going more in deep

[clango]

Hi everybody,
it is almost an year I approached a new shaving system. First of all I bought a badger brush! I never had one and this opened a new world to me. After that I discovered your blog/forum and thank to you I discovered how to prepare the lather, I introduced the four pass, I introduced a weekly routine changing my blades. I found also new soaps like the Valobra one that I'm using with the Proraso soaps ( green and white) and the Weleda products I like to use on the weekend.

Now I'd like to go more in deep.

I'd like to understand, for example, how long I have to rub on the lather on the face before I start shaving.
Then I'd like to investigate further how could I help the soap/lather to be more moisturizing on my skin or something else....

Could you please give me advises?

 

[RF1963]

I know some people add glycerine to the soap before lathering up. I assume this is for moisturising purposes but I haven't tried it myself so can't comment on it's efficacy.

 

[BladeRunner001]

Hi everybody,
it is almost an year I approached a new shaving system. First of all I bought a badger brush! I never had one and this opened a new world to me. After that I discovered your blog/forum and thank to you I discovered how to prepare the lather, I introduced the four pass, I introduced a weekly routine changing my blades. I found also new soaps like the Valobra one that I'm using with the Proraso soaps ( green and white) and the Weleda products I like to use on the weekend.

Now I'd like to go more in deep.

I'd like to understand, for example, how long I have to rub on the lather on the face before I start shaving.
Then I'd like to investigate further how could I help the soap/lather to be more moisturizing on my skin or something else....

Could you please give me advises?

First and foremost: Welcome to B&B and congratulations on making a success of this experiment and pushing the envelop for bettering your technique .

As to your questions:
1) After making lather (in the bowl for me), I spend a good 2 minutes working that lather into my beard. If you face lather, you probably have to spend as much getting a good lather anyway. So, 2 minutes is about teh time frame that works for me.

2) There are two things you can do (but it's best done in the bowl):

• Superlather: Soap + creme - Take your proraso creme fo rexample, put a pea size amount in the bowl and load your brush with Proraso soap (or any other soap, like Cell, MWF, etc...) and add that to the bowl. Make lather as usual
• Überlather: same variation as above + glycerin (a few drops)

I like making überlather by mixing Glycerin-based soaps/cremes with Tallow-based cremes/soaps. This gives the best of both worlds...with amazing results. Super, extra moist.

I hope this helps,

 

[The Count of Merkur Cristo]

Hi everybody,
it is almost an year I approached a new shaving system. First of all I bought a badger brush! I never had one and this opened a new world to me. After that I discovered your blog/forum and thank to you I discovered how to prepare the lather, I introduced the four pass, I introduced a weekly routine changing my blades. I found also new soaps like the Valobra one that I'm using with the Proraso soaps ( green and white) and the Weleda products I like to use on the weekend.

Now I'd like to go more in deep.

I'd like to understand, for example, how long I have to rub on the lather on the face before I start shaving.
Then I'd like to investigate further how could I help the soap/lather to be more moisturizing on my skin or something else....

Could you please give me advises?

clango:
I like to rub in my lather say...about 3 min (or until my face feels moisturized and exhilarated), before I start shaving. The greatest benefit from using a shaving brush (and taking to rub the later in), use is the tendency to soften and lift up (as opposed to 'matting' down the hair if using only your hand), your facial hair before a shave.

I beleive many shaving soaps (I use Chelsea's Unscented), will not begin to dry-out inside of 15 min, so you have a little time to indulge yourself

Christopher

 

[clango]

This morning I started to implement these great suggestions...my friends.
So first of all thank you you spent some of your time to give me advises.

I didn't have yet the proraso cream - today is a bank holiday in Italy - but I had and I try few drops of "sweet" almond oil, then I loaded my proraso soap and I lathered more than usual. At the beginning the oil slow down the foam but after a while a rich foam arrive.

Then a lot of hot water, and finally for a longer period I rubbed on. To tell the true my arm became sore! I need more exercise!

But the final effect was wonderful, fully proud I implemented this new technique.

About the almond oil do you think it could damage my badger brush? And what about the scuttle. Do you use it and why?