I am not a beginner to wet shaving but making a lather has never been my strong suit and only recently have I started to improve. Point is, my ego is not too big to accept guidance from someone more experienced or better at the task. Thank You for the tutorial.
Thanks Paul, you have pointed out my big mistake in regards to how much water in my brush. You are certainly right, it's highly addictive I think of this as a hobby, now. I use an old soup bowl it fits the job perfectly. Took me several bowls to find "the one"
Hello Paul, Since I seen you use Palmolive a couple years ago, it has become one of my favorites. Right up there with the big boys. Wonderful soap, scent, lather, and price. Thank you sir. All the best, Mike.
Very helpful vid. My lather is most of the time watery, but now I know what to do when it comes to that. Thanks Paul. I'm still a entry-level DE shaver in the DE world.
Thank you for making video I was in shopping and bought palmolive cool shavning cream and palmolive classic shave stick. Really cheap and nice products. Stick was a problem until this video, wilkinson soap makes really nice lather
Hi Paul, I love your videos; the more I see the more I like the classic shaving. One of my childhood memories of my grandfather's shaving razor and then passing the alum, which I did not understand why a stone face going on. It's a shame I do not understand very good English, I'm Spanish and I speak Castilian; I still love your videos, plus a picture is worth a thousand words. Thank you very much ... Tom.
Great video Paul. I have been shaving with a DE razor now for 5 weeks. Your videos are both helpful and practical. Just got myself a Merkur Futur razor today. Looking forward to more of your videos. Thanks for your knowledge! Ben
I’m not exactly new to wet shaving, but have recently decided to return to it after about a decade of electric shaving. Previously I had used cartridges before but now want to delve into DE blades, shaving brushes, and shave creams. So this video was very helpful. Thank you 😁
I have some challenge with getting a Palmolive stick to lather well, but I have some other soaps and creams that lather very well, and very quickly. I still like the Palmolive and other sticks.
PPS: Took your advice, and lathered the Palmolive stick as you did here. Got very nice results. Previously had only used a bowl for creams out of a tube. Otherwise, I would lather soaps and creams out of the tubs they came in.
I find that I face lather more often than using a bowl or mug. I just can't get over all the lather that is left over. I'd rather just keep it all in the brush and on my face. But now I wonder if I'm missing out! :-0
If there are two products that guarantee a perfect lather it's these two from palmolive. And probably the cheapest shaving soaps and creams on the market anywhere in the world. I pay just over a £1 for the cream in my local intermarche.
Those Wilkinson brushes are brilliant, I've got 2 other fancy badgers and I still prefer the grip on the Wilky with its harder hairs which seem to really work the lather and well into the skin. Did you know there's a red and green label variant and also they do badger on the same handle? £3.50 well spent! Think I'll get a Christmas pudding asap for the bowl!
The Red labelled (3 stars) is a softer wider knot, the Green labelled (2 stars) is a thinner and firmer knot, with a slightly smaller handle. The former I prefer, the later doesn't seem to be on general sale in the U.K.
I've also located/bought a Blue variant (4 star) Badger/Bristle mixture which is £14 on Amazon. I'm not convinced however as it's so similar to the others and not soft. Amazon listed and displayed it as full badger, so I'm afraid it's going back. webshop.total-shave.nl/Wilkinson-Badger-Bristle-Shave-Brush
Hi Paul, thanks for thiis video,excellent. Looking forward to the next one. When can we expect the next installment, always entertaining. Anthony-fromNew England
You can buy the Palmolive shave stick at Wilkos (used to be called Wilkinsons) in the UK. It's very cheap; weight for weight it's around 1/5 of the price of the higher end soaps like Tabac, TOBS, Taylors etc, but very good stuff. I rub it straight on my face. If you give a wetted stick a thorough rub gainst the grain of the bristles on a damp face your stubble will pick up a good deal of soap. Then all you have to do is work the lather up on your face. You should be able to get enough lather on your face/brush for 3 passes. I'd recommend it!
Just wondering Paul, if you've ever tried 'face lathering' I used to make my lathers in a bowl too, but now I just put a dab of cream on each cheek and go at it with my wet brush straight on the face - I kind of figured all that lubrication and exfoliation was better done on my face rather than a bowl. I haven't bowl lathered in months now. I do the same with hard soaps, load the brush up and then straight to a moist face.Of course the 'Red Bowl' is an icon in it's own right so I can't really see you giving it up :) Great tutorial all the same - perfect for the new-comer.
