Comprehensive guide to building superlative lather! [Archive]

View Full Version : Comprehensive guide to building superlative lather!

joel

08-13-2005, 12:45 AM

Comprehensive Guide to achieving delightfully hot, meringue like lather.

Preface –
Please do not take anything in the following pictorial guide to be “set in stone.” The beauty of wet shaving is having fun, and keeping things enjoyable. If you choose to use this method of generating lather… please make sure you enjoy doing it! Wet shaving is about making a mundane daily chore, something fun, and enjoyable. When wet shaving is turned into a scientific method, it becomes drab, and mundane. Ok, enough of my jabbering, here goes…

Section 1 – Keep it hot!
The most important factor in successful lather is keeping it hot! Cold lather is like a warm popsicle… just does not work! I personally use a Rival water boiler I purchased at Target. It ran me somewhere around $10, and has been one of the most useful wet shaving tools I have bought. It takes around a minute or so to get the water to a rolling boil…. Defiantely faster and more convenient than a microwave, especially since you can turn the heat down whilst shaving and have nice hot water on hand at any time if you need a quick hot recharge!
Here are some pictures of the boiler in action
http://www.badgerandblade.com/images/tfa/shvguide/P1010048.JPG

As you can see it immediately kicks in action and you can see little bubbles start to form at the bottom of the water near the heat element.

http://www.badgerandblade.com/images/tfa/shvguide/P1010049.JPG

After 30 seconds you can see the water begins to get cloudy as the temp rapidly rises
http://www.badgerandblade.com/images/tfa/shvguide/P1010050.JPG

At 1 min, you have boiling water at your disposal.
http://www.badgerandblade.com/images/tfa/shvguide/P1010051.JPG

Once you have got boiling water, it is important to keep as much hot water as possible on the badger hair right up until you are ready to begin building lather. To do this, I insert the dry brush into a coffee mug then pour water into the mug until the hot water reaches the top of the bristles. I let it sit for about 30 seconds to a minute to warm up the brush and mug, then I dump the water out of the mug, and then repeat the process. This is important, as the first time the hot water is poured into the mug, a good portion of the heat is lost heating up the cold mug, hence the actual water temp inside the mug is not quite high enough for our intended purpose.
http://www.badgerandblade.com/images/tfa/shvguide/P1010052.JPG

I then pour some of the hot water into the shaving bowl I aim to produce lather in, again, in order to keep it hot! It is surprising how much better of a lather is generated in a hot bowl VS a cold/room temp bowl or mug.
http://www.badgerandblade.com/images/tfa/shvguide/P1010053.JPG

As the brush and bowl continue their heat bath, I use some of the remaining hot water to soak a towel and place the towel on my face whist I contemplate which cream I am going to choose. On this particular day I decided to go with a tub of Taylors Eton College.
http://www.badgerandblade.com/images/tfa/shvguide/P1010054.JPG

At this point, I dump the water from the bowl and continue with section 2…
http://www.badgerandblade.com/images/tfa/shvguide/P1010055.JPG

Section 2 – Keep it wet!
Now, the business portion of the lathering process. I grab my mug and pull the drenched, molten lava hot brush out of the mug and give it 2-3 good shakes into the sink to get the excess water out of the brush.
http://www.badgerandblade.com/images/tfa/shvguide/P1010056.JPG
http://www.badgerandblade.com/images/tfa/shvguide/P1010057.JPG
http://www.badgerandblade.com/images/tfa/shvguide/P1010058.JPG

When finished shaking, there should be no dripping from the brush and it should not seem TOO burdened with water. This process is VERY forgiving in that you cannot shake TOO much water out of the brush, as you always have a rival water boiler full of hot water ready to replenish needed water at any point in the actual lathering process. Water ratios of cream to water are incredibly difficult to master, so I bypass it.
http://www.badgerandblade.com/images/tfa/shvguide/P1010059.JPG

I then take the hot brush and place it in the tub of cream and lightly push down and twist my brush once to load it with cream. Please note in this picture I am using a Vulfix super badger brush, so the bristles are very soft. You can see how much they are flexed… unless you have a soft reference, do not use this as a reference, as with a stiffer brush, with that much flex you will have twisted out way too much shave cream.
http://www.badgerandblade.com/images/tfa/shvguide/P1010060.JPG
http://www.badgerandblade.com/images/tfa/shvguide/P1010061.JPG

