NO BOWL!

[Mottern Man]

That is right you heard me!

I figure I was traveling and wanted to see if I could get a shave with out using a bowl so I tried it.

I squeezed a little KMF Mint on my hand, took a soaked brush and swirled a little on my hand to load it up (pushed the brush down all the way so I could load the entire brush then swilled the middle in the mix then the tips) took it to the face for one side, back to the hand for some more cream, to the other side of my face, back to my hand, then to the neck, rewet the brush and worked it in as usual.....................BEST LATHER I HAVE EVER HAD, and I did not have to wash out a bowl when I was done (I did have to rinse my hand of course ;) ) I had enough lather loaded in the brush for 2 very nice passes and a touch up, plus the brush still had more lathering abilities in it, I would say you cold get 3 to 4 passes easy!.

I may just quit bowling. I don’t use a bowl for soaps and now I am going to do more with no bowl for creams.

Although you could just use my method in a small bowl so you don’t get your hands all creamy. :rolleyes:

The whole process took half the time it normally takes me to work up a good lather in a bowl. :D

[Zachster]

I was staying in a hotel all last week, and was perfectly happy to just lather on my face, using Proraso. After working up the lather for the first pass, there was plenty on the brush for the next two passes. While this worked fine, somehow, the lather wasn't as satisfying. Probably because I was using my small Omega brush, which has never been all that great. On the last day of my travels, I realized that I could have been using the rather large soap dish the hotel had provided...

[msandoval858]

I got in the habit of mixing in my hand because that's the normal routine for the method shaving thing. I've done it with creams on a few occasions and it does work well, however the only draw back is keeping the lather warm. When traveling though, definately better than having drag a bowl along or seek out a suitable alternative.

[Scorpio]

Not me I'm spoiled. I go to the nearest Wally World and get a 59 cent bowl and go to town. If I decide to leave it behind I'm out 59 cents.

That's how I roll!!!!!:D

[PalmettoB]

Yeah, I could do without the bowl, and might have to on trips, but I just like having a bigger bowl that I can make up a mountain of lather in.

[rick]

Shave Stick for me.

[Clark Kent]

I do not believe a lather bowl is neccesary at all, but personally I love one. I actually use a very oversized one, almost 4 inches deep and nearly 8 inches in diameter and it has improved my shaves dramatically. But if you are traveling and don't have one, don't stress. Your face won't fall off. But if you are so inclined: I picked up a small plastic bowl from Target for traveling. It's almost 4 inches wide and I can pack in my travel kit quite easy along with my other gear. It's a good solution if you travel often and desire a lather bowl.

[Mottern Man]

Well I went back to the Bowl!

I was making a mess with my hand and did not get the lather consistancy I get with a bowl. Fist time was a fluke I guess but I do reccomend useing a small bowl or just a coffee mug.

[fritz]

For years I've traveled with a little Tupperware "fruit cup" container, made for a lunch kit. It is a loose fit for the 2.5 oz soap pucks. Take the puck out and set it on the hotel's soap dish, load the brush, and use the tupperware for a bowl. When finished, rinse it, put the soap back in, and snap on the lid-- ready to go into your travel kit.

Speaking of good (but not expensive) bowls, try Target, Wal-Mart, BB&B, etc. kitchenware sections. They have a variety of stainless steel bowls in various sizes. Also, a SS measuring cup with a 2-3 inch or so handle is good. I like to set the bowl in the hot water between passes, and the SS ones will really transfer the heat well.

[timc]

I've been face lathering for some time now, mostly with soaps, but sometimes with creams. I don't use a bowl or my hand -- I just lather it up right on my face. It works great, and I don't waste any lather! :cool:

[Mottern Man]

I've been face lathering for some time now, mostly with soaps, but sometimes with creams. I don't use a bowl or my hand -- I just lather it up right on my face. It works great, and I don't waste any lather! :cool:

That is how I do soaps. Strait to face, Just the bowl goes better for me with the creams.

[rick]

Been experimenting building lather on my face for the last cuppa weeks...
Since I gots me lil MossScuttle last week, its the best (re:efficient) method for me.

1. Build PreLather with fingers
2. Take hot, DAMP brush to face
3. Build lather on face
4. Put brush in MS to stay warm

Working well so far....

[Mottern Man]

Been experimenting building lather on my face for the last cuppa weeks...
Since I gots me lil MossScuttle last week, its the best (re:efficient) method for me.

1. Build PreLather with fingers
2. Take hot, DAMP brush to face
3. Build lather on face
4. Put brush in MS to stay warm

Working well so far....


