Face Lather vs. Bowl Lather

I've come to the conclusion that a face lather is more practical when using mug & soap. WHen using a cream, a scuttle is more practical. (or bowl) I always end up w. more lather than I need in a bowl & it's just one more thing to rinse after shaving. I'm not really bashing the bowl lather, I enjoyed it, but I am finding I enjoy the face lather approach a bit more. I get a better cushion I think. I don't have to add water to the bowl, I can just dip the brush in the sink of water. It just seems easier. I'm not trying to cut corners, it just seems more practical to me. I've been wet shaving w. safety razors for a month & a half now & this is one among many discoveries I've uncovered.

Anyone else come to this determination?

 

Lots of people like to face lather, and more power to them!

I am not a fan of face lathering, although I do face lather when traveling or when using a shave stick.

I like to lather in a bowl (scuttle) primarily because I enjoy the process, which is more of a ritual to me.

There is no right or wrong; there is only what works best for you!

 

Every method has advantages and restrictions. I use bowl-lathering and face-lathering alike. Bowl lathering is more about smelling the scent and just 'play with lather' way, face-lathering is just kind of facetrubating with the brush! We all found our ways to do the same everyday work. So variety is a key! Try and enjoy!

 

Very true, I enjoyed the process, but then I found one day I just naturally, without thinking, just face lathered. I was tired & forgot I needed the bowl, but the experience was awesome & I felt a slightly thicker cushion & I think my beard was a bit softer. I couldn't put my finger on it. Once I was waking up, I realized I forgot the bowl, but kept going & just went along w. it. I still do the bowl lather, but now I kinda do it when I feel like it. I'm not knocking it, I'm just new to the face lather bit, which I enjoyed. I was just curious if anyone else came to a similar determination. If it's a fragrant soap, the bowl lather is nice, but something like arlington with a subtle scent I could just face lather. It's just one more way to discern and discriminate in the morning routine, LOL!

 

I've found with face lathering that you get to smell the scent more since your working it on your face. Also I feel the lather is slicker vs. bowl lathering.

 

That's what I discovered this past sunday! I was tired, groggy, getting ready for church, and forgot the bowl, lol....as I was rinsing after the 1st pass, I realized OH! I FORGOT THE BOWL!!! But I just went with it. I felt a slicker & thicker cushion. I sort of have a new love for tabac after the face lathering!

 

I bowl lather with creams & face lather with soaps.

Seems like bowl lathering with soap would weaken the lather.............Maybe?

 

Precisely, that's probably why I noticed such a difference when I face lathered w. my soap for the first time. I've been using a bowl simply because that's how newbs are taught in all the instructional videos (for the most part, I know there are face lathering videos as well.).

I'm thinking it's more beneficial to face lather w. soaps. Each time I find what I call a discovery, it usually gets followed by, the thought of, "I can't be the only one..."

 

:sihns011

Thanks Jeff, saved me a lot of typing! :happy088

 

I agree; Jeff has a way with words

 

Since it's come up, I prefer face lathering with both soaps and creams. With a cream, just squeeze a tiny bit into the wet brush at the beginning, and you can have enough left in the brush for several passes.

I tried bowl lathering just enough to convince myself that it could work, but after that, didn't see much point in it. Still, it's a matter of taste.

 

Yup to all the above.

 

IMHO, I prefer to face lather - creams or soaps, to me it doesn't matter. I find that I can better judge the quality of my lather by building it on my face. While a lather may look nice and pretty in a bowl, if it's too thick or too thin you'll never know until the lather touches your face. You are correct that face lathering is a bit more practical. Of course that's not to say that bowl lathering is all wrong. Bill (dridecker) already put it nicely, it's really just a matter of your own personal preferences. To quote Steve (swarden43), 'it's your shave, enjoy it your own way'!

 

I thoroughly enjoy both methods...

 

I found that I get better lather and have more control when face lathering. However, I almost whip up a good lather in a mug before applying. Why? Because I found that a lot of soaps/creams don't bother me when completely whipped into lather. However, when applied in a more concentrated dosage to face lather, I get reactions. For the soaps/creams that barely cause problems normally, I get a huge reaction if face lathering.

 

All this time I thought sticks were just soap in a different shape, but the way you put it the sicks are concentrated which makes a lot of sense to me regarding why I don't like to use sticks; they irritate my face.

 

AH HA! I've got a question begging a woman's perspective...

Do you or other ladies you know who use the wet shave / brush & soap use a bowl to lather when shaving your legs? ~ or do you do a ....um....."leg lather"?
I can see using a bowl or scuttle for creams, but what do ladies typically do w. soap?

 

I enjoy both