For those of you shaving with a safety razor or straight razor, I wanted to share this quick tip on how to keep your lather nice and warm.
- Create your lather in your mug or bowl.
- Place your lather mug or bowl in your empty sink.
- Fill up the sink with piping hot water until the water reaches about halfway up the mug.
- Enjoy a nice hot lather your whole shave through.
Until next time ye brothers of the badger brush.
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{ 53 comments… read them below or add one }
I use a wood bowl. Would that work?
Cold shaving is where it’s at.
Great mo.
Great tip! Can’t wait to try this. Another thing I do is let the lather sit on my face for a minute or two while i run the comb through my hair, apply deodorant, etc. I find my body heat warms things up well.
Also, I started using a pre-shave oil on my whiskers that I put on underneath the soap. It’s a miracle worker.
I use a DirtyBird scuttle. http://www.dirtybirdpottery.com/shavinggear.html Same theory – fill the scuttle with hot water and enjoy!
I actually went another direction. I bought a ceramic dip chiller bowl. It is basically a set of nestled bowls with a lid. I fill the larger outer bowl with hot water (out of an electric kettle because my hot water doesn’t produce in my apartment). and then place the inner bowl on top. I then build my lather in the top bowl. It stays super warm through three passes. My wife likes it because it looks good on the counter top (that sort of thing is important for her). Best of all, the one I bought online set me back $14, compared to $30 for a shaving mug or scuttle.
Here is the link to what I bought:
http://www.amazon.com/Norpro-Piece-Stoneware-Stay-Server/dp/B0006IW040
I’ve tried this before, but didn’t seem to notice that much of a difference. I also prefer to wash my razor underneath the faucet rather than in a pool of water in the sink. I feel it’s a little more sanitary that way, especially when people wash their hands, spit, etc in the sink.
Really liked the video, though. You should continue using video for your articles!
Some other ideas, none of which I’ve tried yet:
Heat up a microwaveable hot/cold compress pack and put your shaving bowl on that.
Pop your shaving bowl full of foam in the microwave for a few seconds. (This one should make for a smashing video in any case)
Ive been trying to find ways to avoid wasting water and energy. Some other ideas, none of which I’ve tried yet:
Heat up a microwaveable hot/cold compress pack and put your shaving bowl on that.
Pop your shaving bowl full of foam in the microwave for a few seconds. (This one should make for a smashing video in any case)
I have a shave scuttle as well (don’t know if it’s from Dirty Bird, but same idea), and I love it.
I always preheat the mug by pouring some hot water in beforehand, and let it rest for a bit. That usually does the trick, and prevents the mug from going all dirty and hairy on the outside….
DItto Fitzage! Cold water shaving is the best.
For a growth that has been developing for a couple of days, I apply standard hair conditioner before lather and this makes the bristles a lot softer and easier to shave.
I never understood why you need a shave bowl. Just rinse the brush with hot water, apply the cream onto the brush and lather up directly on the face. The warmth of your face and the heat of the water will keep the lather warm.
I used to do this until the plug on my bathroom sink broke. None of my sinks work now. :(
Brett, I just wanted to compliment your mustache.
Brett, that is brilliant! I already fill the sink up, now I can keep my lather hot. Bully!
On another note, Excellent mustache.
That’s a *ahem* hot tip, but I took you up on the cold shave technique and it’s the way to go for me – works brilliantly every time!
I use a small diameter Waverly shaving mug set on a coffee cup warmer or candlle warmer. Although any type ceramic cup or small bowl will work. I turn the warmer on and place the cup on it prior to beginning the first shave. This will preheat the cup. Then I put a small amount of water in the cup or wet the brush before placing it in the cup on the warmer to help conduct the heat through the bristles. This has worked great for me, but a word of warning. Between passes, the brush can actually get pretty hot… although it’s never burned me. If you have sensitive skin, use some caution. The brush can be cooled some during the lathering stage, unless you are using a shave stick applied directly to your face. Also, I apply double stick foam tape to the bottom of the cup warmer to secure it to the sink counter top, so it doesn’t end up in the sink under the facet. I’ve been using this method for about three years now without incident and my brush doesn’t seem to have suffered either. I actually started wet shaving while researching a hot lather dispenser for aerosol shaving cream, and then realized that hot water and a brush would work better!
A not of clarification for the above, I use a separate mug for lathering or lather cream in the palm of my hand. The mug/cup on the warmer is only for heating the brush.
What’s wrong with good old Barbasol from a can? It’s cheaper, faster and it does the job perfectly. Splash warm water on your face, slather it on, and shave. If you want to do a second round of passes with the razor, splash more warm water on and repeat the process!
Great shaving tip. Love the old jazz tunes. Who was that?
I second the Coffee cup warmer. Picked one up at a thrift store for $1.
Now that is a manly man.
You can find the above tip plus everything else you ever wanted to know about shaving with a safety razor at Matic59′s youtube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/mantic59/videos
I use time, not heat. I wash with soap and water, then rub a thin layer of inexpensive foamy shave cream into the whiskers.
Then I apply a thicker additional layer, then set a countdown timer to about five minutes.
Whiskers are uber-soft by then and practically glide off my face. I get shaving cuts maybe twice a year – and always when I’m in a hurry or distracted.
Heating the brush & mug with the hot water for a few minutes before mixing your lather seems to provide some benefit as well. I believe it is the heat retention in the brush that mostly makes the lather feel warm.
i didnt know you had to make multiple swipes with the razor, ive been clean swiping one time
I use a badger brush with scalding hot water. But I rinse my 1940s safety razor with cold water. (I’ve done it this way for years–not sure why.)
