Let me get these containers straight...

[GarageBoy]

Soap confuses me to all hell on how to store and use if I don't use the bowl that DR Harris, etc sells with a puck of soap.

I can:
a. stick it in a mug and lather on it (and wear down the soap faster)
b. stick it in a mug, load my brush with it and face lather
c. stick it in a mug, load my brush, lather on ANOTHER bowl

But which way is the 'traditional' way? (back in the days of Old Spice mugs, etc)

 

[SliceOfLife]

Barbers lathered in the mug mostly. (C) At home is anyone's guess.

 

[Dharion]

But which way is the 'traditional' way?

Depends. Depends on what you view as tradition. All of the three ways have been used and are being used in a large part of our community and the shavers world-wide. I guess 'a.' is least being in practice. Out of practical issues I use 'b.' most of the times.

 

[brothers]

Soap confuses me to all hell on how to store and use if I don't use the bowl that DR Harris, etc sells with a puck of soap.

I can:
a. stick it in a mug and lather on it (and wear down the soap faster)
b. stick it in a mug, load my brush with it and face lather
c. stick it in a mug, load my brush, lather on ANOTHER bowl

But which way is the 'traditional' way? (back in the days of Old Spice mugs, etc)

As far as using the soap, your option "b" would be the most traditional way, I suppose. It's the fastest and easiest.

Regarding your confusion as to how you should store your soap, you've only mentioned one in your "how to use" options, and that's putting it in a mug and storing it that way between shaves, probably the most popular for guys that don't use the bowls that are sold with most popular soaps at extra cost.

I'd say the other options are to remove the soap from the mug and store it on or in a different container or receptacle of your choice, one with or without a loosely or tight fitting lid.

It should go without saying of course, that any soap should be stored DRY at all times that you aren't actually using it.

 

[Luc]

I don't know about traditional but I do 'B'

 

[Drubbing]

Using a brush, soap and a DE is already traditional - beyond that, how men used to work their lather up is neither here not there really.

But building lather in a mug will use more soap, make more mess, take a lot longer and be less consistent.

 

[kingfisher]

Can't speak for tradition, but I use method C.

 

[Bill_Adama]

Soap confuses me to all hell on how to store and use if I don't use the bowl that DR Harris, etc sells with a puck of soap.

I can:
a. stick it in a mug and lather on it (and wear down the soap faster)
b. stick it in a mug, load my brush with it and face lather
c. stick it in a mug, load my brush, lather on ANOTHER bowl

But which way is the 'traditional' way? (back in the days of Old Spice mugs, etc)

I would say B is more traditional. I've been doing it that way with few exceptions for 37 years. I usually put a puck of Williams, or Old Spice or VDH into a coffee mug and use it until it's all gone. If it gets too small, I put a new puck in a different mug and place the remaining sliver of old soap on top of the new puck and put the old mug in the dishwasher.

I do not have the experience with all those other soaps that have their own bowls, just too expensive in my opinion. I did just place an order for some new stuff for me, 2 pucks of Tabac and 4 pucks of Ogallala Bay Rum soaps.

 

[media]

I usually buy the refill and put it in a 1 cup pyrex bowl. Usually they come in a pack of 4 for 6-7 bucks.

Then if I love the soap, the next time around I get the wood bowl.

 

[markb]

b. stick it in a mug, load my brush with it and face lather

This!! Nothing else is necessary!

 

[guitarslinger]

B is my final answer.

 

[Ignatius]

B. Face-lathering

The manager of the MWF factory says this is the way the product is designed to be used. Not sure if other manufactureres recommend a specific hard-soap lathering technique.

 

[moodymick]

I go B myself with soaps, C with creams.

 

[GarageBoy]

So what do you soak your brush in? (or you don't?)

 

[miamimoe]

I'll take the prize behind door "B" Gene. All kidding aside, since switching to face lathering with soap (Col. Conks) and working up the lather for about 2 minutes or so, my shave quality has gone way, way up.

I soak my brush in super hot water right before I take a shower, and it is nice and warm throughout my shave.

 

[masonjarjar]

Here's a thought.. try 'em all and see which one you like best.

"A" was how my dad did it, and "A" is how I've done it for years.. and really, I also work the brush on my face a lot, so it could be said I guess that I do both A and B.

I think a lot of it depends on the soap and brush you're using.

If you're using a cheap(er) soap and a cheap(er) brush, just go with A. Who cares if you use too much..

If you're using a pricey soap in a fancy wooden bowl, then you really can't do "A"..


And fer gosh sakes don't nuke yer tallow soap!

 

[masonjarjar]

It should go without saying of course, that any soap should be stored DRY at all times that you aren't actually using it.

this kind of depends on whether or not you use the same soap every day or a "rotation" of different soaps.

 

[masonjarjar]

But building lather in a mug will use more soap, make more mess, take a lot longer and be less consistent.

I for one, am able to make a nice lather in my mug AND get all of it on my face, believe it or not!

If you use the same process every day to build your lather and transfer said lather to your face, then you learn to be consistent.

One of the problems with switching up products is that they all have their different personalities..

 

[masonjarjar]

So what do you soak your brush in? (or you don't?)

I melt Van Der Hagen glycerine soap into an old coffee mug, or whatever mug I have. Let it harden overnight, obviously.. I fill it with Hot Water and put my brush in there while I shower. Then I dump the water out, give my brush a few shakes, then lather away. Do I use more soap this way? I dunno, but at $2 a cake who cares... And the other soaps I have (Crabtree and Evelyn) are so hard so I couldn't use too much if I tried.

 

[brothers]

this kind of depends on whether or not you use the same soap every day or a "rotation" of different soaps.

I am of the opinion that storing it in a constant wet status is not good for the soap. Even if its an everyday soap, it should only be wet before during and immediately after the shave, then it air dries and remains dry until the next time you shave. Does anyone keep their soap in water 24/7 without ruining it?