How long do you make lather on the face before starting to shave? How long is to much and to little? Thanks
Face lathers, a question?
- Thread starter Kwikrp
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Depends. I use MWF. Excluding loading, from the time brush touches face, I can be shaving in 30 seconds more or less. If I'm taking my time I may spend a minute plus. But never timed it.
I don't know what too long would be, but I think the limiting factor would be the lather starting to get dry. You should be able to go two minutes easy, maybe a little more, but beyond that I wouldn't see the point.
I don't know what too long would be, but I think the limiting factor would be the lather starting to get dry. You should be able to go two minutes easy, maybe a little more, but beyond that I wouldn't see the point.
Around 30 seconds, maybe longer, maybe not. It's not really a question of how long, because that'll vary as a factor of which and how much soap, how much water, what brush, so on and so forth.
I just lather up until the lather looks and feels good; if it's too dry, I give it water until it feels right, then I even it out and go to town. If you're going to make any one thing your criteria for face lathering, it should be the wetness of the lather, because in my experience that is more determinative of a good shave than any one other factor - provided, of course, that you're sober and using a sharp blade.
I just lather up until the lather looks and feels good; if it's too dry, I give it water until it feels right, then I even it out and go to town. If you're going to make any one thing your criteria for face lathering, it should be the wetness of the lather, because in my experience that is more determinative of a good shave than any one other factor - provided, of course, that you're sober and using a sharp blade.
Depends a lot on the soap and how well I know it. Anywhere from 30 seconds to 2 mins is usual. I tend to leave a fair amount of water on my face after I rinse from a pass so I will habitually rework the lather on my face with that water for about 30 seconds as I like my lather a little thinner after the first pass.
Average two minutes on all soaps and creams.
As posted above, there are many factors to the time needed to build a lather on your face or in a bowl. I have hard water here in Toronto and I do find that it takes 2 to 5 minutes to get the lather rightish. This could very well be my lack of experience as well.
Not only the amount of water but the quality of the brush. A good silvertip will lather much more quickly and with a greater amount of lather than a lesser brush although can be expensive. I just purchased a Kent BLK8 and with the same amount of soap/cream it created enough lather that was 3 times the amount of my fine badger. Now I can use less soap/cream and lather quickly.
To quote an old barber from a long time ago "Tell him - the more he soaks his beard - the better his shave will be". Since then I have heard every barber I know echo that sentiment. I recently heard an interview of Iain Kane (aka The Village Barber) who said that depending on beard type - he sometime spends more than 10 minutes just prepping/soaking the customers beard before he touches it with the blade.
So in short my takeaway is - the longer you can lather the better. If you have a soft/light beard 1 minute might be enough, but if you have a tough beard - you may see a notable difference if you lather for 3 minutes or more
I go between sticks and pucks. With a stick, I just load my face 
and when using a puck, I load until it looks like enough. I don;t time loading or swirl count. Generally, my brush will start to get "sticky" on the puck when it's just about ready.
and when using a puck, I load until it looks like enough. I don;t time loading or swirl count. Generally, my brush will start to get "sticky" on the puck when it's just about ready.
I never timed myself but I'd guess no more than a minute. Probably less.
I lather for about two to three minutes and then attend to such things as putting a new blade into the razor or, making a cup of coffee while the lather works on my beard and skin. And then, I face lather a little more for about 15 seconds or so and then begin my shave.
Preparation will make for a more comfortable shave every time.
Frank
Preparation will make for a more comfortable shave every time.
Frank
If you're using a shaving soap you may need to spend an extra 20 or so seconds loading the brush rather than with a cream, I usually start shaving after adding water twice so in total maybe I would face lather for a minute before shaving
How long should a man's legs be?
Long enough to reach the ground.
How long should you face lather?
Long enough to produce lather with slickness & cushion. Trust yourself.
Long enough to reach the ground.
How long should you face lather?
Long enough to produce lather with slickness & cushion. Trust yourself.
Lather is soap. One of the things soap does is to lower the surface tension of water, making it "wetter". The longer your beard hairs absorb "wetter" water, the softer they will be, to a point. Hair is like that. Also, soap emulsifies oil-borne dirt, that oil being the sebum of your skin.
Treat yourself. Get a nice brush, good soap and spend a while lathering up. A soft, clean beard is a pretty big step to a good shave!
Treat yourself. Get a nice brush, good soap and spend a while lathering up. A soft, clean beard is a pretty big step to a good shave!
I'm with you, DA. Even though I use the same few brushes and lathers I have no set time for when it is right. I probably take a bit time than is necessary, as I love facerbating. But I know when it is right. That's not particularly helpful to a new shaver, I guess. Hell, even on those few occasions when I mix in a bowl, I still spend a lot of time building further on my face--I never just paint.
My advice it to do a bit more than you think is necessary. Work it to the point when you think it is right. If you aren't sure, experiment a bit. I found I like a thicker, less watery/fluffy lather---I'm more of a thick yogurt lather guy. But with some products, that isn't the best. Practice and learn. Pretty soon it will be second nature. None of us can tell you what is right for YOUR face,
I probably Lather cream for 10 seconds, then add water and lather 20 seconds, and repeat... maybe I minute total 
I used to lather for 30 seconds, but I find I get better results with over a minute. Taking a few extra moments seems to work the lather in and soften my beard more effectively. In addition, I like a scrubbier brush; right now, my preference is a Kent Infinity Silvertex.
This pretty much sums up the entire thread and is IMHO the best answer one can give.
Usually less than two minutes. Probably more like one minute. I face lather until I get a nice, thick lather. On my second (and third if I do one) pass, I still work the lather around and around..but for not as long. Maybe only like 30 - 45 seconds.
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