How to lather a shaving soap

​Shaving soap is lathered with a shaving brush in a bowl, mug or directly on your face.
To create a great lather, follow these steps:
How to use and lather shaving soap on your face;

1. If you have a hard soap puck or want to get an easy start on your lather, add a little warm water directly to the top of of your shaving soap and soak for few minutes in your shaving bowl or container with warm water.
2. Softening your beard is important. Not only does it allow for a more comfortable shave but has the benefit of allowing the razor blade to more efficiently cut. Shaving after a shower is a good way to soften your beard as is applying a warm, wet towel or simply wash your face  with hot water to soften whiskers.
3. Either soak or rinse your shaving brush under warm water. Rub your wet but shaken out brush briskly in a circular motion over the top of the shaving soap or cream. When lather starts to form, continue in a circular motion for 30-60 seconds making sure the shaving brush tips picks up a thick coating of soap.
4. Apply the shaving soap over your wet beard in a circular motion the beard and the lather will start to build. Add warm water slowly to the shaving brush and continue to work up the lather on your beard until the lather is thick and covers your beard. Smooth out and finish with sideways paint brush strokes for even coverage.
5. Rinse your face and while still wet, repeat step 4 for a second pass, giving you a close and clean shave.​

How to use and lather shaving soap in a bowl or mug;

1. Follow Steps 1, 2 and 3 from above.
2. Take the shaving brush with the lather to the mug or bowl and continue lathering in a circular motion in the bowl. Lather should thicken and increase. Add water as necessary with your brush and keep lathering.
3. Follow Steps 4 and 5 from above.

Always rinse your face well after shaving and pat dry with a clean , soft towel.

If all goes right, you should have a nice, wet, dense and protective lather that looks like the example shown in the photo below using Cold River Soap Works GLIDE Shaving Cream Soap.

Shaving soap lather using Cold River Soap Works.