Everything else is details.
I may be a soap bloomer .... Here's what i do, you tell me if it's blooming. I get the faucet water hot. I take the soap im gonna use, run the hot water onto it, then i turn it over, let the water run off it, set it to the side (definitely wet), the i fill a cup half full to soak my brush in (boar,badger,synthetic), then i wash my face, I repeat I wet all items face brush soap and razor. They are all wetted. I hiccup starts, some soaps like more water, some less. Just like some brushes need to be dewatered, some just a flick gets them right, some are a two flick and finger job (we are only talking brushes guys, i known it sounds pretty odd). Soft soaps cremes are all bowl creations. But most soaps are face lather endeavors, and all are wetted beforehand. So y'all tell me, am I a bloomer?
sounds good to me..i have a similar routine ..excellent lathers with all products i have, fancy or meager..
Yeah, I was expecting Fuzzy @wchnu to do his "Running through the room" in short order. Considering the subject, he'd climb up on the soap puck (box?) and tell us how it really is with blooming. Thank you for clarifying. I didn't see any blood so I wasn't sure what the axe had done. If the water is applied before, during, or after soap hits the scene the results might vary but generally you get lather. I prefer using a bowl . Others face lather. Can't we all just get along? In trying to establish just what is meant by "blooming", putting water on a soap puck to release the scent seems to be the earliest definition. Currently it also includes hydrating a hard puck of dry soap to soften it quickening loading of the brush. The same effect happens when a wet brush is applied to a dry puck, just more slowly? Some shavers like lots of lather, excess lather, creamy rich dribbling down your neck, well hydrated lather. What better way than to soften the hard puck with a little water while your brush is soaking. In extreme cases of really dry soap (like vintage soap of no specific brand ) an over night softening might restore the original texture and ease of loading. I understand Mitchell's Wool Fat can dry and crack if left unused for a relatively short time. Using the soap every shave for a week can restore the original hydration and facilitate loading. I wouldn't consider incidental wetting of your soap as a blooming activity. Only deliberate hydration. TLDR; You might be a Bloomer.
I'll take this stand ......... I can neither confirm or deny the act of "blooming" taking place in any shave den that I have been in any contact or proximity. The act of "blooming" is still in the classified stage and remains an act that is still truly undefined in the den near the place of this correspondence. The question differentiating "hydration" and "blooming" ...... one being beneficial and the other being drowning of ones shaving soap still need further clarification, debate, and just plain needling. Carry on shaving and welcome to the fun @wchnu
Damp brush is all that is needed. Blooming is for the garden. That is not blooming. More washing the cake off. Not needed but it does not cross into rant street. Thank GAWD!!! You used up a lot of words there. As I have shown in video with a vintage cake of Colgate there is no need to bloom. A damp brush will bring it back to life. Lets also rember all that butter cream lather is a waste. If you still feel the need to bloom grow some tulips...
I'll buy some Williams pucks to give donate to ,my next moving team so they have items to keep doors open for the transfer of boxes from the van to the apartment.
