Lather, Big Foam!
The importance of lather:
Soap or cream, that is the question. Whether it be nobler in the mind to stay the course with traditional style shave soaps or to move along to the relatively newcomer, the shave cream (lathering or non lathering). Shaving soaps have been around since the mid 1800’s while creams came around shortly after WW1.
To be honest, as long as it is a good quality product, either will do a good job. Beware of cheap mass produced shave soaps, they’re likely to be hand or body soaps in disguise. Why, you might ask, is this a bad thing? Today's bath soaps are loaded with chemicals, which is the last thing you want on your face when you pull a sharp blade across it.
Personally, I like the creams. They (for me) have a smoother/slicker feel over the soaps as well as better moisture retention (soap lather tends to dry out a bit quicker). One thing that soaps have over creams is the use of bloom water and there is nothing like dumping that bloom water into a sink full of fresh hot water and the aromas that are generated from that simple act.
Whether you bowl lather or face lather, I always recommend using a brush. When face lathering and you use your hand, you flatten the whiskers whereas lathering with a good brush will elevate the whiskers away from the skin allowing the razor to be used with minimal pressure for a more comfortable shave.
Brush choice for me is, Badger for creams, Boar for soaps and Synthetics for either. There are different grades of Badger Hair brushes, four to be exact in ascending order — Pure(sometimes referred to as ‘Black’), Best, Super and Silvertip. Badger brushes can start around twenty dollars and range up into the thousands. Boar hair brushes really don’t have grades, you pretty much have to rely on the reputation of the brush maker, Boars hair brushes start in the fifteen dollar range. Synthetics are in a group unto themselves, they try to be the best of both but fall short in my opinion (YMMV), Synthetic brushes start in the twenty dollar range.
The soap or cream is one thing you don’t want to skimp on, both in money spent and use. I get an easy four months of shaving from a tub of shave cream(YMMV). It can give you the ability to take a so-so razor/blade combination and get a decent shave experience from it.
Soap or cream, hand or brush, face or bowl, the choices are all yours. The ultimate job of a lather is to be the last bastion of defense against that extremely sharp blade. A cushion of protection to give you an enjoyable and close shave.
