Got AOS Lather Technique Tips?

[Chaplain Matt]

I'm fairly new to this and am looking for some suggestions on lather technique with my AOS Shaving Cream.

I'd love to hear from those of you that are familiar with this cream. I love it and think I'm doing pretty good. I got a few tips from the sales rep at the AOS retail store but still not sure I'm getting the best results.

Before/After pics showing the quantity you start with and what I might be looking to conjure up would be awesome.

Thanks everyone!

Matt

BTW - I have read the tutorial but not sure if this yields the same/similar results as the proraso shown in the tutorial. I don't get quite as much thick foam so I'm not sure what I may be doing wrong. Maybe just not taking enough time?

 

[dpm802]

What are you using for a brush? Bowl or face?

Did you try lathering at the store? If you got good results at the store, but not at home, it may be your water. Get a gallon of distilled water from the supermarket and try using that. If that works, you can keep a supply on-hand for $1 a month. You only need about half a cup, 4oz or less a day to soak your brush and you'll be able to make an abundance of lather.

 

[Chaplain Matt]

Thanks for the reply.

When I was at the store, the clerk suggested lathering in the palm of the hand to build some initial lather and then face lather on the subsequent passes. He showed me how to lather but I didn't actually try it myself (FAIL on my part). Also, I'm not sure he demo'd a full lather either.

I did get better results on my last attempt when I moved to a bowl and presoaked brush. I'm wondering if perhaps I'm leaving too much water in the brush too.

 

[Neurotopia]

I think AoS bowl lathers nicely. Plus, your lather isn't wasted. Put an almond sized glob in the bowl, and add a teaspoon-ish of water.

Use just the tips of the bristles to create the lather. Swirl for 30 seconds. Pump the brush up and down a few times. Keep swirling. AoS seemed a bit thirsty to me, so I usually ended up putting in more water (maybe 2-3 times). If it seems just a bit too wet, keep swirling for another minute and it will probably turn out perfect. AoS lather seemed to shave better for me when I thought it was a tad on the wet side. What I thought was "perfect" usually ended up being a bit gummy and then dried out faster.

 

[jesseix]

I like to load directly out of the tub, and then face lather. Doesn't take more than a couple swirls in the tub to load more than enough for 3 passes, and it lathers up amazingly on the face when you dip the brush tips in water a few times while you lather.

 

[Jray19306]

Soak your brush, use one flick of the wrist to shake out excess. Load your brush with about a pea size to an almond size bit of cream, and start swirling on your face until the lather explodes. Love this cream, one of the easiest lathering creams I've tried.

 

[mfgorilla]

I've found the AoS cream easy to lather up. Started face lathering, and more recently switched to a mug which was less messy but just as easy.

 

[The Dean]

I simply dip the tip of my brush into the cream and take it right to my face. Typically that's all the product I need. If not, I do it again.

 

[Chaplain Matt]

Thanks all! Great tips. I've been having better success already.