The men’s shaving and skincare market has exploded over the last decade. So much so that we reckon you could find a new shaving soap or cream for every day of the year! Among the thousands of options at the tip of your brush, we’re sure on just one thing – a shaving soap is by far the closest you’ll come to honouring the traditions of a wet shave.
Even then, there are a plethora of decisions to make: scented or unscented, hard or soft, big or small and whether they come in tins, tubes or wax papers. Ultimately, the only thing that matters is that you get the best shave from the product you choose – leaving you feeling refreshed, clean and ready for the day ahead. Below, we’ve pulled together our top tips and tricks on how to use a shaving soap. Enjoy, and keep those great shaves coming!
How to lather your shaving soap
First of all, let’s address your lathering technique. How and where you lather your soap can drastically affect its lifespan and performance, which is why we advise the following.
Before shaving – while you’re showering, perhaps – soak your brush’s bristles in warm water for a few minutes. Then, shake off any excess water and confidently swirl and swipe your bristles across the surface of your soap. Loading the shaving brush with soap should only take 10-15 seconds. Any longer and you risk too much product being used and wasted; any shorter and you won’t have enough to enjoy your shave.
After loading your brush, we recommend using a shaving/lathering bowl or building your lather directly onto your face. Avoid building your lather on top of your soap as this will only create too much foamy goodness for one shave, resulting in you washing away wasted product.
For the best lather, work with roughly one teaspoon (5ml) of water in the bowl. As you swirl and pump the brush, add extra teaspoons of water until the lather builds up to the consistency and shine of whipped egg whites. Remember, you can always add more water, but it’s a bugger to take it out!
Don’t underestimate how the type of water available to you (hard or soft) might also affect your soap’s performance. It all comes down to the mineral content that is naturally dissolved in the water (higher amounts create harder water) and how these minerals can affect your lather. Hard water can be problematic for shaving soaps, causing issues with your lather’s stability and formation. But soaking or ‘blooming’ your soap in warm water for a few minutes before shaving can help to neutralise any issues. If you’re consistently struggling to create a luxurious lather due to hard water, we suggest purchasing distilled water instead.
How to store your shaving soap
Now that you’ve mastered your lathering technique and enjoyed a clean and close shave, it’s time to pack your soap away. Despite their often hard exterior, soaps are rather delicate at heart, so this is arguably the most important step!
Start by rinsing any remnants of lather from your soap, then shake off any excess water and store it in an air-tight container. This will help to reduce its exposure to bacteria, which can spoil your soap. An air-tight container will also help to prevent your soap from drying out, leaving it brittle and requiring more water and soaking time for future shaves. For best results it’s important to consider temperature too, so store your soap in a moderately warm place between shaves.
And there you have it – our top tips and tricks for extending the life of your traditional shaving soap! Here at the Shaving Shack, we want you to enjoy your shaving experience each and every time you pick up your razor. So whether you’re using a hard soap puck, a soft soap, or even a cream, our tips are designed to make your products last longer and perform effectively for years to come.
If you’ve never tried a shaving soap, we cannot recommend it enough. Explore our best-selling shaving soaps today and join the club today!