Newbie questions about mugs/bowls.

[absenteedebate]

Ok, so total newbie question and I'm sure that there are multiple threads about this on here, but there's a lot to search through. Just curious about the whole mug/bowl thing and how people usually go about this. Since I got into DE shaving a couple weeks ago, here's how I've been operating based on the bowl lathering technique in the wiki: the soap i use comes in a tin so I load my brush on that after giving it a bit of a soak, then lather in a bowl from the kitchen and go to town. So here are a few things I'm curious about.

1) What's the typical move for loading/lathering as far as using a container for each? With the soap I have now it's not an issue because, as I said it comes in a tin so I load my brush there. As I branch out into more soaps, do most soaps come in containers so I can continue on the route I've been going? I feel like I've read that some of you keep the soap in your mug/bowl. So then do you use a separate mug/bowl for lathering and one for storing the soap/loading the brush? Where does the whole melting thing come into play? I'm vegan so I won't be using tallow soaps, if that has any impact on things.

2) The whole mug vs. bowl thing. Is this simply aesthetics when using one over the other? I assume that shaving bowls and mugs that are marketed as such are really just for those who want to have a nice looking set-up, rather than using something from the kitchen or whatever, but is there any actual functional difference? That applies to both choosing between mug or bowl and also using a designated "shaving" mug or bowl vs. anything else.

I'm sure I'll have some more questions, but this is long enough already i think.

Thanks!

 

[ricardo9505]

i tried the whole mug thing like my brother has been doing for years bit I strictly face lather now. helps me feel the lather build and it conditions the skin. watch some good online videos on youtube or await some great answers.
some soaps come in containers but I buy them loose and stick them in cheap plastic tupperware containers and that works for me and my small bathroom.

 

[Luc]

To answer all your questions, it's a matter of preference.

Mug or bowl, it doesn't matter, it's a container that will either host your soap and/or be used to build the lather. I prefer using a small bowl (when I use a bowl) but that's me. Not all soaps have a container or containers that you can use to keep the soap in. For those, you would need to transfer them into a new container (where melting or gratting comes in play - beware, triple milled soaps cannot be melted, it's not just tallow). Most places sell their soaps in a container or in a refill format (much cheaper). What you can do is buy the container the first time and them buy refills and re-use the provided container. This is how, originally, the whole principle was thought.

 

[Quixotica]

I'm pretty new to it myself. I use a mug and a bowl. I keep the soap in my mug, and fill it with water to soak my brush in, and it helps soften the harder soaps. Then I load in the mug, and switch to a bowl to lather in. As far as I can tell, a lot of people build their lather in a mug on top of their soap. I don't think there's anything wrong with that, but I do know that it uses up a lot more soap (bringing its life expectancy from near infinite down to a really, really, really long time).

A lot of people just keep their soap in a separate container that looks nice, load on it, and switch to their mug/bowl for lathering. If you like loading out of the container the soap came in, by all means, continue to do so. Probably saves you money on the addiction to buying fancy soap containers anyway The only difference between lathering in a mug or a bowl is personal preference, as far as I can tell. I've done both, and I just tend to prefer the bowl to the mug.

The melting thing is really just a good way to mix soaps together, get it to sit well into a different container, or adding fragrance. Tallow soaps don't melt well, so you don't have to worry about it. The soap you use will have glycerine, which melts just fine in 12 second bursts in a microwave, or on a double boiler.

But really, mug vs. bowl is all about personal preference. Some people like their vintage Old Spice mugs. The Dirtybird bowls are designed with ridges to help build lather. Me? I lather in a black plastic bowl I bought at Target on clearance for a buck out of the kitchen section. My mug that holds my soap game from TJ Maxx for two bucks. They work perfectly. I wasn't that worried about looks.

So really, everything you asked is just stuff you can experiment with to find out how to prefer your set up to be. There's absolutely no right-or-wrong with any of them.

 

[Cochese2323]

My set up consists of the following:

1. A regular coffee mug which I use to soak my brush in (could be skipped by simply soaking your brush in your sink)
2. 1-Cup Pyrex glass bowls with lids - I put my pucks in these, load and basically build lather right on top of the puck

Thats it. If I am using a newer product, I usually swirl in the palm of my hand a few times before going to my face to make sure the lather is the consistency I want. I don't use a bowl/mug seprately to make lather

 

[BrookR1]

Look into a nice scuttle for those cold winter days.

 

[sychodelix]

I now have a big mug thats more the size of a bowl, but a little taller and it curves inward slightly at the top, making the lather stay in better. Best thing ever!

 

[oc_in_fw]

I face lather exclusively now. For me, it is easier to judge whether I need more water or not

 

[wrinkles2]

I use A VDH Bowl, And A Red plastic bowl (Size Like a cereal bowl)

 

[takeshi]

As I branch out into more soaps, do most soaps come in containers so I can continue on the route I've been going? I feel like I've read that some of you keep the soap in your mug/bowl. So then do you use a separate mug/bowl for lathering and one for storing the soap/loading the brush?

Some soaps come in containers, some do not. You can always buy containers from all sorts of sources. There are countless threads on containers that you can refer to for ideas.

Generally speaking, you always load in the soap container and build lather elsewhere. Granted, everything's YMMV but you're just going to waste soap by building lather directly on the soap.

Where does the whole melting thing come into play? I'm vegan so I won't be using tallow soaps, if that has any impact on things.

It comes into play for melt and pour soaps when you want to transfer to a container that the soap doesn't fit in. As mentioned above, tallow isn't a determining factor. There are non-tallow soaps that you can't melt.

Is this simply aesthetics when using one over the other?

It's preference.

but is there any actual functional difference?

Again, preference. Some find a functional difference. Some do not.

 

[OldGreyGuy]

My set up consists of the following:

1. A regular coffee mug which I use to soak my brush in (could be skipped by simply soaking your brush in your sink)
2. 1-Cup Pyrex glass bowls with lids - I put my pucks in these, load and basically build lather right on top of the puck

Thats it. If I am using a newer product, I usually swirl in the palm of my hand a few times before going to my face to make sure the lather is the consistency I want. I don't use a bowl/mug seprately to make lather

Yep, this is me, except for step 1 as I just briefly soak in the sink and step 2 as I usually just load the brush then face lather.

Apart from that it is the same.

Oh and the other big secret, have some fun and don't take it all too seriously.

 

[celestino]

It is a YMMV thing. What every suits you best. As state, most soaps come in their own container and their is no need to transfer them. Creams would work in any bowl that you have. Good luck to you, fellow Vancouverite.