How Do You Get A Great Lather? So Many Options!

Traditional wet shaving is a way for men to enjoy something that was once a chore. Not only does the act of shaving become more about the process than the outcome, but the variety you can create in your morning routine from all the various shaving products is exciting.

The decision to use a shaving cream or soap is one of the first you will face. It can be overwhelming and confusing. It's important to understand the various consistencies and some of the pros and cons of using the different consistencies. Exploring your many scent options is another great way to change things up in your shaving routine.

Let us help you get started!

Shaving Cream

Shaving cream is known to some only as something that comes out of a can. However, most of the creams that we are carry are ideal for using with a traditional shaving brush. Men are amazed when they see that just a small dab of shaving cream will lather up into a full lather bowl of whipped goodness! Cream is one of the most simple consistencies to make a thick, rich lather.

Steps:

• Soak the shaving brush in warm water and squeeze or flick out the excess water. The amount of water may also vary depending on water softness.
• It is ideal to have a lather bowl that you can use to generate the lather.
• Place a small finger tip amount in the bowl or just dip the shaving brush tips in the cream.
• To form a lather, work the cream in a circular motion with the brush in the bowl.

Expert Tip: It should be not too wet and bubbly. This means you have too much water. On the other hand, if the lather is not forming, you do not have enough water. Add in a few drops. Always remember to rinse your brush out very well until the water runs clean, squeezing and shaking out any excess water.

Shaving Soap

Shaving soap is a broad term in that can range from a very hard soap to a very soft soap, and the manufactures often will term it all as simply "soap". We are going to talk about the truly hard soaps. Using a hard soap may require a bit more work to create a sufficient amount of lather, but it is ultimately a simple process to learn and certainly a traditional way of doing things. Hard shaving soaps are favored by many shaving enthusiasts.

Steps:

• Soak the shaving brush in warm water and squeeze or flick out the excess water. The amount of water may also vary depending on water softness.
• It is ideal to have a mug or small bowl to hold the soap puck in place.
• You will lather directly on the surface of the soap in a circular motion until the lather forms.
• Men will often continue that lather with the brush on the face where even more cream will form.

Expert Tip: Leave the soap container open to dry and be sure to pour out any water sitting at the base of the soap. This will preserve the life of your soap. Always remember to rinse your brush out very well until the water runs clean, squeezing and shaking out any excess water.

Hard Cream or "Croap"

Hard Creams or Croaps (cream + soap = croap) are basically an in-between category. They are softer than soaps, but firmer than a cream. They tend to be easy to lather and there are many wonderful small-business artisans in this category.

Steps:

• Soak the shaving brush in warm water and squeeze or flick out the access water. The amount of water may also vary depending on water softness.
• Use brush to lather directly on the surface.
• You do not need to lather very long - you will quickly get enough product to form all the cream you will need to lather up!
• Continue to lather on the skin.

Expert Tip: If you lather too long on the surface you will be sad because your soft soap will be gone too quickly. Always remember to rinse your brush out very well until the water runs clean, squeezing and shaking out any excess water.

Brushless

Not everyone has a shaving brush or wants a brush, and that does not mean that you cannot prepare your face for a shave. There are a variety of options, from creams to gels, that you can simply rub directly into your whiskers with your hands to soften them and protect your skin for you shave.

Steps:

• Use warm water to prepare your clean skin.
• Apply a small amount of foam, cream, or gel to the surface rubbing in a circular motion with your fingertips.

Expert Tip: When traveling, it is sometimes nice to keep it simple and just bring a brushless cream and your razor.

What you are lathering up these days? Tell us in the comments below.