Please note that there is NO water left in the cream, even though the wet brush was inserted into the cream. When using my method, with several good shakes to rid the brush of access water, and the quick twist method of getting cream out of the tub, no access water is left in the cream. Sorry for spending so much time on this subject, but many gents have had problems in this area, so please take note of the lack of water.
http://www.badgerandblade.com/images/tfa/shvguide/P1010062.JPG
http://www.badgerandblade.com/images/tfa/shvguide/P1010064.JPG

The quick twist loaded my brush with the optimal amount of cream. I tend to use much less cream when using this method, than when scooping it out with my finger, or squeezing it out of a tube. It is much less wasteful, and will still give you optimal lather!
http://www.badgerandblade.com/images/tfa/shvguide/P1010063.JPG

Now it is time to start the “swirl” process.
http://www.badgerandblade.com/images/tfa/shvguide/P1010065.JPG

Here is the brush after one clockwise swirl
http://www.badgerandblade.com/images/tfa/shvguide/P1010066.JPG

Two clockwise swirls
http://www.badgerandblade.com/images/tfa/shvguide/P1010067.JPG

Third clockwise swirl
http://www.badgerandblade.com/images/tfa/shvguide/P1010068.JPG

Fourth
http://www.badgerandblade.com/images/tfa/shvguide/P1010069.JPG

Tenth
http://www.badgerandblade.com/images/tfa/shvguide/P1010070.JPG

Twentieth
http://www.badgerandblade.com/images/tfa/shvguide/P1010071.JPG

At this point I decide I am not getting a prolific enough amount of lather. Notice above how the lather looks chalky and a bit dry? Look in the bowl, it is not soupy at ALL (not that you want it soupy) but it is quite clear there is not enough water in the brush and bowl to build the “optimal” lather… but hey, with my method, this is no big deal, just a splash of hot water from the rival water boiler into the bowl….

The splash of water added
http://www.badgerandblade.com/images/tfa/shvguide/P1010072.JPG

Now here is a picture after another 10 or so clockwise swirls of varying pressure…. NOW we are getting somewhere!
http://www.badgerandblade.com/images/tfa/shvguide/P1010073.JPG

After about another 10-15 swirls with a “pump” or two (pushing the brush downward into the bowl to squash the bristles out and force the cream upwards into the hair of the brush) some seriously dense, hydrated, lubricated, meringue like lather.
http://www.badgerandblade.com/images/tfa/shvguide/P1010074.JPG

Take note of the “peaks” in the bowl and how they support themselves. The lather is so dense and thick that it is able to easily support its own weight.
http://www.badgerandblade.com/images/tfa/shvguide/P1010077.JPG

Quanto Bella!
http://www.badgerandblade.com/images/tfa/shvguide/P1010076.JPG
http://www.badgerandblade.com/images/tfa/shvguide/P1010078.JPG
http://www.badgerandblade.com/images/tfa/shvguide/P1010079.JPG
http://www.badgerandblade.com/images/tfa/shvguide/P1010080.JPG

Notice how DEEP the thick lather penetrates the brush! You will occasionally see pics of guys generating lather, always look at how deep and loaded the brush is, not just what is on ones hand. There are a good 8-9 passes in that sucker EASY, and I am using less cream than those who use a kidney bean sized portion…
http://www.badgerandblade.com/images/tfa/shvguide/P1010083.JPG

One swipe across my hand (this is not to show a further build of lather, this is to show what ones face would look like after X amount of swipes)
http://www.badgerandblade.com/images/tfa/shvguide/P1010084.JPG

10 Swipes (Again note the amount of lather still in the brush)
http://www.badgerandblade.com/images/tfa/shvguide/P1010085.JPG
http://www.badgerandblade.com/images/tfa/shvguide/P1010086.JPG
http://www.badgerandblade.com/images/tfa/shvguide/P1010087.JPG

Final notes-
When lathering on your face, with circular motions etc, you will get a MUCH better result than me painting swipes of cream on my hand. If desired, you should be able to generate immense lofty gobs of lather on your face than will put shame to anything from a can.
This process should work with any cream and any brush. Since you start with less water, it is much easier, as it is very difficult to make to “wet” of a mixture. It is easy to add water from the boiler at anytime, where as with other methods, it is messy and a pain to add more cream in the middle of lathering.
As always if anyone has any questions or would like further clarification, feel free to speak up!

