Posted by paperpundit on November 4, 2009, 11:57 am, in reply to "Help me understand bowl lathering"

I am a reformed bowl latherer. I did it that way because people told me that was the way to do it. One day I looked at the components and said, "what if I just do it this way instead?" Now, I have a collection of cups and bowls...that hold razors, not lather.

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Posted by Kevin J on November 4, 2009, 12:43 pm, in reply to "Help me understand bowl lathering"

--Previous Message-- : People who take a long time to work lather : into a foam, and then simply paint it on : their face with paintbrush strokes; help me : understand that. : : Here's what's inside my brain: : I don't enjoy the process of creating foam, : this seems like work to me. If I wanted a : big foam I'd just buy a can. What I enjoy is : the experience of creating a thick lather on : my face, it's like pampering, really. And : the richer the soap, the cleaner the scent, : and the more luxurious the giant splay of : the huge boar, the more it's pampering, : something that's meant for a King. : : If I had to guess what's inside Murray's : head, it would be this (written as Murray): : : We both enjoy the ritual of shaving; it's : something we do for ourselves. Since I have : a full beard and only shave my neck, I don't : mind the process of making lather, I : actually have come to enjoy it a great deal, : and for me, it's the main part of the : ritual, since the rest is over rather : quickly. : : And to that I would say "OK, I can see : that" : : Then there are the people whose face can't : take the rigors of face lathering; well, OK : I suppose. All skin is sensitive, but some : perhaps more than others; I have an olive : complexion and thick skin; I don't burn in : the sun and I don't have many problems in : this arena. I still think that a majority of : people who don't face lather because they : say their skin can't take it probably can : but just don't want to; yes, I am thick : headed as well. : : But what about you, the guy who's clean : shaven and doesn't have sensitive skin, YOU, : what's your story? : Why do you bowl lather? : : : I bowl lather creams with badger and face lather soaps with boar. I don't make merangue type cream lather, I like heavy, denser and wetter bowl cream and so make that.

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Posted by Tom L on November 4, 2009, 2:03 pm, in reply to "Help me understand bowl lathering"

I've only been at this about 8 months. Have intended to try face lathering, but haven't gotten around to it yet. Rub the soap on the face and start working it with the brush, and the soap is in the brush for subsequent passes? Is that it? -Tom --Previous Message-- : People who take a long time to work lather : into a foam, and then simply paint it on : their face with paintbrush strokes; help me : understand that. : : Here's what's inside my brain: : I don't enjoy the process of creating foam, : this seems like work to me. If I wanted a : big foam I'd just buy a can. What I enjoy is : the experience of creating a thick lather on : my face, it's like pampering, really. And : the richer the soap, the cleaner the scent, : and the more luxurious the giant splay of : the huge boar, the more it's pampering, : something that's meant for a King. : : If I had to guess what's inside Murray's : head, it would be this (written as Murray): : : We both enjoy the ritual of shaving; it's : something we do for ourselves. Since I have : a full beard and only shave my neck, I don't : mind the process of making lather, I : actually have come to enjoy it a great deal, : and for me, it's the main part of the : ritual, since the rest is over rather : quickly. : : And to that I would say "OK, I can see : that" : : Then there are the people whose face can't : take the rigors of face lathering; well, OK : I suppose. All skin is sensitive, but some : perhaps more than others; I have an olive : complexion and thick skin; I don't burn in : the sun and I don't have many problems in : this arena. I still think that a majority of : people who don't face lather because they : say their skin can't take it probably can : but just don't want to; yes, I am thick : headed as well. : : But what about you, the guy who's clean : shaven and doesn't have sensitive skin, YOU, : what's your story? : Why do you bowl lather? : : :

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Posted by John Cappelletti on November 4, 2009, 2:38 pm, in reply to "Help me understand bowl lathering"

