The Upside Down Lathering Trick

[slayer21737]

ןoן ʎuunɟ

[stav3455]

what makes canned shaving gel bad?

[mantic59]

@stav3455 the propellants and petroleum-based chemicals are not good for the skin.

[PaceShave]

How interesting! Thanks for sharing some of your insight!

PaceShave*com

[Juggler1097]

A few days after getting my brush and soap, I decided to give this method a try. I find it is much easier to build a good lather this way and also saves time. Thanks so much for this video, it really helped me!

[1MP1000]

I do your technique every time I shave and the results are great! The soap goes deeper into the brush providing a better lather. Also, when loading upside down I find that the soap doesn't run down the sides of the container because it's going into the brush.

[labrown23]

I used regular shaving cream with a straight razor for quite a while, I recently purchased a shaving soap and brush. This may be an amateur question, but is it safe to assume you are supposed to rinse off the shaving soap/mug after each use?

[mantic59]

@labrown23 that is correct

[talbot312]

I tried it with Dove Moisturiser soap, worked pretty well.

[941254]

I love all these videos on traditional shaving techniques, it's neat to see them re-lived again, however, advocating that they are better than current shaving systems would be misleading! You can ask any dermatologist and they will tell you Shave Gel is much better for shaving than Shave Cream (aka soaps), the whole point of the evolution of shaving material and and tools is to get a better shave.

[mantic59]

@941254 i know of physicians and dermatologists who are quick to recommend traditional shave cream/soap over gels.  Mass market creams out of a pressurized can are another matter...gels out of a squeeze tube would be better than pressurized products.

[clarkcolt45]

@941254 wrong; the "evolution" of shaving was to make it faster and easier for common people, = earn money, mass industry. Go to a master barber in Hollywood or LA, and they'll use a straight razor and take their time to give the BEST result one could get. Wonder why they wouldn't just use a mach3, lol? People had time to shave with skill in the old days, and there were master barbers everywhere. Every form of evolution in society is not for the better, pollution is a good example.

[LindoPhoto]

@clarkcolt45 right on.

[LindoPhoto]

@941254 I disagree.

Dr's also recommend pharmaceutical drugs over a healthy diet.

[Manny1222]

You are like my shaving hero. I just found your youtube page like an hour ago. Very informational videos.

[Greenmarine6]

The best thing to use is Home made soap...most Amish stores or Mercantile shops sell it. Home made soap is better because there is Glycerin in home made soap.

Soap manufactures take the glycerin out of soap and use it for hair products personal lubricants and other things. That's why Store bought soap is so drying to the skin. In addition Home made soap and soap made at a manufacturing plant are both made the exact same way

[slayerguitar]

do you recomend pure glycerin soap?

[mantic59]

@slayerguitar a pure glycerin face soap would not be stable enough for use as a shaving soap alone. Glycerin-based shaving soaps have extra ingredients. However you can use a glycerin face soap as part of a "superlather" (see my videos page)

[Christiantodd1]

I keep seeing these tutorial videos on traditional shaving on YT, and I have to say that they all have one thing in common, TOO MUCH LATHER. You're face doesn't need that thick of a layer, if anything it's just a waste of lather. It's purely aesthetic, nothing else.

[pinteirobisneto]

It works great on all soaps I've tested! That trick made me totally skip the bowl for lathering.

[Saplui999]

эх нифуя.. как это у него так получилось?

[yamahabassist726]

I use this everyday

[pinteirobisneto]

That's the EASYEST way to make great lather! Thanks for sharing!

[daboss212]

what brush is that

[lacrossestar83]

your videos are so informative and ...i'd even say "inspirational"! thanks for taking the time to share your passion for traditional shaving with all of us! i'm hooked for life and will never again buy that "goop" with the huge ingredient list!!

[alfie677]

whats the difference between lather and shaving cream?..

[blackhole61590]

The lather is the result of mixing the cream/soap and the water together.

[hornistbigt]

I tried this today with the Van der Hagen kit from Wal-Mart. (Brush, soap, bowl) I made the lather in my hand and seemed to get just as thick of a lather as I do with Proraso cream. But, I still favor the feel of the eucalyptus oil in the Proraso. And I'm sure it will be a different story when I have a better brush.

[TempestStormwind]

I've had some luck with this, but I build lather in a bowl rather than on the face. I've noticed that when I do this, the lather is indeed creamy, but it doesn't like to leave the brush and stay on the face. I end up with a thinner lather on the face than usual as a result.

