Lather: fact and fiction

[malocchio]

I have had great shaves with creams and a few soaps that did not produce a huge volume of lather or did produce a big cloud but very airy,and I still got a great shave.this is because they had good beard lubrication and did not dry out,they did their job and that's what it's all about. if the end result is a good,smooth zero problem shave,then the volume of the lather is irrevelant...

[Ouchmychin]

I don't normally use lather to shave, but when I do I need the extra protection I get by using my brush to rub the cake for a very long time until I could make a barrel full of wet lather. Then I just rub it out on a wet face and make a thick, not voluminous lather. That give me the protection I need because I am not a careful shaver any more. It will not let me get a really close shave, so I add water to do the polishing. That's when I get my nicks. Normally, as I have stated many times here, I grease my face with
Vaseline and then rub in brushless shave cream. You can't see that there is anything on my face, but it lets me shave very carelessly and not nick myself. I never shave wtg, just shave atg and Xtg, then I polish--all the while adding no more Vaseline or brushless. After a rinse I don't need balm or aftershave but I use them anyway cause I like the smell.

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Ouchmychin (Pete)

[brothers]

Sounds like a good thorough plan Pete. It's obviously working well for you.

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Gary

[Flash G]

[brothers]

I think the manufacturers of the canned shaving cream are responsible for perpetuating the image of a guy with half a can piled on his face. That doesn't mean I don't prefer it, not for any reason I can defend, except that it looks and feels "right" somehow. I'm probably just brainwashed, but I love it!

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Gary

[OldSaw]

[Quarterstick]

Form follows function.

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Andy

An elephant for a dime is only a good deal if you need an elephant and you have a dime.

[Squire]

Reminds me of those instructions on the shampoo bottle stating that after shampooing we should lather up again. The more we use the more they sell, they must think we're all a bunch of lemmings.

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Regards,
Squire

[mikey]

So, I've been lathering wrong all these years???

[AxelH]

Not if you suffer from lycanthropy!

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Lover of cold, hard steel.

[harper]

How much lather is enough? Who knows? The purpose of lather is to lubricate the skin and permit the razor to cut whiskers and not skin.How much is too much? I don't think less is more applies here but that is subjective. I tend to use less but it is not more, it just seems to work better for me but may not for you.