Zach; 95% of the time I face lather. It's ritual. I have these glass sugar bowls which are sold in Walmart for under two bucks. I melt my soap or otherwise press the soft soaps into them. They have a lid with a ball shaped handle on it and they have an old fashion look. I start to make the lather on top of the soap, then using circular motions build up the lather on my face. Now, I never get warm lather that way as it quickly cools when "scrubbing" on the face, However I am convinced that face lathering is the way to go. Makes no difference what brush, boar, badger or a 'hybrid' badger/boar. It's whatever mood I am in. Face lathering exfoliates and lifts the whiskers better than the painting action of applying a lather. I vote for face lathering! Highest Regards; John Cappelletti --Previous Message-- : People who take a long time to work lather : into a foam, and then simply paint it on : their face with paintbrush strokes; help me : understand that. : : Here's what's inside my brain: : I don't enjoy the process of creating foam, : this seems like work to me. If I wanted a : big foam I'd just buy a can. What I enjoy is : the experience of creating a thick lather on : my face, it's like pampering, really. And : the richer the soap, the cleaner the scent, : and the more luxurious the giant splay of : the huge boar, the more it's pampering, : something that's meant for a King. : : If I had to guess what's inside Murray's : head, it would be this (written as Murray): : : We both enjoy the ritual of shaving; it's : something we do for ourselves. Since I have : a full beard and only shave my neck, I don't : mind the process of making lather, I : actually have come to enjoy it a great deal, : and for me, it's the main part of the : ritual, since the rest is over rather : quickly. : : And to that I would say "OK, I can see : that" : : Then there are the people whose face can't : take the rigors of face lathering; well, OK : I suppose. All skin is sensitive, but some : perhaps more than others; I have an olive : complexion and thick skin; I don't burn in : the sun and I don't have many problems in : this arena. I still think that a majority of : people who don't face lather because they : say their skin can't take it probably can : but just don't want to; yes, I am thick : headed as well. : : But what about you, the guy who's clean : shaven and doesn't have sensitive skin, YOU, : what's your story? : Why do you bowl lather? : : :

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Posted by boYeXTRaORdinaRE on November 4, 2009, 9:33 pm, in reply to "Help me understand bowl lathering"

It's less messy, more consistent. I still swirl the lather on, then paint. What's more, I shave my body, so it's very convenient to whip up a wig bowl of lather before entering the shower then brushing it on - not having to worry about mixing.

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Posted by Murray on November 5, 2009, 12:39 am, in reply to "Help me understand bowl lathering"

I'm starting to become a little concerned about what Zach might find next, poking around in the dark recesses of my mind! When I first came to these forums, lathering in a bowl was taught and still popular, though the tide quickly changed to face-lathering. My issue with face-lathering has been sensitive skin, and I have bought a number of brushes hoping that each would be the key to lathering on top of my own whiskers. It never worked, however, as the skin quickly became sore long before I had anything remotely resembling lather. I'm of the impression that face-latherers tend to do most of the lathering work on the jaws and chin, where the skin is the toughest and a solid surface is presented for the job. I trim my beardline at the cheeks with nothing more than a film of water and a Bic Metal, but I would never do that on my neck. My neck is very sensitive to both friction and pressure. I'm also of the impression that the neck, by itself, is not an ideal lathering surface. So, I started with the lathering bowl and I stuck with the lathering bowl. I like the aesthetic of it and it works for me. A member of SMF, who has always felt that face-lathering was the manly thing to do, recently decided to try lathering in a bowl, and he has been marveling at the results. Face-latherers talk about getting a better shave because they work the lather more into the beard. It seems like this would be true, but I question the validity of the argument. The friend from SMF mentioned above found this not to be the case. I find that the more I work the lather on my face, the less lubricity I have. So Zach, this is my take on lathering. - Murray --Previous Message-- : People who take a long time to work lather : into a foam, and then simply paint it on : their face with paintbrush strokes; help me : understand that. : : Here's what's inside my brain: : I don't enjoy the process of creating foam, : this seems like work to me. If I wanted a : big foam I'd just buy a can. What I enjoy is : the experience of creating a thick lather on : my face, it's like pampering, really. And : the richer the soap, the cleaner the scent, : and the more luxurious the giant splay of : the huge boar, the more it's pampering, : something that's meant for a King. : : If I had to guess what's inside Murray's : head, it would be this (written as Murray): : : We both enjoy the ritual of shaving; it's : something we do for ourselves. Since I have : a full beard and only shave my neck, I don't : mind the process of making lather, I : actually have come to enjoy it a great deal, : and for me, it's the main part of the : ritual, since the rest is over rather : quickly. : : And to that I would say "OK, I can see : that" : : Then there are the people whose face can't : take the rigors of face lathering; well, OK : I suppose. All skin is sensitive, but some : perhaps more than others; I have an olive : complexion and thick skin; I don't burn in : the sun and I don't have many problems in : this arena. I still think that a majority of : people who don't face lather because they : say their skin can't take it probably can : but just don't want to; yes, I am thick : headed as well. : : But what about you, the guy who's clean : shaven and doesn't have sensitive skin, YOU, : what's your story? : Why do you bowl lather? : : :

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