This could be a problem with the brush (a basic eshave fine badger - the only one I could find locally, would you believe it!), but it's certainly more noticeable with this lathering trick than with, say, creams.

[jsj297]

Im gonna try that today!

[Sycth50]

add some water

[pr0n3]

Pick up some Penhaligon's or D.R. Harris shaving soap and a good brush and you''ll get the perfect lather. Worth every penny!

[kiralycsavo]

same problem here

[schnor88]

Nice!

[theclewis]

Cool, Thanks!

[hornycow1]

Why not just buy shaving foam you scrubs

[mantic59]

foam is for scrubs, evil in all ways. real men do it properly and with skill.

[hornycow1]

well thats me Beaten :`(

[Glivity]

works great with shave sticks! thanx for sharing

[Judo4Life1]

i dont have a brush, or that tin bowl thing

[GodBlessGeorgeWBush]

weird, i accidentally discovered the same thing recently. great minds think alike.

[premiereav]

Hey Mark! I am giraffejumper from the forum. I have not really kept up with the shave stuff in a while. Got my favorites down and that is all I have been using. But I check back in and watch your vidz every so often, and this one has rejuvenated my love for shaving! With a cheap tweezer man brush and just plain ole' Williams, I got an amazing shave!

[premiereav]

I tried boar, but no good. Looks like now I will be trying all kinds of shave soaps now. The only cream I could get a good every day consistency with was kissmyface. And to get this repeated great shave with Williams, nice! A true "Poor Man's Shave!" And a great one also. Thanks.

[nycemt335]

That is what I am using now as well.

[hjbit]

the only soap available to buy here is williams and only at shoppers drug mart. theres litterally no other.

[skembomatt]

Bath and Body Works sells CO Bigalow cream that is the same as Paraso. It's great and cheep. the small tube is $5. Don't forget you can buy stuff online.

[hjbit]

they must be better shaving soaps than the ones i can find in stores. the one i have is williams mug soap. it smells like regular soap, it takes for ever to make any kind of lather, it makes my face feel so dry its goanna bust open and the shave itself...the end result is the same as using an electric....i look and feel like i shaved with a belt sander.

i know this wouldnt be so popular if it didnt work, i just dont see how it does...i need some step by step tips.

[mantic59]

hjbit- You should be able to find Van Der Hagen shave soap in many grocery stores and drug stores (Walgreens, CVS, Wal-Mart, etc.). Much better than Williams. Also look for Kiss My Face shave cream found in many 'health food' stores. Check my videos page for many more videos on products, tips, and techniques.

[padseenoodle]

Like mantic59 said, go for the Van Der Hagen deluxe.....very creamy, and I love the smell. It's dirt cheap and is my most used shave soap.

[lovinglistener]

wow, I have to give this a try. You are awesome Mantic.

[gzephier]

i have tried this trick, along with shaving with an old gillette safety my mom's stepfather gave a few weeks ago, and i have been getting the closest shave ever, given the fact that the razor has the dial setting on the top of it, mantic do you know what i'm talking about? and i just turned 20 on feb 20.

[mantic59]

gzephier- Yes, check my "Adjustable Safety Razors" video!

[Coolnavy88]

after trying this tecnique i dont want to use my silvertips brushes anymore because its works so amazing with best/super badger brushes and it makes a wonderful lather, even better than using cream and a silvertip one!!!Greetings and thanks for posting the videos!

[prlee1971]

It works well with the Proraso soap and super badger brush I use.  Thanks for posting the tip.

[chigzino]

Thanks for a great tip, it created a much better lather for me in less than 1/2 the time!! I'm using a Men-u Premier brush, Taylors Sandlewood soap and a Merkur Futur razor. I couldn't be happier :D

[Gweezian]

I used to do this many years ago but not because I discovered it to be better but rather because I never bothered to shake the excess water out of my brush back in the old days. In fact, it was only through watching your videos that I was conscious of the fact you had to shake some excess water off a shaving brush. Anyway, I would turn the tub upside down and that ensured that any excess water would simply drop off. I agree, it's a good technique. Nice video.

[Tallsydguy]

Hi Mantic i was just wondering what are your thoughts on the Merkur Classic Double-Edge Safety Razor is it a good razor to use ?

[mantic59]

Tallsydguy- There are a number of different versions of that razor. The "Heavy Classic" (AKA "Heavy Duty" or "HD) is the most popular. But generally speaking all the Merkur's have a good reputation.

