How To Lather Shaving Soap
The quality of your lather can be the difference between a mediocre (or worse) shaving experience versus a great, can't-wait-to-tell-the-world shave!
What Affects Your Lather Quality
A few things have a direct bearing on the outcome of your lathering efforts:
- Razor & Blade
- Technique
- Soap & Lather
- Brush Type & Quality
- Water Quality & Temperature
For the purposes of this guide, let's assume you already have soap, brush, and razor at hand.
Step-by-Step Lathering Guide
Wet your shaving brush thoroughly. The amount of soaking time depends on your brush material:
- Synthetic brushes: No soaking required – just wet thoroughly with warm water.
- Badger, boar, or horsehair brushes: Soak in warm water for at least a few minutes to become fully saturated. A common practice is to soak animal hair brushes while showering.
Pro tip: You do not want your brush to be dripping wet when you begin loading soap. Give it a gentle shake to remove excess water.
Use a swirling motion for several seconds (slowly count to 20 or higher) to load soap from the container into your brush. Loading more soap than you need is not a problem. Not loading enough soap will make creating a satisfactory lather difficult.
Load time can be influenced by the amount of residual water and softness of the soap you are using. You want your loaded brush to look very paste-like with a thick coating of soap visible in the bristles.
Most people shave either in the shower or immediately after. Your stubble should still have some residual water saturation. Wetting ensures that your hair is at maximum saturation. Excess water will be absorbed by the soap as you lather.
Vigorously work the loaded shaving brush into your wet skin using a scrubbing motion. Work the paste-like lather into your skin in all areas to be shaved. This also provides a gentle exfoliation and helps lift your whiskers.
Face lathering: Apply directly to your face using circular scrubbing motions.
Bowl lathering: Transfer the soap to a bowl or mug and build lather there before applying to your face. This method gives you more control over consistency.
Add small amounts of warm water to your brush as needed to create a slick, protective layer. A few drips of water added to your brush will help loosen up the soap on your skin. Once you have worked the additional water into the lather, switch from scrubbing to painting the lather on, smoothing it out and making sure you have good coverage.
Look for the lather to have a near yogurt-like consistency – thick, glossy, and providing good cushion and glide.
If you find that the remaining soap on your brush is not enough to provide a good lather for subsequent passes, simply load more soap and continue. Most shavers do 2-3 passes (with the grain, across the grain, against the grain) for a close, comfortable shave.
Lathering Techniques: Face vs Bowl
Face Lathering: Build lather directly on your face. This is the most traditional method and provides excellent exfoliation. It's faster and requires less equipment.
Bowl Lathering: Build lather in a separate bowl or mug before applying to your face. This method gives you more control over lather consistency and allows you to see exactly what you're creating. It's ideal for those who want precise control or prefer less mess.
Both methods work excellently – it comes down to personal preference!
Troubleshooting Common Lather Problems
Problem: Lather is too thin or watery
Solution: You either didn't load enough soap or added too much water. Load more soap into your brush and work it in. Add water more gradually next time.
Problem: Lather is too thick and pasty
Solution: Add small amounts of water and work it into the lather. The lather should be slick and glossy, not stiff.
Problem: Lather disappears quickly during shaving
Solution: You need more soap loaded on your brush. Don't be shy – load more soap at the beginning.
Problem: Lather won't build at all
Solution: If you have very hard water, it can inhibit lather. Try using distilled water or adding a small amount of citric acid to your water.
Tips for Different Brush Types
Synthetic brushes: These are ready to use immediately and don't require soaking. They tend to hold less water than animal hair, so you may need to add water more frequently while building lather. Excellent for beginners!
Badger brushes: Softer and more water-absorbent. They create lather easily and feel luxurious on the skin. Require soaking before use.
Boar brushes: Stiffer bristles provide excellent exfoliation. They require a longer break-in period and should always be soaked before use. They excel at creating thick, protective lather.
Horsehair brushes: A balance between badger softness and boar stiffness. They hold lots of water and create lather easily. Require soaking.
Video Tutorial
Below is a helpful face lathering video created by Jason Rudman (aka "Ruds") covering lathering techniques in detail.
Video courtesy of Jason Rudman. Posted with permission.
Ready to Create the Perfect Lather?
Quality ingredients make all the difference. Our traditional tallow-based shaving soaps are specifically formulated to create rich, protective lather that provides exceptional glide and cushion.