jbasl

07-18-2006, 07:48 PM

I know this is an old post, but I have a question. Is there water in the bowl when you use the brush to create a lather? I know you warmed the bowl, but then i thought it was emptied. The pictures make it look like there is a bunch of water in the bowl.

htownmmm

07-18-2006, 08:44 PM

Absotively, posilutely excellent,excellent job Joel! :w00t:

Marty

rtaylor61

07-18-2006, 08:53 PM

Jonnybc

07-19-2006, 01:11 AM

I usually leave about a teaspoon of water in my bowl.

Randy

Me too. actually when I empty the bowl there seems to be just the right amount left to gice me a superb lather.

NMMB

07-19-2006, 07:16 AM

I usually leave about a teaspoon of water in my bowl.

I don't... I dump all of the water out of the bowl... I don't dry it or anything, so it remains wet, but I doubt that there is a teaspoon in there. I then add a little water (a few drops at a time) as necessary as I whip up my lather... I like this approach b/c I find it makes it easier to change from cream to cream and get the cream:water ratio correct no matter what cream I use.

Kyle

07-19-2006, 07:28 AM

I don't... I dump all of the water out of the bowl... I don't dry it or anything, so it remains wet, but I doubt that there is a teaspoon in there. I then add a little water (a few drops at a time) as necessary as I whip up my lather... I like this approach b/c I find it makes it easier to change from cream to cream and get the cream:water ratio correct no matter what cream I use.
Ditto here and for the same reason. Also, I like to see what the minimum and maximum water holding capacity is of a cream. I think a lot of times, gents fail to fully enjoy what a cream is capable of because they are shy with the water.

guenron

07-19-2006, 02:06 PM

I usually leave about a teaspoon of water in my bowl.

Randy
Randy, I think if you toileted before shaving you would not have that problem!!!

bigDee

08-01-2006, 12:08 PM

Is it also important to use a bowl rather than a mug because it is wider than it is tall? Does that make any difference at all to use a bowl vs a mug.

mrob

08-01-2006, 12:14 PM

NMMB

08-01-2006, 01:13 PM

It does for me--I just seem to need the room in the bowl in order to swirl properly. The mug doesn't allow enough space to move the lather and water around with enough speed to create rich peaks of meringue.
I agree with Mitch... I'm on the road right now and am using a small bowl (9cm across the top, I think) .... and I haven't been able to whip up as much lather in the small bowl as I would in the larger bowl. It doens't really matter how much cream I use (as long as it is close to a "normal" amount) I just can't get as much of that beautiful lather than we all love. Now, I still get enough for a decent shave in the smaller bowl... and it is good lather... but it just doesn't look right, if you know what I mean. Simply put, I miss my big bowl.

bigDee

08-01-2006, 03:52 PM

That did work better.

alec

08-10-2006, 12:07 PM

Hi, this is extremely well done and very helpful for someone completely new to wet shaving (me).

Just to confirm that the brush is soaked in boiling water? Does it have any potential to hurt the brush?

Thanks!
Alec

Wizzy

08-10-2006, 09:29 PM

So... I got all my stuff today and I may try tomorrow.

When I mix the cream into the bowl - is the water and cream mixing to create a thick foamy lather basically?

alec

08-11-2006, 03:32 PM

Thank you very much for this. Just finished making lather for the first time. Used your instructions - came out wonderfully!

Just sign me,
"what is this that I've gotten myself into?!" Alec

Used:
Rooney 1 Medium Super Brush
Taylor's Rose Cream
No razor yet - waiting on Merkur

rtaylor61

08-11-2006, 03:37 PM

Alec,

I missed your posts yesterday. Don't soak your brush in boiling water. Hot water from the tap should be sufficient.

Randy

Mottern Man

11-07-2006, 01:02 PM

thats the coolest thing i ever seen i dont have time to do it but u have me thinkin bout trying a tea kettle.................

joel

11-07-2006, 01:44 PM

thats the coolest thing i ever seen i dont have time to do it but u have me thinkin bout trying a tea kettle.................