I would just make the lather in the scuttle. Send me yours so I can try this out :rolleyes: ;)

[rick]

Doc:
the small scutlle is not designed to build lather.
It is reeeeeeelly small.
I'm talking about big enuff to put the B&B brush into and thats it.
The cramped quarters allow the brush to be surrounded by the hot walls of the scuttle.
You can swirl it around some but it doesnt allow for good lather building...IMO

[Mottern Man]

Doc:
the small scutlle is not designed to build lather.
It is reeeeeeelly small.
I'm talking about big enuff to put the B&B brush into and thats it.
The cramped quarters allow the brush to be surrounded by the hot walls of the scuttle.
You can swirl it around some but it doesnt allow for good lather building...IMO

I bet you I could do it! :D

[Smedley]

When I need to lather without a bowl, I invariably reach for my KMF Vanilla Earth. Lather on the face, and an excellent shave.

[Straight Arrow]

I think it's fun and effective to lather directly on the face and it adds just a bit more pampering into the routine as you need to keep the brush going on your skin for a longer time. I really like the bowl too. I do both. Variety is what makes this wetshaving thing so much fun!

[Tony Shlongini]

What happened to your avatar? My wife wants to know where the good looking guy went.

[Mottern Man]

What happened to your avatar? My wife wants to know where the good looking guy went.


It's back, can't say no to a lady.

[GeNn]

I use a bowl and was having difficulty building the Method Shaving mix with it. Now I use my hand to build the MS mix and for me it is the only way to get a good lather (mix). I have yet to try soaps and creams on my hand the same way. I will eventually and If it works, I'll stop using the bowl. I use a good sized cereal bowl my wife found in a garage sale. I don't like its color though, it's pink. ;)

[jbcohen]

Never tried this with cream, but I tried it with my soap last time I was on travel and made a real mess of things. I even tried lathering with plain hand soap and found out that there is a reason why one wants to use shave soap not hand soap. Hand soap does not protect your face like the shave soap does.

[Aroma]

In my opinion the best bowl is my left hand.

[Mottern Man]

In my opinion the best bowl is my left hand.

Too messy.

[moviemaniac]

I need my scuttle from Ansgar for the sake of luxury :D

[Aroma]

too messy? :D

No. I wash my hands every day. It`s very clean. ::

[mercV12]

I also get a great shave without a bowl. De Vergulde Hand stick or Lucky Tiger cream....just apply directly to face and then work up a lather. it's great! (Although I also like to get a real nice lather built in a bowl too.)

[Mottern Man]

too messy? :D

No. I wash my hands every day. It`s very clean. ::

You funny guy. :1respect::

I know what you mean, I am saying I have more control with a bowl. Direct to face also works well.

[Mottern Man]

I also get a great shave without a bowl. De Vergulde Hand stick or Lucky Tiger cream....just apply directly to face and then work up a lather. it's great! (Although I also like to get a real nice lather built in a bowl too.)

Stick go direct to face with me. I love them Shave Sticks.

[qhsdoitall]

I go no bowl when a hard soap gets too small. Easier to control.

[Lumberkly]

I'm sure you guys know that Taylor of Old Bond Street creams have a built-in bowl that you can pull out. Great for travelling...

[IsaacRN]

Yeah....I believe Trumpers is like that as well. I found it pretty cool.

[JayKay]

TOBS built in shave bowl?


Either way. I use a giant ikea coffee cup for my lather. I love it.

[redorchestra]

Over christmas I went to Cambodia and Thailand. I brought a tube of Body Shop shave cream, a Feather Portable DE razor, two derby blades and two Feather blades.
The first day I stayed in an upscale hotel in Thailand. I had a hot shower, rubbed some Shave cream on my face and shaved with a Feather. No lather, and it was not luxury, but not bad.
The second day I was in Cambodia and my hotel had no hot water. It wasn't out of hot water, hot water didn't exist. I shaved the same after my cold shower but the razor pulled and grabbed at the hair.
Third day I did the same but this time I tried with a derby. It mowed down the hair and I was nice and smooth. I repeated this for the rest of the trip. Excellent no frills shave.
I don't know why the derby mowed through what the Feather couldn't.
I will not change my rountine at home, but I will leave a lot at home to simplify and travel light.

This was the first vacation that I shaved every day. I usually grow a beard a few months before a vacation so that I don't have to shave, and I still look semi presentable.

[spinyeel]

Another vote here for shave sticks.They create consistant smooth lather with a minimum of fuss.They're cheap too.:D

[Mottern Man]

Still a face lather guy but a little change.

I don't use the hand I just go straight to face.

I read on shaveblog that he thinks we waste cream and that is not true. I use the same amount of cream out of the Tub/Tube to lather my face then I use to put in the bowl.