[Coolnavy88]

I tried this tecnique before with my silvertips brushes,but yesterday and today I did it with an old pure badger one and it works even better,the lather was soo good and thick and I did built it in less that 30 seconds while with the silvertips took me at least 50 seconds...I wonder if I have to change the tecnique If I use the silvertips ones.,have you notice the same when you do this trick with a silvertip comparing to a best/pure/super badger one?Greetings

[mantic59]

Coolnavy88- I have noticed this too, it works better with less expensive brushes. I think it is because silvertip brushes are able to retain more water on there own, compared to pure hair brushes.

[frank1380]

This technique worked really well for me. I had gotten away from using soap because I thought I was having better luck with creams. I was working on a 6 day beard which was getting pretty gnarly. Super smooth shave and no nicks or cuts.

Using Merkur HD, Derby blade, and Colonel Conk's Bay Rum soap.

[Artificialkel]

Were can I get a brush like that :)? (newish shaver)

[greeterboy]

that brush is from Em's Place. It's a pure gray badger with Havanna handle. Mine arrives tomorrow!!

[greeterboy]

I just tried this trick this morning using QED Casablanca glycerin soap. Worked like a charm!!! I've never gotten this much creamy lather from a glycerin based soap EVER! Nor did I have to re-hydrate the brush while face lathering. All of the water needed was right there in the breach of the brush. Thanks for sharing Mark!!!!!

[garouHH]

I couldn't reproduce the effect, which might be the result of me using a just big enough cup to hold the soap (Col. Conk Almond) so that my brushes bristles seemingly can't spread apart far enough in it. But you inspired me to an improvisation to my technique. I filled the bowl that I use with hot water, then gave some of it into the cup, draining the excess immediately, then shook the cup a bit, drained the bowl and poured the soap water into the bowl. After preparing the brush, I built a good

[garouHH]

lather in just 90 seconds, and even that I'll probably be able to cut down as the soap water from the cup was a bit too much. Bottom line is that I replaced clean water in the bowl with the soapy one and didn't have to stir the brush until my wrist hurt. The lather lacked a certain creaminess (but I guess I'd need a tallow-based soap for that; hey, does some dear reader still have old nearly-empty tubs lying around? ^^), but seemed to be very stable for at least three minutes after application.

[moumou360]

what brand soap was that anyway, Mark?

[mantic59]

Mo- That particular one was a glycerin soap from Emsplace(dot)com.

[DomCrathern]

Hmm, interesting. Think I'll give it that a whirl tommorrow morning

[moumou360]

I think this might be the first youtube: +1 :p

[ScottieWP09]

I use Taylor's creams, do you think this would work if I did the same thing in my shaving bowl?

[mantic59]

ScottieWP09- I tried with with a cream but it didn't seem to work as well as with a soap. But give it a shot and report your results!

[34784]

mantic59- My face gets really dry after I shave or wash it. Should I stay away from shaving soaps or are there ones that are good for me?

[rongallant]

Try a tallow based soap like Tabac. Also, be sure your hydrating your lather enough. Soaps are great.

Good luck!

[mantic59]

34784 - Yes, I was going to suggest a tallow-based soap as well.

[moohalaa]

I've never thought to do it upside down. I need a shave at the moment, I think I'll go and try it in the morning! Thanks for the advice.

[MarkGauvreau]

I prefer standing on my head when I shave. Same effect.

[mantic59]

Mark- Then your new flat top haircut was to provide you a more stable shaving platform?

[MarkGauvreau]

LOL!!!

[angrystanmotion]

Now I have to try the flat top, too.

[moumou360]

well, in all fairness... you did mention that there was a Zen aspect to all of this....

[mantic59]

Oh great. Greatgreatgreat. Now I'm going to have to make a video on "yoga shaving."  :)

[Coolnavy88]

it works really well.I discovered it by accident too and it works wonderfully with my omega and kent(both of them silvertips)shaving brushes.The problem is that here is Spain is hard to find a good shaving soap anymore.

Thanks for the videos!Greetings from Spain.

[rdangelo]

Dude, I am a newbie to the trad wet shaving thing. I started after buying some Musgo Real and noticing how much better it was than any other higher priced boutique "metrosexual" stuff like Kiehl's or Jack Black. When I looked it up, I found the whole world of SB razors, brushes, etc. I just tried using soap (Trumpers lime) and I think it even blows away creams. What do you think about blades? I've noticed a big difference between the three blade brands I've used - German, Israeli and US.

[mantic59]

rdangelo- Yes there can be a big difference in blades. Check out my "How Many Shaves In A DE Blade" video for some cool high magnification pictures.

[jvilla82688]

awesome, def gotta give it a try!! =)

[adilhussain77]

nice video man!