How to create the perfect shaving lather

Achieving the perfect density in your shaving lather can be one of the hardest parts of the shaving process as there are several factors to consider.

Type of shaving brush

Different shaving brushes will make different shaving foam. Brushes with natural bristles , such as pig shaving brushes or badger shaving brushes, absorb water, so they should be soaked before use. Boar bristles are quite stiff so they collect more soap, but can be uncomfortable on the skin. The badger hair brush is usually considered the best type of brush(although there are many ) as it is very soft, rich and suitable for creating a thick lather, but can be more difficult to use with harsher soaps. Synthetic shaving brushes can vary greatly in quality and now some manufacturers are offering unsurpassed quality synthetic shaving brushes such as Yaqi which now even compete with natural hair shaving brushes. They do not need soaking as their bristles do not absorb water and their maintenance is much easier. 

Water hardness 

Water is often the most important factor in making a good lather. Hard water usually has a lot of calcium and magnesium and reacts with soap in a way that makes it difficult to create lather. Soft water on the other hand does not have this problem. If you find that you are really struggling to make a thick lather, it is worth checking the hardness of the water. If you can't find a solution to soften the water, it is still possible to naturally create shaving foam, but it may take more time.  You may also find that some shaving soaps just don't suit your water type so you can experiment until you find one that suits you and makes it easier. 

Shaving Soaps and Creams

All shaving soaps are different and everyone should look for the one that will give them the best results. For example, some are meant for hard water despite the difficulties of creating lather. Shaving creams , on the other hand, tend to be much easier for lather creation even in hard water conditions, however they are usually more expensive compared to soaps and do not last as long.

You can read our related article here if you want to know more details about the differences between shaving soap and shaving creams.

Technique

Even here there is no one procedure that works for everyone. Everyone has their own preferences and methods that work for them. For example, you don't have to be limited to a shaving bowl. Yes a lather is usually made in a bowl, but you can also just use your hands or even make it directly on your face. Making it in your hand or on your face of course can be messy.  Below we'll go over both methods in detail.

Bowl method 

• Place hot water in the bowl and let it heat up a little. This is not necessary, it will just warm the foam when you apply it to your face.
• Place the soap in the bowl with a few drops of hot water and leave it for a few minutes. If you are using a shaving brush with natural hairs, leave it in the warm water for a few minutes so that it absorbs water and thus retains the necessary moisture.
• Drain the container of water.
• If you are using a synthetic brush, you do not need to leave it in the water before. Just rinse it with warm water before use. The point is to have moisture in the brush without it being wet. 
• Rub the brush on the soap in a circular motion for at least 30 seconds until you see that the brush is full of soap. 30 seconds is usually the ideal time, but it definitely depends on the soap.
• Check the consistency of the lather. If you see that you have a thick lather, it's probably ready - try it on your face and see if you like the consistency. If it's in the form of a paste and you don't like it, just add a few drops of water. 

Method by hand or on the face 

• At this point you can skip using the bowl and instead use your hands or apply directly to your face.
• Don't stop working until you achieve a thick lather. To achieve this, add drops of water gradually until the desired effect is achieved.  
• Once the foam appears thick, apply to your face in a circular motion to exfoliate your skin and lift your hair , preparing for shaving.

Additional tips 

1. When things seem to be going well, you can gently press the brush into the bottom of the bowl so that some of the thicker lather sits on top of the brush.
2. Prefer circular motions, but even a top-to-bottom and reverse motion can help.
3. Never press the brush too hard on the face, as you may break your hair. 
4. Try to apply the foam in the opposite direction of hair growth for best results. 

Summing up

Regardless of the method, however, the basis is common:

Make a shaving lather with your soap or shaving cream using a wet brush, adding one or two drops of water at a time until the desired consistency is achieved.