How do you keep your lather Hot?

[CryptoDave]

So you have worked up that perfect scuttle of shaving cream.

How do you keep it barber shop hot in between passes?

Is their a device or a way to do this?

I find that after I pull my scuttle out of the hot sink (which it has been immersed in with the shaving brush) for about 5 to 10 minutes and then prepare my lather, it has cooled down significantly, by the time I apply the 2nd lather it has lost any feeling of heat.

What can I do to maintain that hot creamy lather?

Thanks,


Dave

 

[Mick]

You should only be keeping lather warm not hot.

 

[Gref]

I don't! whatever temperature my lather is by the time it gets to my face is what i keep it at.

you could always keep your scuttle in the sink with warm water or change the water in it periodically.

 

[brother cavefish]

honestly i think if you want it very warm every pass, you will need to re-dip it again in standing hot sink water and re lather every time you use it. or try one of those dirty bird lather scuttles, never used one

 

[teeitup418holes]

I use my Georgetown pottery G20 scuttle. It keeps the lather warm, not hot. My lather isn't ever hot, even when I first start on a soap puck or dollop of cream. From my experience, using my scuttle keeps the lather a little bit warm, whereas bowl lathering didn't stay warm at all. It wasn't uncomfortable, just wasn't warm. YMMV

 

[Cynomys]

I have yet to be successful in this endeavor myself, but allow me to tell you about a recent experiment along these lines. First I purchased what is called a "butter warmer" (aka "sauce warmer") from World Market:.http://www.worldmarket.com/product/butter-warmer-set.do

While washing my face, I warmed some water in the device, soaking my brush in it at the same time. The brush of choice that day was too big for the ramikin, so I whipped up my lather in a separate bowl and then, with indifferent success, attempted to transfer the lather to the ramikin. The successful part of the experiment was that the lather was really nice and toasty warm when I applied it. I did notice smoke rising from the lather after a bit, so I snuffed the candle.

I will make another attempt soon, this time using my Wee Scot brush which should enable me to whip up the lather directly in the ramikin. I really want this experiment to work because the nice warm lather felt so nice going onto my face. But maybe I should keep a fire extinguisher handy as well!

 

[goatee]

my bowl sits atop a incense burner from the dollar store. with a tea light candle under it. works great.

 

[Cynomys]

Inspired by my previous post concerning the World Market "sauce/butter warmer", I tried it again just now for my first shave of the new year.

I filled the ramikin with water and set it on the device over the lit candle. The Wee Scot was my choice for a brush because I intended to build the lather directly in the ramikin and thus needed a small brush. The brush was set to soaking in the ramikin over the flame.

Next I washed my face with soap and water and soaked it with a warm washcloth. This is my usual beard prep. Following that, I removed the ramikin from the flame (it is not too hot to handle comfortably), dumped the water and squeezed out the brush until it was just moist. Then I began to build the lather, using C.O. Bigelow cream.

I was surprised at how easily the lather built and how much I was able to get. Maybe the warmth of the bowl had something to do with this. Then I lathered up my face with nice warm lather and replaced the ramikin over the flame while I did my first (WTG) pass.

After rinsing my face and pat drying it, I went back to the lather bowl and reloaded the brush. The lather was just beginning to smoke so in the future I might only put the bowl back over the flame once I am done with the first pass and before rinsing.

The second coat of lather was nice and warm and it retained that wonderful slickness that I have come to enjoy from C.O. Bigelow.

Conclusion: this could be a workable technique, but some care should be exercised until the exact procedure is worked out. And it may depend on the soap or cream one uses (e.g., they may have different "flash points"). As well, there may be a bit too much ritual for some. Then again, some may enjoy that aspect.

 

[chado006]

Inspired by my previous post concerning the World Market "sauce/butter warmer", I tried it again just now for my first shave of the new year.

I filled the ramikin with water and set it on the device over the lit candle. The Wee Scot was my choice for a brush because I intended to build the lather directly in the ramikin and thus needed a small brush. The brush was set to soaking in the ramikin over the flame.

Next I washed my face with soap and water and soaked it with a warm washcloth. This is my usual beard prep. Following that, I removed the ramikin from the flame (it is not too hot to handle comfortably), dumped the water and squeezed out the brush until it was just moist. Then I began to build the lather, using C.O. Bigelow cream.

I was surprised at how easily the lather built and how much I was able to get. Maybe the warmth of the bowl had something to do with this. Then I lathered up my face with nice warm lather and replaced the ramikin over the flame while I did my first (WTG) pass.

After rinsing my face and pat drying it, I went back to the lather bowl and reloaded the brush. The lather was just beginning to smoke so in the future I might only put the bowl back over the flame once I am done with the first pass and before rinsing.

The second coat of lather was nice and warm and it retained that wonderful slickness that I have come to enjoy from C.O. Bigelow.

Conclusion: this could be a workable technique, but some care should be exercised until the exact procedure is worked out. And it may depend on the soap or cream one uses (e.g., they may have different "flash points"). As well, there may be a bit too much ritual for some. Then again, some may enjoy that aspect.

I haven't ever worried about keeping my lather warm but am inspired by this so I may be giving this a try.
What about using a double boiler technique? Keep the steaming water in the ramekin and then set another ramekin on top where you build your lather. Maybe that will keep it at a more consistent temp without having to worry about actually cooking the lather?

 

[Cynomys]

What about using a double boiler technique? Keep the steaming water in the ramekin and then set another ramekin on top where you build your lather. Maybe that will keep it at a more consistent temp without having to worry about actually cooking the lather?

This actually seems to work. I just tried it, using my VdH boar brush and some VdH DeLuxe soap. But instead of just placing one ramikin on top of the other (bottom one filled with water and heated by the candle), I used a bowl which I got at Uwajimaya for building the lather. A smallish affair, brown in color, it has ridges on the inside and was a bit too small for my "normal" sized brushes, so I stopped using it. But it should be great for the Wee Scot. Anyway, the heated water from below did in fact warm the lather.

By the way, the votive candles (called TeaLights by World Market) come in a package of 50 for $6.95. They are advertised as having 6 hour burn time. From my own experience, one candle should give at least 10 shaves. I don't plan on shaving this way every time. Instead, maybe once a week. At that rate, the pack of 50 candles whould last about 10 years..

 

[mistercitizen]

I use my Georgetown pottery G20 scuttle. It keeps the lather warm, not hot. My lather isn't ever hot, even when I first start on a soap puck or dollop of cream. From my experience, using my scuttle keeps the lather a little bit warm, whereas bowl lathering didn't stay warm at all. It wasn't uncomfortable, just wasn't warm. YMMV

+1 However warm my G20 can keep it with the hottest tap water I can get into it is how warm my lather is. Too hot and it dries out. I used to microwave my G20 in the beginning just to experiment and it was too much work and made things too hot.

Ben

 

[BrookR1]

I pour boiling water into my G20 and then take a shower. The water cools just enough to keep the lather from drying out but is much warmer than filling the scuttle with hot tap water.

For clarification, I whip up my lather after getting out of the shower.