That provides me with a nice hot lather, but a refreshing swipe with the blade.
As to needing to lather up several times: Unless I’m interrupted, that’s never been an issue. But my beard, while needing a daily shave, is pretty light.
+1 for the DirtyBird scuttle – I’ve been using the DB1.5 for a while now, can’t say enough good things about it – fantastic
Here’s the ultimate manly shaving tip.
Don’t use shaving cream. Merely wet your face with your preference of cold or hot water, and shave away.
I saw this suggestion in another magazine and thought it was crazy, but gave it a try anyway. It works!
My blades last longer, I get fewer nicks and cuts, and there is no mess from cream all over the place. I find it tends to work better with the razors that have fewer blades that 4. I haven’t used cream in more than a year, and I intend to keep it that way.
If you have a ceramic mug use a coffee mug warmer. They keep it warm as long as you need it to be!
http://www.amazon.com/Desktop-Heated-Coffee-Tea-Warmer/dp/B0046DNT4Q/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1338236675&sr=8-3
Hi, I’m from Finland but I still enjoy following your blog and it is much because of posts like this.. useful little tricks..
Even better, use a Dirty Bird Scuttle from Dirty Bird Pottery. Top Notch!
So, I have a dumb question. If my mug is in the sink, how am I supposed to get at the water to rinse my face? I’m just a novice safety razor user, so maybe I’m just missing something.
I tried lathering from a cup once. Didn’t like it at all. I lather right on my face. So, after i soak the brush (or more likely, just run hot water into it) and swirl it through my soap puck, it goes right on my face. It’s still nice and warm from the initial soak. Then after that, for each successive pass, I dip it into the hot water in my sink. Not a lot, but just enough to rewet. Oddly, the soap and cut whiskers tend to stay to the right side where I dip my razor and thus, I dip the brush on the left.
After trying all the tricks, I find the best, easiest way to shave is in the shower. You can install one of those anti-fog mirrors that uses hot water circulating or just use a small hand held to get the details. (if you rub a little soap on the mirror it does not fog). I don’t use any shave cream anymore, just lather up some soap and go. No muss no fuss and everything goes down the drain.
I agree with fitzage. I switched to coldshave and have had closer shaves then with my safety then I ever did with hot.
Better just invest in scuttle. Reason is that with a sink, it is curved edges and bowl. Therefore the mug has to sit in the center of the sink…guess where the faucet will hit when turned on to rinse the straight razor. You may be thinking, well I will rinse it in the water next to the mug…unless you keep your sink spotless and continuously clean it, there is bacteria in there which will get put on your face and may cause infection…or you may go to rinse the blade and knick the cutting edge causing you a world or trouble to try to hone out the knick. Scuttles work just as well and you don’t risk damaging anything.
I shave in the shower and I bought a metal mug in the camping section of K Mart for under three bucks. It’s an over sized coffee mug. I hold it under the shower head and the water surrounds the mug. In 20 or 30 seconds, it’s as hot as the water. Get the brush wet, slap it in the mug and the lather’s hot.
I also recently tried using hair conditioner on my whiskers prior to the shave and was impressed with the smoothness of the final shave.
Beard like a yak!!! LOL
I asked for an antique safety razor and badger hair brush for my birthday. Here’s hoping my wife can find one.
I haven’t stepped up to shave soap and a brush yet, but I did get a Merkur Model 180 and I’m absolutely loving it. Wish I’d made the switch from my years of Gillette multi-bladed stuff sooner.
I get really good results when I shave at the gym; I’m usually swimming at the pool and spend a little time in the steam room before shaving. I’m using a gel foam but I follow up with a little tea tree oil and that’s been working very well so far. I also usually just rinse directly under the faucet but I’ll consider a scuttle, maybe.
Yo, Brett: Most excellent video on keeping lather hot. Also, have you seen all the stuff on shaving with no lather at all? Seems to be getting a following. Got a good look at your ‘stache in the video. You should be proud. Good job! Skip.
Good tips!
I used to suffer from terrible razor bumps and ingrown hair. I simply stopped pulling my skin taut when shaving. This was done by not helping to shave with my free hand.
Here is a mug that does the same thing by letting you add hot water to it under the soap.
http://www.royalshave.com/p/432-015-00/rs_rectangle_shave_mug.html
Another great article Brett, hey if you ever need any Shaving Products Donated to help with research let me know! I have a small Shaving Store called The Classic Edge Shaving Store. Anything I can do to help with these great Articles!
I have to lather up 8 times. 4 for the face and 4 for the head shave. How about a the steamy hot towel to finish it off?
Just here to compliment that stache!
I recently took up safety razor shaving. Being military a good shave can mean the difference of looking like a squared away Soldier or a total sh*tbag. I’ve found that even the highest quality gimmick razor don’t even come close to my standard safety blade. The money isn’t as much in the blades as it is the shaving cream, oil, and after shave.
Works like a charm! I’m still trying to use up a pack of 4 blade razors, and it works fine for those too, the warm lather is a nice addition to any morning routine.
Great tip. Thanks! I’ll try this tomorrow.
Before I start my shower, I fill my mug with hot water and then microwave it for one minute.
Then after the shower, I get my brush ready, then dump the mug.
Then I mix my lather in the hot mug and get a nice warm shave.