Soaps - lathering and storing

[sir_towel_rack]

From watching mantic's videos, I learned how to use creams (and have become proficient with a coffee mug) but I've recently decided to try some soaps out!

Now, what I'd like to get a grasp on, is do you guys typically pick up soap on the brush, then transfer to a 'mixing' bowl/mug, or do you actually have one mug/bowl per soap, that it lives in... and mix "on top" of the puck?

For instance, the one soap I do have is Col. Conk that lives in the "Merkur" bowl that comes with razor sets; the bowl is perfect for storage, but I could never whip lather up in it. So do I "store" soaps in small bowls and lather elsewhere, or just store the pucks in mugs? (I never quite got the objective of the Merkur bowl)

I do 3-4 passes so I submerge my coffee mug in hot water.

Just trying to get a handle on the logistics of soap lathering. I expect I might get varying answers here but that's okay.

 

[Leche]

I face lather soaps but if you want to use a bowl check out this tutorial.

 

[sir_towel_rack]

Great thanks. And yeah I don't generally do the face lathering thing, although I do plan on giving shave sticks a try too, at least for traveling. While at home, I like the bowl since I can keep it warm.

 

[strat1117]

FWIW, I also face lather with soap. It works better for me than bowl lathering.

 

[sir_towel_rack]

I will certainly experiment with face-lathering, I've lathered my Col. Conk that way to good effect in the past, although that's usually while my brush has cream in it (I sometimes do this when I'm running low on lather from my cream)

 

[jkh]

In addition to the link that Anthony posted here are all the soap related "sticky" threads (i.e., a whole bunch of really good information!)

 

[_JP_]

I face leather soaps these days. It's faster, and the results are better for me. One advantage to face lathering is that by the time you have created the lather it has been on your beard for a couple of minutes. Two minutes is generally the recommended time for the lather to soften the beard.

 

[studioguy]

FWIW, I also face lather with soap. It works better for me than bowl lathering.

Same here.
I face lather creams as well, I just put a a little bit in the middle of my badger brush and build the lather on my face.

 

[sonny123]

same here.
I face lather creams as well, i just put a a little bit in the middle of my badger brush and build the lather on my face.

+1.

 

[beginish]

I, too, face lather soaps and save the bowl only for creams.

 

[Uncle Shakey]

I also face lather. I run a sink full of hot water. Throw my brush in and dip mu mug in to fill it. Then I wet my face thoroughly with the hot water. Let this sit a minute while I do whatever. Dump the water off of the soap, squeeze the brush out and swirl it in the soap mug. Then I wet my face again liberally and start swirling the brush on it and create great lather. Between passes I like to wet my face again. This insures that the lather will remain where I like it.