Lather on the puck

[Badger]

Hi folks.
Im relatively new to de razors. Glad I switched and wouldn’t go back to cartridge. What I’m not new to is brush and soap although have researched more and paid more attention as it’s even more vital plus using executive shave pre shave oil . Cartridge shaving I didn’t think about it all and just used whatever I’d been bought for Xmas and shitiest brush imaginable.
Here’s the question. With a soap puck, I don’t like cream, does anyone else lather mostly on the puck and finish on the face? I get that it’s a bit wasteful on soap but I’m using ARKO (I like it but will try others later) and one £4 puck isn’t even 10% gone so far so am looking at maybe £1 a month on soap.

I get a really rich first lather with a synthetic brush which is luxurious on the face and just dip brush tips in water for second and third go. I do bloom the puck and ditch the water which gets rid of old suds but not convinced it does much compared to not bothering at all.

 

[Chris]

First rule - do what works for you.

I load from the puck and then build lather on the face, but if you're getting good results with what you're doing there's no need to change it.

"Blooming" is, IMO, a useless frippery and just results in very soggy soap.

 

[vartik]

I am head shaver with sensitive skin and in the past I tried all kinds of lathering techniques. Lathering on my head tend to dry my skin more and make it more irritable, so now I lather in bowl and just paint the lather on skin.
YMMV and point is to try different things and do whay you feel like is best for you

 

[R181]

First rule - do what works for you.

I load from the puck and then build lather on the face, but if you're getting good results with what you're doing there's no need to change it.

"Blooming" is, IMO, a useless frippery and just results in very soggy soap.

+1 to that.

Bob

 

[Badger]

First rule - do what works for you.

I load from the puck and then build lather on the face, but if you're getting good results with what you're doing there's no need to change it.

"Blooming" is, IMO, a useless frippery and just results in very soggy soap.

The only thing I like about blooming is the scent of the ARKO (which I now associate with self care, just feels ‘clean’, pampering and a nice experience) fills the bathroom. Maybe a soppy moment but reminds me of my grandad shaving in the kitchen (definitely not ARKO but some other soap I expect). Smiley face seeing him in a proper vest, using a round prop up mirror befire we went out. Luckily, my technique is better so I dont leave the house covered in scraps of bog roll. Ha ha.

 

[TobyC]

does anyone else lather mostly on the puck and finish on the face?

Yes, always, and I have no use for creams or lather bowls. I never bloom anything, nor do I rinse my puck, and boar is my preferred brush.

 

[BlacknTan]

I'm a confirmed bowl latherer, usually enough to shave three gents, I most often use a badger brush and in most instances, bloom my soap. These preferences neither cause me to feel superior, nor inferior to any other shaver.
It just points to the fact that we're all different, and all have our own distinct preferences.

 

[Badger]

I'm a confirmed bowl latherer, usually enough to shave three gents, I most often use a badger brush and in most instances, bloom my soap. These preferences neither cause me to feel superior, nor inferior to any other shaver.
It just points to the fact that we're all different, and all have our own distinct preferences.

Well said sir. I’d be devastated if everyone was the same as me. I was just wondering if I’d missed a trick for an even better shave. Based on tonight’s Executive Outlaw, pre shave oil and ARKO soap from the puck and Nivea ultra balm, any gains would be marginal I think.

I’m very sure I’d enjoy making an entire pot of lather, just as a skill and to make the bathroom smell lovely. I’d also be perfectly fine with washing the excess away but straight from the puck is working wonders.
. I don’t use a badger brushes anymore. I did in the past but my daughters call me badger so I have a bit of a soft spot for the GT40 striped mammals. I have used badger brushes yeas ago, in all honesty my synthetic is better feel for me, whips up lather and im not sensitive enough to feel a difference but im not trying to change the world so. If you like badger brushes, no drama. I’m my entire life, not buying badger brushes won’t save enough for a whole badger. I did used to like boar brushes but age has changed my skin so boar feels like punching a wire brush at my face these days.

 

[BlacknTan]

I have a few synthetic brushes I like also.. As a matter of fact, I chose one today..

Indeed, I enjoy a big bowl of lather, and after my shave, I wash my face with it and revel in the luxury of it all.

To each his own. My way be right or wrong, but it works for me!

 

[Northam Saint]

Same here, lather on the face and puck. Sometimes I use a cream and then it’s a bowl.

 

[MPF9]

First rule - do what works for you.

I load from the puck and then build lather on the face, but if you're getting good results with what you're doing there's no need to change it.

"Blooming" is, IMO, a useless frippery and just results in very soggy soap.

+1

 

[chazt]

I tried blooming the soap a handful of times, but saw no benefit. As @chris.hale pointed out above, all that resulted was a soggy puck. I do submerge ~1/3 -1/2 of the knot in a cup of tap water before loading. After loading either soap or cream, I hydrate incrementally and then face lather for anywhere from 3-4 minutes which builds a rich, well-hydrated and creamy lather. This works really well for me.

 

[StewB]

What works for me: I use a vegetable peeler to peel off a bit of soap (about U. S. quarter dollar size), press it to the bottom of the bowl, add a bit of water on the top, let it sit for a couple of minutes, and start swirling it with a wet brush. Start with less water and add water as needed.

 

[Twelvefret]

I’m trying to equate when bathing. I don’t intentionally bloom the bath soap, the shower head does. It lathers quickly using a cloth or one of those shower plastic things.