I have lathered straight to the face yes, and it works great as you say, but when using shaving cream, as I re-lather for each pass, I found I was using a bit more cream than I would in the bowl...but your right it works, and is a nice change, I would have to retire my red bowl..haha..all the best..Paul.
Paul can you do a video showing the lather on the face , and show how its supposed to look on the face, whether irs too runny or too thick, bcuz i am having issues witb this, it seems like after 30 seconds to a minute or 2 the lather dries on my face, and then when i add water little by little it eventually ends up getting too light and then too runny i cant findthe happy medium
I am face lathering in the Sunday shave tomorrow (as I write this).....applying the soap directly to the face, then lathering using the brush.....many thanks....Paul. P.S.....if the soap is drying on the face add more water , dip the brush tips then re-lather should make the lather wetter, and reduce the drying.....hope that helps.
Really want to imagine such a red bowl. Tell me, Paul, where you can buy this red masterpiece? What are the dimensions of the bowl? The video is very useful and informative.
Hi PaulHFilms, Your shaving bowl legend but I search but I couldn't find Turkey glass companys and wholesale seller and retail seller.I have an idea make PaulHFilms printed logo from this bowl 😉
I love your videos, very good tutorials aswell.Bought the wilkinson sword brush but always after face lathering the hairs in the middle of the brush seem te be damaged or pushed back in the brush.Is it part of breaking in or is it not suited for face latering?
Hello, Paul. Thanks for your tips, always helpful. I use the same pure bristle Wilkinson sword brush. However, I have found that sheds 3 to 4 bristles each time I use it. Is this due to build quality or, misuse ? I'd would be interested to see, their pure badger hair brush, in a test run.
Hi Rory, yes these brushes can shed some bristles, some more than others too I think.....they are not an expensive brush, so I expect it happens... mis-use can affect the brush yes, if it is not dried correctly, water can rot the glue which holds the knot over time.....all the best and thanks.....Paul.
Hello, Paul, I use the same Palmolive from the tube that is shown in your excellent video. However, I don't seem to achieve the thick creamy consistency that you do. One difference I have noticed is that your bowl is curved at the bottom whereas the one I use has sides and a flat base, ie there is a right angle between the base and sides. Do you think this could make a difference when using my brush to mix the cream? Best regards, Garry.
Garry Clarke Hi Garry, it could make a slight difference, but not much really, try pumping the brush as you mix, so as well as mixing around the bowl, try to pump the brush too, that can help, but usually the best bowls for creating a lather , especially from a hard soap, is a bowl or scuttle with ridges etc...as it traps the soap and airates the mixture...hope this helps Garry...all the best..Paul.
Thanks for the video upload. Good advice here. If the red bowl gets together with Graeme's (WXPM) lava lamp then I tell you it's a sign of the End of Days! ;-)
Thanks Paul. I have used a goat's milk shaving soap and the Trader Joe's shaving cream. Both create a lather but the lather quickly dissipates and disappears on my face. Do you have any tips for this type of situation? It may be the case that some soaps and creams just don't maintain a lather.
I have found that, if the soap is natural or handmade, they tend not to last on the face, but I expect more soap and less water, plus more mixing would help..you could use a trick were, you lather using those soaps, but, add another soap into the mix, which does give a richer lather. just a thought..good luck with your shaves Allen...Paul.
paul, im new to wet shaving and ive just bought the wilkinson sword brush and palmolive stick. i make the lather in a bowl very nicely....its thick and creamy. however, when i start to apply to my face, when i brush over the same area for a second time, it seems like im wiping the existing lather away and it goes back onto the brush. Why could this be?
+Action Mayne It is probably that you made it very thick....try adding very little water to the brush, then lather, it should make it better....good luck....Paul.
Hello from Kansas City...I know the problem you mention. If you study the videos of Paul lathering his face, you will notice that he sort of “paints” the lather on. Back and forth paint strokes on cheeks and on neck area. Also I noticed he “paints” lather up and down too. Just noticed this after several viewings. You watch him a few times and you’ll see what I mean. Good luck & cheers!
I've had problems with a couple of soaps..but on a whole I'm getting there...creams are no problem. I have just purchased La Toja shaving soap stick mainly because the reviews were great...haven't used it..its smell is not for me..PM me your address or any address and I will send you it...I've picked a few tips up from you Paul being the novice as I am...consider it as a little thanks..plus I want to see what you make of its smell and shave. ;)
PaulHFilms Hello Paul, I can't seem to reply to the PM via my tablet you sent me yesterday. I will send you a PM when I get home from my pc later today. Mark.