I like face lathering because,
1. I get better feed back on how good my cream is.
2. Its a lot of fun
3. Smells Great
4. Why waste your time? If you work cream in a bowl for 1 minutes then put it on your face for 1 minutes, why not just work it on your face for 2 minutes. :D

[IsaacRN]

Ill tell you what I dont do as much if at all anymore......


I dont really use a scuttle. Even the bowl is a bit hit or miss...as i use my hand most of the time or just face lather.

[Padron]

Face lather 95% of the time :D......bowl lathering takes more time and adds to the cleanup factor....I have been wanting to try a scuttle....but with the summer here :shocked003.....hot lather is not that appealing :o

[Sejanus]

All bowl for me. Love it. :D

[bearbeard]

face latherer.....more love that way.

[tjgriffin]

I mostly lather in a bowl. I use a Corning soup mug. It's over sized with a plastic snap top. I can float it in the sink to keep the lather warm. Though mostly I shave in the shower.

I lather on my face with a stick. Sometimes I use a non- or low-lather cream directly on the face.

[qhsdoitall]

Still a face lather guy but a little change.

I don't use the hand I just go straight to face.

I read on shaveblog that he thinks we waste cream and that is not true. I use the same amount of cream out of the Tub/Tube to lather my face then I use to put in the bowl.

I like face lathering because,
1. I get better feed back on how good my cream is.
2. Its a lot of fun
3. Smells Great
4. Why waste your time? If you work cream in a bowl for 1 minutes then put it on your face for 1 minutes, why not just work it on your face for 2 minutes. :D

Was that me? :D If so, maybe I should clarify. I find I use less cream or soap when I use the direct to face lathering method then if I'm trying to build a nice bowl of lather. Strictly a YMMV situation. If I put it in a bowl I want to see mounds of lather in there so I tend to overdo it.

[tom myers]

I see building lather in a bowl to be a bit of a waste. If I build the lather on my face, I am softening my whiskers while in the process of building a nice wet lather. The more time spent going over the face with the brush, the more softening effect on the beard. Softening the beard is what contributes to a nice comfortable shave.

I have recently aquired a Moss scuttle and it is great for keeping the lather that is in the brush nice and warm for subsequent passes, but I don't feel that a scuttle, a bowl or even the palm of my hand is necessary to building a great lather.

I guess I first came to this conclusion about building lather on the face about 30 or 40 years ago when I tried using a shaving stick while traveling. I found that just rubbing the stick on my wet face and then building the lather on my face with the brush gave me as good or better of a shave than any other method I had been using. I've been face lathering ever since with both soaps and creams.

Regards,
Tom

[Sejanus]

Welcome Tom!

You do make a good point, the face lathering certainly adds a lot more in the department of beard prep. Though as a former face latherer I find it hard to go back when I have the tinkering control of a bowl.

[Queen of Blades]

Welcome, Tom!

[mastermute]

Welcome Tom!

[Infotech]

About the middle of last week I decided to ditch the bowl. At the sime time, I ditched my cream scooper. I've been using the dip and twist method and lathering directly on my face.

After a week of it, I wish I would've never started using a bowl. My lather is better, lasts longer, and the shaves feel better.

[Sunburst Six]

I've been mostly using mug soap, but I'll have to try this out once I finally get around to trying a good cream.

[Queen of Blades]

Welcome to The Shave Den, Sunburst Six!

Don't forget to sign-up for the Newbie Give-Away (http://www.theshaveden.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6629)! :happy088

[rodd]

I've been mostly using mug soap, but I'll have to try this out once I finally get around to trying a good cream.

You can face lather with soap also! Give it a try with the mug soap. I actually face lather more with my soaps than my creams.

[PottyDoctor]

I guess I first came to this conclusion about building lather on the face about 30 or 40 years ago when I tried using a shaving stick while traveling. I found that just rubbing the stick on my wet face and then building the lather on my face with the brush gave me as good or better of a shave than any other method I had been using. I've been face lathering ever since with both soaps and creams.

Regards,
Tom

I've only had a couple of shave sticks but they seem to me to be better suited for face lathering than any soap or cream in a tub. The more I use them, the better I like them! I originally had a QED Unscented Stick and when it was depleted I filled it with Mama Bear Lavender/Peppermint. Nice...very nice! ;)

[hoglahoo]

lets keep the lather in some sort of container, please :) No need to splash lather all over the mirror, sink, counter, and floor!

[Single Wedge]

Never tried it but next time I travel I'll do it. I may actually just pack a shave stick and work that magic. I do not travel much so my options are open.