I'm now a bowl lathering convert!!

[nav1]

I started traditional wet shaving 16 years ago and since then, I've always been a face latherer.

I enjoy the feel of the brush and the process of building the lather directly on the stubble.

About a month ago, my skin was super sensitive for some unknown reason and the razor felt too harsh on the skin, and the shaves weren't good at all.

So i bought a yaqi silicone bowl and practiced bowl lathering. On about the 5th try, i felt i got it fairly right.

I was actually blown away by how much extra water i could get into the lather, which i could never with a face lather!

The following morning, i generated a bowl lather and proceeded to apply it to the stubble. The shave was much more comfortable and i got a great BBS.
This surprised me because i always thought face lathering prepares the stubble better for shaving but it's clearly not the case for me.

I have found boar brushes work best for me when bowl lathering. They hold the perfect amount of water for starting the lathering process. A few squirts of additional water and the lather is ready to go!

For this last one month, my skin has not been sensitive .. the razor just glides and i can hardly even feel the blade in my Blackbird! The shaves have been phenomenal! Super close with a glass-like skin finish!

Needless to say...I am now a bowl lather convert!!

 

[SpeedyPC]

Soooo….. you’re becoming an OLD FART bowl lather man now, as your skin isn’t getting tougher these days.

 

[Gargravarr]

Needless to say...I am now a bowl lather convert!!

Good stuff I normally prefer to lather in a bowl while my pre-shave does its work. Though if I'm travelling or in a hurry, I'll sometimes opt for a straightforward load 'n go approach. It's why I don't usually go in much for sticks.

 

[TobyC]

No bowl for me, load on a hard puck and face lather.

 

[SpeedyPC]

No bowl for me, load on a hard puck and face lather.

 

[nav1]

Good stuff I normally prefer to lather in a bowl while my pre-shave does its work. Though if I'm travelling or in a hurry, I'll sometimes opt for a straightforward load 'n go approach. It's why I don't usually go in much for sticks.

Oh yah, that's a good way to get more pre-shave time!

I used to use pre shave oil but haven't had the need lately as my skin has been really good since changing to bowl lathering.

I'm also finding floppy or soft brushes are much better for my skin. I don't do scrubby or high density brushes.

When in the mood for speick tallow stick, i use the "fist bowl method" to load the brush. I don't apply it directly on the face as that irritates my skin.

 

[Gargravarr]

Oh yah, that's a good way to get more pre-shave time!

I used to use pre shave oil but haven't had the need lately as my skin has been really good since changing to bowl lathering.

I'm also finding floppy or soft brushes are much better for my skin. I don't do scrubby or high density brushes.

When in the mood for speick tallow stick, i use the "fist bowl method" to load the brush. I don't apply it directly on the face as that irritates my skin.

I've never seen the point of using a pre-shave oil, I want my lather to be as close to my skin as possible, and an oil would act as a barrier. A good soap makes a much better preparation, just rinsed off with a flannel just prior to lathering up.

I've never heard of the fist bowl method, but I guess I understand what that means. I pretty much only use sticks when travelling, so when I do, I just use them like they were made to.

 

[nav1]

I've never seen the point of using a pre-shave oil, I want my lather to be as close to my skin as possible, and an oil would act as a barrier. A good soap makes a much better preparation, just rinsed off with a flannel just prior to lathering up.

I've never heard of the fist bowl method, but I guess I understand what that means. I pretty much only use sticks when travelling, so when I do, I just use them like they were made to.

If your skin can handle the stick then may as well use them as intended.

The fist bowl method allows me to take sticks on travels and use them without irritating my skin.

Although, 95% of the time, i use my own soap which is packed full of various butters, beeswax or lanolin & glycerine.

 

[Vittoria]

I started traditional wet shaving 16 years ago and since then, I've always been a face latherer.

I enjoy the feel of the brush and the process of building the lather directly on the stubble.

About a month ago, my skin was super sensitive for some unknown reason and the razor felt too harsh on the skin, and the shaves weren't good at all.

So i bought a yaqi silicone bowl and practiced bowl lathering. On about the 5th try, i felt i got it fairly right.

I was actually blown away by how much extra water i could get into the lather, which i could never with a face lather!

The following morning, i generated a bowl lather and proceeded to apply it to the stubble. The shave was much more comfortable and i got a great BBS.
This surprised me because i always thought face lathering prepares the stubble better for shaving but it's clearly not the case for me.

I have found boar brushes work best for me when bowl lathering. They hold the perfect amount of water for starting the lathering process. A few squirts of additional water and the lather is ready to go!

For this last one month, my skin has not been sensitive .. the razor just glides and i can hardly even feel the blade in my Blackbird! The shaves have been phenomenal! Super close with a glass-like skin finish!

Needless to say...I am now a bowl lather convert!!

Bowl lathering is the way to go mate. You can always get a more consistent thicker lather
Also having control of the amount of water.
I normally start with a damp brush my chosen soap in the bowl more or less depending on the soap. Add a quantity of boiling water straight out of the kettle work around a bit with a teaspoon then get to work with the brush.
Let it sit for a little while maybe have a hot shower in this time. Give it a final mix just before I shave Walla.
It also stops any contaminants from getting in your shave soap container which can sometimes if you’re unlucky ruin the soap works for me.
Also have found it gives me a thicker longer lasting lather then face lathering.
Cheers.
PS this is not a method I came up with it was taught to me.

 

[Gargravarr]

Also have found it gives me a thicker longer lasting lather then face lathering.
Cheers.

I don't really worry about making my lather thick, partly because I am partial to hard milled soaps which don't really do that in a big way, and also because it's really only the fraction of a millimetre of soap that's actually in contact with your skin that does the work of lubrication for your razor. But you're right about the lather being more long-lasting when produced in a bowl. There's always more available for another pass.

