Getting to start over! Question about a lathering bowl...

[jrm]

Hello all,

Last week, I lost all my shaving stuff. Granted, I'm a super newb so my "den" was very small and didn't have much invested. However, it's been exciting to go onto the different places and order up some new stuff!

Getting a new brush (Semogue 1305), and I'm going to try the new Prorsaso Red. I ordered up some Astra SP and Feather baldes too... now that I've worked with a sampler, it's been cool to know what blades I like. I also am going to try out some soap from Mama Bear. Should be fun since I really havent used a soap before.

So... the only thing left on the list is a lathering bowl of some kind. Gonna check out those ebay gravy bowls. I used a coffee mug a little while ago and didn't really care for it. The brush was clanking against the sides and it seemed pretty difficult to get a good lather going on.. probably because I'm not good at making lather yet... but I'd rather shift the blame

What size bowl is generally preferred? Something wide and shallow? Flat bottom or rounded? Tall and narrow? Just wondering.

-jon

 

[oldspiceboy]

You really dont need a mug/bowl at all. Try face lathering! Just load your brush up and lather away on your face.

 

[shep12]

I have one made by Woodhead Pottery (purchased on Ebay) that is about 5" wide at the top and 3-4" tall. It has the nubs in the bottom that help make lather and is flat bottomed. It has a nice handle, easy to hold without the risk of dropping. Overall it is excellent for making lather and the design keeps it in the bowl, instead of it coming out at the top. I also don't have any problems with the brush clanging the bowl. To top it off - it is a beautiful shade of blue.

 

[bennyblade28]

I just went down to the kitchen and commandeered a small ceramic bowl. I tried a mug too and hated the banging on the sides, just a bowl that holds heat and is not too big... thats all you need.

 

[AverageJoe]

You really dont need a mug/bowl at all. Try face lathering! Just load your brush up and lather away on your face.

+1. This is something I learned early on. Never saw any point of lathering in a bowl when it's going on your face anyway!! Might as well lather there as well. Any decent soap/cream lathers almost as soon as you start anyway, as long as you don't have hard water, so the lather is just as good or better. Brush is still nice and hot this way too. Added bonus: less to clean up! I get plenty of lather for 2 passes this way-----that's all I need.

 

[elsmooth]

You really dont need a mug/bowl at all. Try face lathering! Just load your brush up and lather away on your face.

+1, FWIW. I went to face-lathering about a year after bowl-lathering, and never looked back.

 

[Optometrist]

Another face lathering convert here. I used a bowl for approx 3 months, tried face lathering, and never looked backed either.

 

[sempra]

You really dont need a mug/bowl at all. Try face lathering! Just load your brush up and lather away on your face.

I have just started DE shaving again with real shaving soap and a brush. I had never heard of face lathering until I happened on to B&B. The soap that I have been using is pretty hard. I will try the face lathering tonight when I shave and see if I can make it work. Does face lathering work better with soap or with a cream?

Mitch

 

[stuy119]

Face lathering is great, but I really like the bowl in the winter. Set it down in the sink with some hot water around it, so that it keeps the lather nice and warm for the 2nd and maybe 3rd passes. Perfect.

 

[awsmith4]

I face lather mostly but I have a great scuttle that was made by Robert Becker, he does great work and has great prices.

http://robertsfeatsofclay.com/cscuttles.html

 

[oldspiceboy]

I have just started DE shaving again with real shaving soap and a brush. I had never heard of face lathering until I happened on to B&B. The soap that I have been using is pretty hard. I will try the face lathering tonight when I shave and see if I can make it work. Does face lathering work better with soap or with a cream?

Mitch

Face lathering works great with either of them. In some cases like Tabac if you bowl lather when the puck is new you get more on the outside than stays in the bowl.
And when using a shaving stick if you ever get into those you just rub the stick on your face and then lather up as normal. But I will say this. I sort of had a hybrid bowl face lather thing going on for awhile. I'd work a lather up in my old spice mug and then set it down in some warm water to keep my brush warm. Which is very nice in the winter. But the thing to remember is do what works for you.