Tired of razor burn, dry skin, and the wasteful cans of shaving cream? It’s time to upgrade your routine to a timeless classic: shaving soap. While it may seem intimidating at first, mastering the art of the lather is a satisfying skill that will give you a closer, more comfortable shave than you've ever had.
This guide will walk you through the simple steps of using shaving soap and reveal some of the best soaps on the market to elevate your grooming game.
Why Switch to Shaving Soap?
Before we get to the "how," let's talk about the "why." Shaving soaps offer a number of significant advantages over conventional foams and gels:
Superior Lather: Shaving soaps are formulated to create a dense, rich, and slick lather that provides a protective cushion between your skin and the razor blade. This lubrication is key to preventing nicks, cuts, and razor burn.
Better for Your Skin: Unlike many canned products that contain harsh chemicals, alcohols, and propellants, quality shaving soaps are made with moisturizing ingredients like glycerin, shea butter, and natural oils that hydrate and nourish your skin.
Cost-Effective: A single puck of shaving soap can last for months, sometimes even a year, making it a far more economical choice in the long run.
Environmentally Friendly: Shaving soaps typically come in recyclable packaging, eliminating the waste of aerosol cans.
The Step-by-Step Guide to Using Shaving Soap
You'll need three simple tools for this process: a shaving soap, a shaving brush, and a shaving bowl (or mug).
Step 1: Prep Your Face and Your Brush
Soak the brush: While you shower or wash your face, soak your shaving brush in a mug or bowl of warm water. This softens the bristles (especially important for natural hair brushes) and ensures the brush holds enough water to build a rich lather.
Prep your face: Wash your face with warm water to cleanse your skin and open up your pores. The steam from a hot shower is perfect for this as it also softens your beard hair, making it easier to cut.
Step 2: "Blooming" the Soap (Optional but Recommended)
While your brush soaks, pour a small amount of the warm water you used to soak your brush into the shaving soap container. Let the water sit on top of the soap for 30-60 seconds. This process, known as "blooming," softens the top layer of the soap, making it easier for the brush to pick up the product.
Step 3: Load the Brush
Drain the bloom water from your soap container.
Gently shake out the excess water from your brush (it should be damp, not soaking wet).
Begin swirling the brush firmly on the surface of the soap in a circular motion. This is called "loading." Continue this for about 30-60 seconds, applying enough pressure to fan out the bristles slightly. The goal here is not to create lather, but to get a generous amount of soap onto the brush. You'll know it's ready when the bristles are coated with a thick, pasty film.
Step 4: Build the Lather
Bowl Lathering: Move your loaded brush to an empty bowl. Add a few drops of water and begin swirling the brush in a brisk, circular motion. You'll see a loose, bubbly foam at first. This is where the magic happens. Continue to swirl and slowly add a few drops of water at a time until the lather transforms into a thick, glossy, and creamy consistency. It should look like yogurt or whipped cream with no visible large bubbles.
Face Lathering: Alternatively, you can build the lather directly on your face. After loading the brush, apply it to your wet face and use circular motions to work the soap into your beard. Add small amounts of water to the tips of the bristles as you go until you achieve the desired, slick consistency.
Step 5: Apply and Shave
Once your lather is perfect, apply it to your face with gentle, circular motions, ensuring every hair is coated. The lather will stand the hairs up and provide a protective layer for the razor.
Shave as you normally would, rinsing the razor often and re-applying the lather for each pass.
The Best Shaving Soaps for Men: Our Top Picks
The world of artisan shaving soaps has exploded, offering a huge variety of scents and formulations. Here are a few top-rated choices that are beloved by the wet-shaving community for their performance and quality.
Proraso Shaving Soap (Green Tea & Oatmeal): An Italian classic and a fantastic starting point for beginners. It's affordable, lathers easily, and provides a great slickness and cushion.
Stirling Soap Co.: Known for its exceptional value and extensive range of unique scents. Their tallow-based soaps are famous for their slickness, cushion, and post-shave feel. The "Executive Man" and "Barbershop" scents are fan favorites.
Barrister and Mann: A highly respected artisan brand with a reputation for creating some of the slickest, most protective lathers on the market. Their soaps are a favorite among experienced wet shavers.
Noble Otter: Another artisan brand known for its outstanding performance and creative, long-lasting fragrances. The base formula provides excellent slickness and a rich, dense lather.
By embracing the ritual of using a traditional shaving soap, you're not just improving your shave; you're transforming a daily chore into a moment of self-care. The result is a smoother, more comfortable shave and healthier, happier skin.