And given that I shower after shaving, I like to have enough in the bowl or brush to soap up for that.

 

[nav1]

Bowl lathering is the way to go mate. You can always get a more consistent thicker lather
Also having control of the amount of water.
I normally start with a damp brush my chosen soap in the bowl more or less depending on the soap. Add a quantity of boiling water straight out of the kettle work around a bit with a teaspoon then get to work with the brush.
Let it sit for a little while maybe have a hot shower in this time. Give it a final mix just before I shave Walla.
It also stops any contaminants from getting in your shave soap container which can sometimes if you’re unlucky ruin the soap works for me.
Also have found it gives me a thicker longer lasting lather then face lathering.
Cheers.
PS this is not a method I came up with it was taught to me.

Absolutely!
I'm still surprised by just how much water i can get into the lather without breaking it!

Shaving soaps really can take a whole lot of water and i wasn't getting anywhere near this amount in when face lathering.

The slickness and skin protection is awesome with the extra water worked in.

I'm still finding silicone bowls work better to whip up stiffer peaks when compared to my plastic and steel bowls.

 

[TobyC]

If your skin can handle the stick then may as well use them as intended.

Are you using a shave soap stick or an actual stick? There is nothing about a shave stick that can hurt you. It's relatively soft soap that you glide on your face along with some water.

 

[bomber.79]

I started traditional wet shaving 16 years ago and since then, I've always been a face latherer.

I enjoy the feel of the brush and the process of building the lather directly on the stubble.

About a month ago, my skin was super sensitive for some unknown reason and the razor felt too harsh on the skin, and the shaves weren't good at all.

So i bought a yaqi silicone bowl and practiced bowl lathering. On about the 5th try, i felt i got it fairly right.

I was actually blown away by how much extra water i could get into the lather, which i could never with a face lather!

The following morning, i generated a bowl lather and proceeded to apply it to the stubble. The shave was much more comfortable and i got a great BBS.
This surprised me because i always thought face lathering prepares the stubble better for shaving but it's clearly not the case for me.

I have found boar brushes work best for me when bowl lathering. They hold the perfect amount of water for starting the lathering process. A few squirts of additional water and the lather is ready to go!

For this last one month, my skin has not been sensitive .. the razor just glides and i can hardly even feel the blade in my Blackbird! The shaves have been phenomenal! Super close with a glass-like skin finish!

Needless to say...I am now a bowl lather convert!!

I too have face lathered exclusively since I got my first Omega brush and Proraso shave soap back in the mid to late '90s and likewise I enjoy the feel of brush on my face as I build the lather. I'm curious to know either method takes considerably longer than the other?

 

[SpeedyPC]

Are you using a shave soap stick or an actual stick? There is nothing about a shave stick that can hurt you. It's relatively soft soap that you glide on your face along with some water.

Trust me, this pussy cat is the real GOD loving urinal Arko round cake, and also the Arko urinal sticky as well. Why? Because he’s the toughest Arko bloody pussy cat on P&C.

 

[nav1]

Are you using a shave soap stick or an actual stick? There is nothing about a shave stick that can hurt you. It's relatively soft soap that you glide on your face along with some water.

When you have skin like mine, anything can cause irritation!...including running a triple milled soap stick over the stubble.

Even applying pre shave oil too roughly can irritate my skin, so i have to be ultra careful with products, technique, specific ingredients, fragrances etc.

 

[nav1]

I too have face lathered exclusively since I got my first Omega brush and Proraso shave soap back in the mid to late '90s and likewise I enjoy the feel of brush on my face as I build the lather. I'm curious to know either method takes considerably longer than the other?

I'm finding i can reach the optimal lather consistency faster with bowl lathering, especially considering i can get more water into the lather upfront, instead of 2nd or 3rd pass lather when face lathering.

 

[Vittoria]

Trust me, this pussy cat is the real GOD loving urinal Arko round cake, and also the Arko urinal sticky as well. Why? Because he’s the toughest Arko bloody pussy cat on P&C.

I have to pay that one @SpeedyPC that's funny.

 

[Vittoria]

I too have face lathered exclusively since I got my first Omega brush and Proraso shave soap back in the mid to late '90s and likewise I enjoy the feel of brush on my face as I build the lather. I'm curious to know either method takes considerably longer than the other?

Bowl lathering takes a bit longer but I think you get a thicker longer last lather in most cases.
And the added bonus that your not leaving behind the water from your brush in the soap container.
Cheers.

 

[Straight up]

I could never see the point of using a bowl when the whole objective was to get suds on face. BUT I ended up with a free bowl so I tried it and it is better! Although an extra step and more cleaning (dip the bowl in the basin & it's done) it provides for a measured quantity of soap and water. This ultimately gives better control of the soap consistency, wastes less soap, and prevents contamination of the soap. Every shave allows you to correct for the soap:water ratio, which varies by brand, allowing you to dial in the quality you desire.

 

[nav1]

I could never see the point of using a bowl when the whole objective was to get suds on face. BUT I ended up with a free bowl so I tried it and it is better! Although an extra step and more cleaning (dip the bowl in the basin & it's done) it provides for a measured quantity of soap and water. This ultimately gives better control of the soap consistency, wastes less soap, and prevents contamination of the soap. Every shave allows you to correct for the soap:water ratio, which varies by brand, allowing you to dial in the quality you desire.

Nice!!

This was my finding also.
The ability to fine-tune the lather is great. For me, the most important factor is getting sufficiently water into the lather. I came to realise i wasn't getting enough water in the mix when face lathering.

My lather has never been better since changing to bowl lathering. It really was a revelation!