No joke... it doesn't take more than 2-3 extra minutes, if that. Try it once, and I think you'll be waking up 2-3 minutes early - especially on cold winter days :thumbup:

Mottern Man

11-07-2006, 02:13 PM

i also herd it works if u put boiling water in a scuttle to (i am a soap user)

TimmyBoston

11-20-2006, 02:06 AM

Wicked awesome instuctions Joel!

kuzmo

11-20-2006, 04:30 AM

Joel now that is LATHER! :scared: Only problem I have with superlather is that I think it is blasphemy to even think about mixing shaving soap with shaving cream :confused1

Monks

11-21-2006, 11:30 AM

This is the best piece of information I've gotten from this forum, other than Mark's vids and the post about negative pressure.

I went right out to Target and got a water boiler and have had some seriously kick-ass, hot lather the past couple of days.

Thanks, Joel, you rock!

srk1103

11-21-2006, 05:08 PM

very, very nice!

jojo

05-25-2007, 09:19 AM

At one point in the threads, it is suggested that the badger brush not be soaked in boiling hot water. So, is the water heater just used to warm up the bowl, but you use hot tap water for the brush (which is not what's shown in the pictures, but is suggested in later text)? And how key is the hot water boiler to this process at all -- in other words, if I follow these instructions, but just use really hot water from the tap, should I be able to recreate the process/lather shown here (with just not quite as warm lather)?

PBrods

06-05-2007, 06:18 AM

joel

06-05-2007, 03:57 PM

izlat

06-06-2007, 11:50 AM

I boil water - unplug the boiler, and let the water sit for a few seconds while I get ready - then I pour it in the mug.

Brush manuals/leaflets say do not boil the BRUSH (as way back when - they would boil shaving brushes to sterilize them.

Putting near boiling water, or boiling water on brushes for the most part is a-ok. On one of my brushes - it knurled the tips a touch, but myself and others have used this with quite a few brushes, for years.

Basically - i'd say it is safe to use near boiling water on a shaving brush long term.

Boiling water is NOT good for the hair - it damages it. You may still use the brush for years...

You can get warm lather without boiling hot water (e.g. boil it and wait a bit, or mix with cold water).

Using boiling / too hot water will also play a number on your lather as it will become dry faster than otherwise and you will need to add more water.

Cheers
Ivo

bd555

01-20-2008, 04:21 PM

Does this lathering technique works just as well for soaps as opposed to creams? (I've only used creams but will be getting some soaps).

Or are there adjustments that need to be made?

Thanks.

joel

01-20-2008, 04:35 PM

Does this lathering technique works just as well for soaps as opposed to creams? (I've only used creams but will be getting some soaps).

Or are there adjustments that need to be made?

Thanks.

There are other adjustments you'd make for soaps - but the general idea is the same. In this section (pictorials & videos) there are a few pictorials on soap lathering as well.

A quick snapshot is to basically shake your brush, work the brush on the soap, and if the lather is a bit dry, add a bit of hot water to the brush (you can just run a bit of hot water on the bristle tips) and begin lathering on the soap again. It may take a few adjustments to get the hang of it, but in a few days, you'll have it down pat! :smile:

BUCCANEER

01-21-2008, 07:43 PM

WOW !!! REALLY GREAT INSTRUCTIONAL!!! REALLY COOL!!!:thumbup1:

JohnE

01-23-2008, 10:38 PM

Thanks for the idea Joel, I picked up a similar hotpot at Target the other day to try this out myself. I love the much warmer lather and subsequently much better shave. I'll try to post pics of the setup soon.

Winzzy

01-30-2008, 03:42 PM

I made my wife bring her eletric kettle home from work the other day (she was using it for tea.) When she found out why she was a little upset:blushing:

Oh I second everyone who says let it cool down a bit, I have burnt myself several times already.

Targ

02-07-2008, 11:09 PM

Hmmm,
$10.00 kettle or a 60 dollar scuttle :letterk1:

denissawyer

02-15-2008, 10:08 AM

A friend of mine just starting using the hot pot method in the last couple days and absolutely loves it he is a member here as well. Unfortunately for myself my face doesnt react all that great to extremely warm water.

jastclark

02-25-2008, 11:54 AM

Thanks for this post as a new wetshaver i wasn't producing proper lather and couldn't figure out why people loved wet shaving so much, now i have found the golden ticket and the wonderful world of wetshaving is incredible, my wife has found my face to be so smooth she is even thinking of trying wetshaving her legs.

atr1981

03-06-2008, 08:51 AM

Good job. I struggle normally to get good lather. I'll try your method.

