I have a seemingly simple question. When face lathering with a soap, after the initial loading of the brush on the puck, how do you all add water to the brush when the lather is still too dry? Do you hold your brush under a dripping faucet? Or use some small bowl with water to dip your brush in? Or any other method?
Adding water, a seemingly simple question.
- Thread starter blade08
- Start date
EclipseRedRing
I smell like a Christmas pudding
I do not have a sink or bowl of water during the shave. To add water I place the tips of the brush on the bottom of the sink and then gently turn on the tap (faucet) so a small amount of water is added to the brush, but only to the tips. I find that a more controlled way to add water. A small bowl to dip the tips would work just as well.
Dip into a mug (same one I soaked the brush in)
I just use a really wet brush. No need to add water at all.
- Thread starter
- #5
I understand. But doesn't that initially give lots of frothy water and basically a mess when you load from a puck?
This is what I do
I formerly used my fingers by holding them under the running water and letting the water drip off my fingertips onto the brush. That worked well and provided a great deal of control. But I find I can accomplish the same thing by letting the water from the faucet run at a small trickle and then control the water content by how long the brush passes under the tiny stream.
Dipping the tips works very well, but I found myself too often picking up too much water. Try everything and decide what works best for you.
Dipping the tips works very well, but I found myself too often picking up too much water. Try everything and decide what works best for you.
Just dip the brush in water, I use the one from soaking the brush. But, go slowly, less is often more...
For me it depends on the soap. Have you tried the Marco Method. Link below:
My lathering technique with Italian soft soaps
Lately I've seen that some B&B members are having issues regarding how to create a good lather with Italian soft soaps. And I have personally received several PMs regarding this subject, with many asking me what kind of lathering technique I actually use. Here is a simple tutorial for new wet...
www.badgerandblade.com
Dip the brush tips into running water from the faucet.
- Thread starter
- #11
Yes but I find it far too messy and don't need a whole lot of lather, just enough for a daily single pass and touch ups. I rather start with a dryish brush.For me it depends on the soap. Have you tried the Marco Method. Link below:
My lathering technique with Italian soft soaps
Lately I've seen that some B&B members are having issues regarding how to create a good lather with Italian soft soaps. And I have personally received several PMs regarding this subject, with many asking me what kind of lathering technique I actually use. Here is a simple tutorial for new wet...
Small trickle from the faucet works for me.
This. I don’t even worry about how much water is coming from the faucet, it’s always more than a trickle. The amount of soap I lose doing this way has never affected my shave. I will add that I prefer a super slick hydrated, but not runny, lather. I don’t necessarily try for thick yogurt like lather, if that’s what your looking for I’d try dipping brush tips in a bowl, much more control that way.
Last edited:
I do like post #7, let a few drops of water drip from my hand into my brush.
I just dip the tips into a mug.
I usually have a sink with water in the bottom, used to initially splash face with hot water etc. I then dip the tips of the brush in water when I need to hydrate the lather.
Usually, I will start with a damp brush, squeezed to get the bulk of water out, load soap and lather on face. I then dip the tips and hydrate one side, dip and hydrate other side and then repeat so both sides get two tip dips each.
Usually, I will start with a damp brush, squeezed to get the bulk of water out, load soap and lather on face. I then dip the tips and hydrate one side, dip and hydrate other side and then repeat so both sides get two tip dips each.
I use as little water to soap ration. The way to find water to soap ration with each soap is different for each soap.
It is easy to a a 1/4 ounce of water, thought to remove excess water.
Plus you just waisted soap.
It is easy to a a 1/4 ounce of water, thought to remove excess water.
Plus you just waisted soap.
I try to avoid this issue as much as possible by figuring out how much water to use with a given soap and brush. But to more directly answer your question, I guess I just use water from the faucet.
I found that dipping the tips into a mug either picks up too much or too little water. I have used a small spray bottle(50ml maybe) to add water while lathering, bowl and face as well. I.e.: 3-5 presses onto the puck before loading helps the initial stage, and you can start with a dryer brush and add water this way onto the puck, then keep on loading. it works similarly on the face, a couple of presses to each cheek or side of the neck (the one you are on). it is not even cumbersome, as you can have the bottle in one hand and the brush in the other. it is faster than dipping the brush.
I do that with synthetic knots. A quick light dip, just to wet the soap.
With boar and badger I let some water drip from my fingers, as needed. I don't do that with synthetics because with them the water would run to the base of the knot.
