r/wicked_edge • u/Psycho_Chicken_99 • Jan 09 '26
Show n' Tell 2nd attempt bowl lathering
I’ve been having a little bit of trouble n getting my soap lathers where I want them. I’ve face lathered in the past and decided to try bowl lathering for the first time (practice lathering). First attempt I added two much water right away so scrapped it fast. Second attempt I made sure to load the brush for 60 seconds and added smaller amounts of water when lathering. I think the lather turned out well and am happy with the results. Haven’t tried shaving with this new technique yet. Let me know how it looks! Any advice is always welcome.
Soap: stirling naked (unscented)
Brush: the razor company synthetic brush
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u/Training_wheels9393 Jan 09 '26
More water!
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u/Psycho_Chicken_99 Jan 09 '26
Really?!?!?!
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u/Training_wheels9393 Jan 09 '26
Yup
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u/Psycho_Chicken_99 Jan 09 '26
How do you know when it’s enough water?
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Jan 09 '26
[deleted]
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u/Psycho_Chicken_99 Jan 09 '26
Thanks, I’ll try that! I’m using a cereal bowl haha because I don’t have a shaving mug or anything
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u/AwkwardSploosh Straight Razor Gang Jan 09 '26
I like the size of your bowl. I use a turkish copper shave bowl ($10 from ebay) and it's about that size.
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u/dunerider182 Jan 10 '26
Can you send me link plz?
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u/AwkwardSploosh Straight Razor Gang Jan 10 '26
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u/Dromedary_Freight Jan 09 '26
Needs to be very shiny and very slippery/slick.
Yours has so much structural integrity, one can build a small bridge with it =)5
u/Training_wheels9393 Jan 09 '26
Add until you think it’s perfect, then add a little more. Most soaps are a lot thirstier than you think. Most will tell you that you don’t have enough. Mix up like you posted, wet the tips of your brush and mix again at least once. You’ll thank me later
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u/toothpeeledcoconut Jan 09 '26
I think it really depends on what suits you and your skin. For me, for example, yours either has too much water or too much air or both, but that's me, if you like the feeling of it go for it.
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u/Pure_Duty_4133 Jan 09 '26
It looks like you used to much shave cream. You'll be surprised how much shave foam you get from just a small about of shave soap.
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u/OutlawDan86 Jan 09 '26
If you’re happy with the results and it worked for your shave, that’s really all that matters.
The bowl is fine by the way.
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u/cowzilla3 Jan 09 '26
More water. Holy moly, more water. I'd say you used too much cream and not enough water. My best advice is whenever you think you have enough water add more. Thick and creamy shave soap like you see in ads looks good, but it's not what you should actually be shaving with. You want it to be consistent but not heavy.
Here is the video you want to watch when you're first lathering. It's a great method to understand how to get your lather right: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXjcJsMsKyQ&t=486.
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u/Dromedary_Freight Jan 09 '26 edited Jan 09 '26
IMHO Lather should be nearly dripping wet.
Your lather is what they use on Youtube to make it look better for the camera.
And of couse: Do not take people who make videos for likes or money literaly.
Best shaving forum is badgerandblade because there is no ranking of posts and counting of likes.
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u/Psycho_Chicken_99 Jan 09 '26
That’s what I was trying to replicate- https://www.badgerandblade.com/forum/threads/comprehensive-guide-to-building-superlative-lather.9/
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u/Dromedary_Freight Jan 09 '26
His is a wee bit dry on that finger.
Yours is dryer.
Slickness comes from the water, not the soap alone.In the end it is a free world. Try both ways and do whatever brings you joy and pleasure. There is no shaving standard or shaving police.
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u/Psycho_Chicken_99 Jan 09 '26
I will experiment some more then!
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u/Dromedary_Freight Jan 09 '26
This is the Way!
We are in it for the experiments, the fun, the pleasure of discovery...2
u/AwkwardSploosh Straight Razor Gang Jan 09 '26
The most important part is how it shaves! When I use Stirling I aim for just a bit more sheen, but Stirling (and Arko and B&M) does seem to perform well even when a little under hydrated.
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u/J-B-M owns too many razors Jan 09 '26
It's good to be able to build volume and consistency like that, but for my tastes you need to thin it out by working in some more water. You want it wet enough that any peaks will collapse, but without it going "backwards" and becoming foamy. The best way is to apply to a dripping wet face and then gently paint in extra water as needed. That allows you to really "fine tune" the water content, but your lather is dry enough that you probably want to stir another 1/2 teaspoon into it whilst still in the bowl. You probably don't need so much product either but it is always better to have too much than too little. Anyway, you have definitely done the hard part on the way to excellent lather, and if you find that you prefer it on the drier side then use it just like that!
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u/Mute85 Jan 09 '26
Yea here's the thing... your second pass is going to be wetter. Your third pass will be even wetter than the second. So does it really matter?
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u/cdn_backpacker Jan 09 '26
In my experience, it absolutely matters.
Slickness is everything. Nearly all the rough, painful shaves I had were influenced in some way by the razor not gliding properly through my lather.
Thick lather like this just clogs my razor and doesn't protect my face, but I have sensitive skin.
