What is lathering the soap supposed to do? After getting fairly good at working up a thick lather and shaving I also tried wetting the brush, running it around in the soap a bit and daubing it on - I don't perceive a difference in the resulting shave.
Why lather the soap?
- Thread starter Brassplyer
- Start date
Do you mean why lather on the puck? Preference. Personally, I load the brush and lather on my face.
The idea is to mix soap and water together in the right ratio. When the balance between soap and water is good, you will get the best slickness and your lather will stay slick instead of drying out on the face. Water softens the whiskers. Water keeps your razor gliding.
You don't want to whip a lot of air into your lather. You don't need more than a thin layer to shave with. No need for the thick layers of foam like you see in a lot of advertising.
There are shaving creams that don't lather much. They can work, too, if the formula is good.
- Thread starter
- #5
Soap lathering videos I've seen show loading the brush with soap then working up a lather in a separate bowl or mug.
What I'm talking about doing is getting some soap on the wet brush by swirling it around a bit on the puck then daubing/painting it on my face which doesn't create much lather, just a creamy coating. I don't find any difference between doing that and building up a thick lather.
I should note that I first apply a towel wet with tolerably hot water to my face for a minute or so. Lately I've also been putting on a small amount of cocoa butter.
One of the benefits of a creamier lather is that it tends not to dry up as quickly. But if what you're doing is working, it's working. I only spend a fraction of the time working my lather as most youtubers do, and some of my best shaves have been with a rather soupy, low structure lather.
That's face lathering, done badly. Don't take anything you see on youtube too seriously. The number of straight shaving videos made by people with no whiskers is TOO DAMN HIGH!
Just because someone don't see a difference, that doesn't mean the possibility of a difference isn't there, might just mean they haven't managed to find the difference yet.
All kinds of shavers out there, all kinds of approaches to style and technique.
Some guys shave with just water, no soap.
Others make thick lather, some make thinner lather. I prefer a mid-level wetter lather. I dislike thick lather.
But I've shaved with just smearing a wet puck on my face. No one died.
I get way better shaves when I develop a good lather though. Lathered soap does give a different feel to the whiskers, which helps me get a cleaner shave. Other notable enhancements are in the cushion and glide. Also seems that working the whiskers when face-lathering has a positive effect on the 'prep' aspect. There's more to it all for me but that's enough for now.
All kinds of shavers out there, all kinds of approaches to style and technique.
Some guys shave with just water, no soap.
Others make thick lather, some make thinner lather. I prefer a mid-level wetter lather. I dislike thick lather.
But I've shaved with just smearing a wet puck on my face. No one died.
I get way better shaves when I develop a good lather though. Lathered soap does give a different feel to the whiskers, which helps me get a cleaner shave. Other notable enhancements are in the cushion and glide. Also seems that working the whiskers when face-lathering has a positive effect on the 'prep' aspect. There's more to it all for me but that's enough for now.
You don't actually need a lather bowl, that's just one way of doing it. It looks better on You Tube, I guess that's why it's so common there. Maybe a heated scuttle is a little luxury on cold mornings? Anyway...
Face lathering can be done just by painting a thin layer of soap on the face, then adding water with your brush several times until the lather is right. The brush usually holds enough lather for several passes and touch-ups. It is easier, faster and works well for many people.
There's a joy in getting a thick really dense creamy leather, which is one of the most pleasing parts of the shave for me. But some may prefer a more scientific approach to see how they can get the same results with less soap or an oil. If you found something new, enjoy it YMMV. There's no one best way for all to shave. It's whatever makes you happy. I've sworn off carts and electrics, but who knows maybe someday I'll change my mind and go back to them. I grew up when the Trac Ii was just released, and between that and electrics getting better shaving became more about what was easiest and most convenient. But DE shaving for me is more fun and I'm certain it's better for my face.
Just soap will be slick, which is good. But lather is slick, and give the blade cushion because of the tiny air bubbles, which helps it ride across the skin with less irritation. Also, the act of lathering, rubbing the brush on the skin, softens and lifts the hair follicle to help it get cut more cleanly.
This is dangerous talk. If you don’t need lather, you may not even need a brush.
- Thread starter
- #13
Dangerous eh? The brush facilitates daubing it on.
You're talking about the act of loading the brush. Once the brush is loaded, you don't paint/daub on the face, you lather. Swirl, scrub, etc, adding water to the brush by dipping the tips as needed. Painting is the final step, after the lather is to your satisfaction.
This begs the question, "Do I need a blade?"
Someone report this thread to the mods.
Apparently my attempt at humor was misinterpreted. My apologies.
Different strokes for different folks. I would try different things until you find what works for you.
I build a lather on my face by starting with a damp brush and gradually adding more soap and water until I reach what I consider my sweet spot - a lather that is wet but stays in one place. Works for me!
I build a lather on my face by starting with a damp brush and gradually adding more soap and water until I reach what I consider my sweet spot - a lather that is wet but stays in one place. Works for me!
- Thread starter
- #19
What I'm saying is doing exactly what I described - daubing/painting the soap on instead of making any effort to lather it - gives me the same shave experience as lathering the soap.
Most people need to add more water to get the lather consistency that is slickest and does not dry out before they are finished shaving. Maybe you are lucky? Or you have a very wet soap to start with? Anyway, maybe you can try face lathering gradually adding water in two or three stages, then smooth it all out and begin your shave like that as a test. Can't hurt to try, right? Ideal lather is usually almost, but not quite runny.
