If you are just entering the wet shaving world finding a quality shaving soap or cream can make a world of difference. In this article, we are going to walk you through the process of how to lather shaving soap whether you are using a straight razor or a double edge safety razor.
Many guys start out wet shaving by using the same old aerosol cans they are used to but quickly find themselves wanting a better experience.
While using a shaving brush with a high-quality shaving cream or soap is not necessary, you can really find a much better product than the chemical filled aerosol cans that you might be used to.
If you have a shaving mug or bowl you can simply fill it with hot water from your faucet, usually the hottest that you can stand. Then insert your shaving brush into the hot water and allow it to soap for several minutes.
Some guys like to put their brush in the bowl and then hop in the shower so it has plenty of time to soak. However, just a couple minutes should do the trick.
When your brush has soaked long enough go ahead and squeeze out the excess water and give it a couple shakes.
Your brush should now be ready to do its job.
You can either learn how to lather shaving soap in a bowl/nug or straight on your face. If you decide to use a bowl or a mug then go ahead and empty out the hot water that your brush was soaking in.
You will then need to prepare the soap if you are using a hard soap. Place a few drops of hot water directly on top of the soap, this will make it easier to load onto your brush.
Some guys do this at the same time that they are soaking their brush. After the hot water has sat on top of your soap for a minute or so, go ahead and drain off the excess.
Using circular motions and medium pressure, begin swirling your brush on top of the soap. Feel free to use the sides and all areas of the brush so that you get a nice paste like consistency on the brush.
It may take you a few tries to figure out how much soap you like for your shaves. If you notice bubbles or a lot of soap coming off the puck then you probably did not remove enough water from the top of the soap.
As the paste forms on your brush, you will be able to see it, feel it as well as hear it. At this point you will notice your brush dragging across the top and is now ready to lather in your bowl.
Another sign that you are ready to lather is if the bristles on your brush begin clumping together.
When you are ready to start building the lather, add a few drops of water to the bowl or the brush and begin whipping briskly in your bowl in a circular motion.
Continue whipping the soap for a minute or so. This soap should eventually turn into a rich and creamy lather.
If you are continuing to whip the soap and it still seems too watery you may have added too much water to the brush. Or if the latter seems too thick you can add a few more drops of water to thin it out.
If there are still lots of bubbles, you may have added too much water or you should continue whipping the lather until it becomes thick and creamy.
You can also always go back and load more soap on your brush if it is too thin.
Here is a quick video showing the process:
Many guys prefer to lather the soap straight on their face and there are several reasons why.
The first reason is that it saves time as it removes a step from having to with the soap in your shaving Bowl. As the soap lather builds it will already be on your face.
There will also be one less thing to clean after your shaved since you will not a use shaving mug.
Finally, using the shaving brush right on your face is enjoyable to most guys as it acts like exfoliation for your skin. The scrubbing of your face will help remove any dead skin cells as well as lift your beard hairs up in preparation for the shave.
The steps to lather the shaving cream or soap straight on your face are the same up until the point of loading the soap on your shaving brush. From there, simply begin swirling your brush on your wet face and circular motions until the lather forms.
If it becomes too thick you can always add a few more drops of water or if it is too thin you can either try adding more soap or continue to swirl the brush on your face until it thickens.
Once you are done lathering the soap, set your brush to the side as there will be enough lather for a second and third pass.
If you are using a shaving cream then you can simply squirt the cream on to your brush or into your bowl and you do not have to worry about loading the brush. However, you should still soak the brush in warm water for a few minutes before you start building the lather.
Shaving creams may offer a little more efficiency as you do not have to spend the time loading your brush. However, some men feel they do not have as rich a lather.
Since you have already built the lather, you will not need to continue swirling motions on your face simply paint the lather on the areas that you want to shave.
After you have made a first pass, if you desire a second pass there should be enough soap either in the bowl or on the brush to regenerate a lather.
As you go for a third pass, if you are getting light on the lather, squeeze your brush from the base to the top and you should be able to get enough lather for a third and final pass.
If you have purchased a shaving soap rather than a shaving cream most of them should come in a container with a lid on it. After you have learned how to lather shaving soap, you will want to make sure that you always keep this little event the soap from drying out.
If it did not come with its own container then there are several shaving bowls that have leads as well. It may be worth your time to invest in one of these containers to keep your soap stored properly.
Shaving creams however, usually come in a tube so you don’t have to worry about storage as much with them.
As you can see learning how to lather shaving soap is not very difficult. As you get used to your shaving brush and your shaving soap, you will really learn how much soap you like and how long it’s going to take you to build your lather.
Can you use a straight razor or a double edge safety razor with a cheap aerosol shaving cream? Yes of course, but if you are going to invest in nice equipment, you may want to look for a nice shaving soap as well.
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