Question for bowl latherers

[Harpo]

Hi Gents

I've been at this proper wetshaving mallarky for almost 4 years now and in that time I've never once lathered in a bowl; face every time.

It's only relatively recently that I've managed to get perfect (for me) lather. Perhaps it is easier to judge in a bowl?

Anyways, my question for bowl latherers is this. Having whipped up your perfect lather in a bowl do you simply apply with a few brush strokes and then begin shaving? Or, do you paste the lather on your face for a couple of minutes?

Thanks.

Paul

 

[Ansuz]

I work my bowl lather into my beard for about 30 sec to a minute. Then I smooth it out with a few strokes in order to get an even coating. After that, I let it sit for about a minute before I apply my hot towel.

Gets me a solid shave every time.

 

[WhoRu]

I'm still new at it all, but I give it a good 30-40 sec brush-work (mainly cuz it feels nice ) and then smooth it out before shaving.

 

[elsmooth]

+1 to Ansuz's answer.

 

[markb]

I face lather 99% of the time, especially with soaps and most times with creams. The only times I use a bowl (scuttle actually) is when I want to keep my lather warm during the cooler months. For me, it's easier to judge the quality of the lather because it's already there on my face. I can tell from the feel whether or not I need to add more water to get the level of slickness and coushion I desire.

But I digress. Regarding your question, after I do build the lather in the scuttle, I tend to work it on my face for a minute or two and then use painting strokes to level everything out.

 

[drburt]

I whip up my lather in a bowl and then engage in about a minute of brush work on the face. I then let the lather set on the face for a while. My face does not need a towel treatment. I have a rather normal skin and whiskers.

Burt

 

[arghblech]

I bowl lather because I generally make a mess when I try to face lather. Lather and water all over the place. It isn't pretty.

 

[Dpflaum]

I build it in a bowl then scrub my face with the lathery brush. After I get a nice massage and base coat like that, I go ahead and paint on a nice even layer.

Works great for me.

 

[JPM]

I just paint it on and start shaving.

 

[dpmtherrien]

I always make my lather in a bowl. I'll take my time and make a really nice lather. When I apply it to my face I'll work it in real good. It not only feels good, but it helps make sure my beard is good and soft. There's nothing wrong with taking a few minutes to get a good lather applied.

 

[JPDyson]

I still spend about a minute scrubbing the lather onto my face - I feel like it gets the hairs standing up better and gets the lather applied more thoroughly (or deeply, if that makes any sense to you). I have flirted with the idea of skipping the bowl, but for creams, I get more consistent results using my scuttle than face lathering. Soaps, on the other hand, I face lather decently and bowl lather only marginally better. This has me thinking about a matching brush scuttle

 

[thecoalition]

i lather in bowl then apply to face in circles for about 30 secs. after that just smooth it out with a few strokes for an even setting. then shave and profit.

 

[djh]

With soap I lather on my face and with cream, I lather in a bowl. Once I have made my lather in the bowl, I tend to brush it into my face thoroughly and then start shaving.

 

[Harpo]

Many thanks for your replies. May try my scuttle next time



Paul

 

[Greyfox]

I am a lather and go guy.

 

[LarryAndro]

Same as Ansuz...

 

[infotech]

I get my lather pretty close in the bowl and then I lather up and add water as needed. I always work the lather in for at least a minute whether it needs more water or not.

 

[RedDenver]

I always make my lather in a bowl. I'll take my time and make a really nice lather. When I apply it to my face I'll work it in real good. It not only feels good, but it helps make sure my beard is good and soft. There's nothing wrong with taking a few minutes to get a good lather applied.

+1
Need to work the face some to exfoliate the skin.

 

[LarryAndro]

Let me add that I put the lather bowl on a low temperature heating pad to keep my lather warm. I like bowl lathering, and would do it that way anyway. But, the heating pad is the second reason why I bowl lather.

I whip up the lather, and apply to face. When I put the brush back in the bowl, I whip it up a couple swirls to coat the brush with lather. The heating pad heats up that lather while I'm shaving. When I go back to the bowl for more lather, (and I reapply lather frequently), the lather is warm.

 

[bald1]

I get great results with a lather bowl. I apply the lather to the face working it in a bit and then move the remaining lather from the bowl to my brush shuttle to keep it nicely warm. Additional passes follow more warm lather from the scuttle.

Since I heat everything letting it sit while I shower and then shave immediately after toweling off and applying mineral salt / alum deodorant, I find my beard ready to go and any additional brush massaging when applying lather to be well into the diminishing returns arena. I've been at this since the late '50s and it works great for me. Obviously YMMV.