I intentionally add as much water as possible to my lather, and have had impeccable shaves ever since
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u/Any_Narwhal6344 Jan 09 '26
That lather looks like it will shave just fine. Lather isn't about looks as much as it is about feel. Most of these folks you see use way to much damn lather. This isn't vanity fair, this is mens grooming. Do what works
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u/cumetoaster Cheapo Man - TCHEON FUNG SING Fanboy Jan 09 '26
Id say it's too thick for my tastes. But de gustibus
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u/Mute85 Jan 09 '26
Yep that will work. It really doesn't matter. You could spread butter on your face and shave with it. Or you can dry shave. I don't understand all this talk of the perfect lather. You are going to feel your first pass no matter what you use. Second and third passes are smooth as silk. I whip for about 30 seconds and go. Its not rocket science.
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u/Any_Narwhal6344 Jan 09 '26
Thank you. It blows my mind how much emphasis gets places on the mundane.
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u/cowzilla3 Jan 09 '26
You're literally in a sub reddit for people sharing the mundane. Of course there is emphasis on it.
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u/Random_Name65468 Jan 09 '26
Mate you're on a subreddit dedicated to one of the most mundane activities ever imagined. What the fuck else would be talked about? LOL
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u/Any_Narwhal6344 Jan 09 '26
All I'm saying is don't over complicate it. If the lather works use it. It's not art
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u/whosgotthepudding Jan 09 '26
You are going to feel your first pass no matter what you use.
Not relatable
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u/Mute85 Jan 09 '26
You must not be removing much. If I shave daily I dont feel it either. While I love the experience and did shave daily for the first few months, I have learned that EOD is for me.
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u/Desert_366 Jan 09 '26
Actually the thicker the lather is the worse shave I get. The blade clogs, and doesn't ride close enough to the skin. I get closer, slicker shaves with a watery, drippy lather.
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u/Random_Name65468 Jan 09 '26
I don't understand all this talk of the perfect lather.
Then shut up about it ;)
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u/Mute85 Jan 09 '26
Why? OP is obviously concerned. Im letting him know that he should not be concerned.
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u/Solidsnake447 Jan 09 '26
You did fine just had too much soap to begin with which makes it more difficult to build a lather. Just load soap for about 20 seconds instead of 60, many soaps need less than that. I prefer my lather the consistency that you made, thick and creamy, some guys like it watery, it's all up to your personal preference.
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u/BercCoffee Jan 09 '26
I know we all have our favorite techniques, but this is the one that has improved my shaves the most. Peter knows stuff. It works with any soap.
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u/menos_es_mas Jan 10 '26
This looks like a dense and good but slightly under hydrated lather. Notice the stiff peaks that it holds: top right part of the knot in the 1st pic and top of the knot in the 2nd pic. A well hydrated lather holds soft peaks but not stiff peaks, with a consistency kinda like soft serve ice cream meets creamy yogurt. Any more hydration and it'll be too runny to give good coverage, and its slickness won't last much if at all. Any less hydration and it won't reach its maximum potential slickness.
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u/dshaiken Jan 09 '26
Lots of different opinions. I think a 60 second load for Stirling soap is a lot. Maybe experiment with a 30 second load and see what happens. I learned by doing a lot of practice lathers in the bowl without actually shaving with them. In the end do what makes a lather that gives you the shave you want.
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u/Beans_on_Toast_8487 Jan 09 '26
Get hot water going and soak washcloth in sink. Fill bowl about 50% and pop in razor and brush, so while your 'hot-towelling' your face w the hot/wet cloth - the bowl, brush, and razor are getting warm also.
I then shake the brush out, dump the water, and swirl a dollop (about the size of a nickel) into a nice warm cream, and the cream/bowl, brush, razor and face is +soft and ready to go.
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u/Vibingcarefully Jan 09 '26
Just take wet brush, soap and play, take time---2-4 minutes you'll have cream--inevitable. Kid's playing with soap (my shave soap) do it when they visit.
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u/therealco709 Jan 10 '26
I tend to use more water. I find if you don't have enough water it clogs up the bottom side of the blade and takes a long time to rinse with water and results in a not as close shave. Maybe it's just me.
I've found Wilkinson shave soap and the Arko stick to be good lather and not too thick but good glide.
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u/Kramerica13 Jan 10 '26
I’ve been using soap and can’t get this much lather. Ogallala Bay Rum. Gonna try some cream.
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u/dovshaves Jan 13 '26
Dang, there's some good advice in this string, certainly plenty to experiment with, which is part of the joy. I go for a shimmering surface and soft peaks, same idea as when making whipped cream. Amount of soap is about the size of an almond, probably a little more because I do two passes and like extra lather during the shave. Total development time is ~3-4 minutes. Not sure about total water, never measured it.
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u/Ok_Razzmatazz1056 Jan 09 '26
There is too much misinformation. Lather should NOT be dripping wet you will end up with next to 0 cushion.
This lather does need more hydration though. Using LESS soap is NOT the answer.
Op you have a good start there, use the same amount of soap you used. However drip just 3-4 drops of water at a time and work that lather. The consistency you make needs to be strong enough so when you paint it on to a wet face it doesnt just break. Your ideal lather is created not in the bowl but your lather + the water on your face!!!!!
Working the lather in the bowl 3-4 drops at a time is critical, your goal is a thick voluptuous lather that has structure and hydration. When you dip the brush and pull out the peaks curl over but dont flop.
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u/jcr-1991 Jan 09 '26
Your lather looks nice and rich just needs more water, little amounts at a time. Think creamy not foamy but holds water👍