How To Create The Best Shaving Lather From a Shaving Cream, Shaving Soap or Gel

In this How To guide, we help you to create the best shaving lather possible.

Regardless of the type of razor you use to shave with, DE razor, cartridge, or cut-throat, one of the basic steps to achieving a good, smooth, irritation free shave is shaving with the best possible lather. A rich, thick lather gives protection to your skin during shaving and adds slip, so the razor glides over your skin without any irritation.

Below are details to help you create the best lather from shaving soaps, shaving creams and gels.

Lathering Up a Shaving Cream

If you use a shaving cream or shaving gel the best way to create a good lather is:

1 – Take a small amount (about 2 baked beans) of the cream and place into the bottom of a lathering bowl.

2 – Wet your shaving brush and using circular motions whip up a lather in the bowl.

3 – If the lather is slow to build, you may need to add a little more water.

4 – If the lather is too runny keep whipping or add a little more cream.

5 – You want to aim for the lather to look thick and rich, almost yoghurt like.

6 – Wet your stubble with warm water and then apply the lather to prepare it for shaving.

Lathering Up a Shaving Soap

If you prefer to use a shaving soap to generate your lather, follow these steps to get the best shaving lather:

1 – If you use a hard shaving soap, such as Martin de Candre or Saponificio Varesino, pour a little hot water on top of the soap and leave it for a few minutes. This helps to soften the soap. You do not need to do this step with soft soaps.

2 – Wet your shaving brush and swirl it over the top of the shaving soap for about a minute to load the bristles.

3 – In a lathering bowl swirl the loaded brush to generate your lather.

4 – If the lather is slow to build, you may need to add a little more water.

5 – If the lather is too runny keep whipping or add a little more soap by swirling the brush over the top of the soap again.

6 – You want to aim for the lather to look thick and rich, almost yoghurt like.

7 – Wet your stubble with warm water and then apply the lather to prepare it for shaving.

Lathering without using a bowl

If you prefer to lather up directly on your face - Face Lather - rather than using a lathering bowl, simply miss that step out. Load your shaving brush from the soap or cream and then swirl the loaded brush over your stubble. It will take slightly longer to create a good, rich lather, ready for shaving. You may need to add a little more water simply by dipping the brush in water whilst you lather.

If you need any advice or more information about these products then 'phone us on +44 (0)141 880 3040, email us info@executive-shaving.co.uk, or use the We are here! Livechat function on the website.