Good_Things

05-13-2008, 02:30 PM

Awesome. Will do. Have my first shave coming up soon. Great tips.

nomad_z

05-14-2008, 02:31 AM

Joel, I've read a lot of your articles and they are all great and so helpful. I got some TOBS Avocado cream in the post yesterday and used your method and also kept the mug warm in water. At last I know what good warm lather feels like. Thanks

FrankSymptoms

05-22-2008, 09:43 PM

Is it also important to use a bowl rather than a mug because it is wider than it is tall? Does that make any difference at all to use a bowl vs a mug.

I've just started using a DE razor after many years of using the 3-bladed disposables... Imagine: being able to shave for 1/10th the cost!

I just got a badger brush and a cake of shaving soap. I have put the soap into a coffee mug, and use that to lather the soap. Any reason NOT to do this? I'm getting good results this way.

Baines93

06-01-2008, 08:01 AM

That was very informative to a young (15) new like me.

I will try to remember this for when i do my first wet shave some time soon.

That lather looks goooood!

Thanks.

Matt

AustinC9

06-18-2008, 05:50 PM

Joel, where may I ask did you get your lathering bowl? It looks like it works amazingly with the flattened bottom. Thanks!

B R A N D X®

06-25-2008, 08:53 PM

Great tutorial! Thanks for taking the time!

As for the lathering bowl.....what works very nicely for me is the mortar part of an inexpensive mortar and pestle I picked up at Target.

Versus a bowl, the mortar has ridges in the bottom intended to provide a mild grinding surface. This seems to help whip up the lather a bit faster than using a smooth bottomed bowl.

YMMY
:biggrin:

joel

06-25-2008, 09:57 PM

Joel, where may I ask did you get your lathering bowl? It looks like it works amazingly with the flattened bottom. Thanks!

Vintage handmade native american stuff. Had quite a few of them, but gave 'em away to fellas on the forum 3-4 years ago... I've only got one left.

STINGYBRIMSandBOURBON

07-15-2008, 09:36 PM

Vintage handmade native american stuff. Had quite a few of them, but gave 'em away to fellas on the forum 3-4 years ago... I've only got one left.

Only one left??? Great I'll take it! :001_smile

Rem Freeman

07-24-2008, 09:39 PM

As I've stated in other posts, I'm always looking for new and better ways of generating nice, thick, warm lather on my brush. Joel, thank you so much for taking the time to show us step by step your method. I believe that tomorrow I will be going to Target to pick up a water heater to add to my wetshaving equipment. Thanks again. A very well written post.

jrodriguez

07-31-2008, 03:53 PM

This is, indeed, an excellent set of instructions, and the pictures are wonderful. Thanks for taking the time to put this together!

whitedragon13

08-04-2008, 08:35 AM

these instructions solved several riddles for me, but I have a few final questions...should I be adding water until I'm at the edge of how much water the soap can take? Or, more importantly, what does "great" lather feel like...slippery, dry, wet, etc. Thanks!

ShaveZar

08-21-2008, 12:44 PM

Great instructions joel, works perfect everytime. Where might i find a shave bowl similar to the one used in this demonstration?

SlagleRock

12-08-2008, 10:55 PM

Joel, that was a great tutorial! I'll be pointing newbie after newbie here!

Well done and thank you!

SilverKarn

12-12-2008, 02:08 PM

I've been doing this for a long time, except i use a regular old tea kettle.

Shave4Fun

12-15-2008, 04:17 AM

Someone asked earlier about using soaps with this method. One challenge I have had is putting a warmed brush on a cold cake of soap. Want warm soap? I have some C&E in a Corning Ware dish. (This should also work with other good soaps and a mug). Set the dish or mug in the water pot and fill to about half way up the dish/mug and set it on low while you shower. The soap (and dish) will be warm! Using soap, and having the brush warm per previous instructions, you can make warm lather ON YOUR FACE. A good soap will also lather in a warmed bowl the same as a cream.
Experiment, experiment, experiment.