Hello gents! I've been trying my hand at face lathering lately and have come across a couple issues. Part of me thinks I know what I'm doing wrong, then the other part of me is completely bumfuzzled. I can't seem to get enough lather to last multiple passes, and sometimes not getting enough lather at all. I add more product, but sometimes it just doesn't work, especially after watching videos of guys using just a tiny bit of product on their faces then getting booming amounts of lather. Its just not clicking with me what my issue is. Granted, I bowl lather 90% of the time, but sometimes I do enjoy face lathering for a change. Any advice?
Face Lather Help
- Thread starter jaredsmith83
- Start date
I face lather saves me time and less to clean up after water is key. Try one or two drops of water in a dixie cup.
- Thread starter
- #3
More product may be. I was trying to go light, but it wasn't working. I've been feeling that my water/product mixture is off, but can never find the right mix to get a good enough lather on my face that way. Thanks fellas!
First, what product are you using, i.e., soaps, creams, shave sticks?
I prefer bowl lathering but when I travel I generally face lather. I find that shave sticks work best for me. I rub the shave stick over my beard, dip the brush tips in warm water, and go from there. If I use a cream I usually rub a little on my beard and then take a damp brush to it, dipping the brush tips in water as needed. For shave soaps (pucks) I follow the same procedure I use for bowl lathering but go directly to my face.
If I ran low on lather I just apply the shave stick or cream to my face or neck. If I am using a soap puck I go back to the puck and load it more.
I prefer bowl lathering but when I travel I generally face lather. I find that shave sticks work best for me. I rub the shave stick over my beard, dip the brush tips in warm water, and go from there. If I use a cream I usually rub a little on my beard and then take a damp brush to it, dipping the brush tips in water as needed. For shave soaps (pucks) I follow the same procedure I use for bowl lathering but go directly to my face.
If I ran low on lather I just apply the shave stick or cream to my face or neck. If I am using a soap puck I go back to the puck and load it more.
well I just stick my bush in the shave cream bowl ha and giver a good go of it.
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- #6
Mostly creams (squeeze and tubs) I think I only have about 3 hard soaps in my selection and no shave sticks at the moment. Its sounding like water is my main issue, too much or too little.
well i only have one cream Im cheap ha
I say rub some cream on your face like applying lotion, the use a wet brush and add water as needed
- Thread starter
- #9
That's basically how I did it, except with not a lot of product. I used what I figured would be about a dime size, which in a bowl produces me plenty of lather. But that ratio may be off when going straight to the face.
If you watch videos on YouTube you'll see that a dry brush is the way to start face lathering. (Dry brush equals, a soaked brush that has been squeezed out by the hand). It will still be wet, but it won't have a bunch of water in it like bowl lathering. Then you dip the tips of your brush in water and keep adding water until the lather is where you like it.
also... Never cheap out on cream and soap, use more than you think you need...especially if you've hard water. Do you have hard water? That could be the problem.
so in short, more product and less water to begin, then add water as you build.
also... Never cheap out on cream and soap, use more than you think you need...especially if you've hard water. Do you have hard water? That could be the problem.
so in short, more product and less water to begin, then add water as you build.
- Thread starter
- #11
Ahhhh there we go! Thanks! I don't think my brush was quite dry enough and that may be my problem. I always thought it was the application of water once I was already lathering. I'll keep that in mind next time I try. Our water is pretty hard, so I'll try with more product next time. Thanks!
After reading the post I have to ask what difference does it make if you have enough lather for multiple passes? You have the product right there. I face lather only & have never been concerned if I don't have enough lather for more than one pass. My barber has been giving shaves since the early 70s & he reloads the brush each time he relathers. I guess my question is when was it decided that you must have enough lather for 3 or 4 passes? Help me understand this guys, I just don't see this as a major issue. Thanks. Grayson
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- #13
Hmmm I guess I had never thought about that either. I was watching some other shaving videos on youtube of guys who face lather and they weren't using much in terms of product and getting a good amount of lather to last them. I believe in my mind, I thought that this was the best/right way to go about it.
All I do is face lather and I have to say its pretty much a full-on lather from the get go. I lather for 30 seconds or so briskly off the puck,so the brush is think with soap first. Amount of water depends on the soap, but you get the hang soon enough.
Try a shave stick...lots of good ones out there. If you need to "re-rub" between passes, it is really no big deal. Very easy and no mess.
I use a stick and simply add soap after each pass. Add water as needed. Don't worry about how much lather your brush retains, just add what you need. Controlling lather consistency is the strength of face lathering.
Still learning. I think I did pretty well after my bowl broke in Chicago. I was using MWF and a Simpson Special Pure Badger. My lather wasn't as thick as I get with a bowl, but it was good enough for a good shave.
