# Working up lather before applying razor..how long?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/working-up-lather-before-applying-razor-how-long/781982
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [March 12, 2017, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/working-up-lather-before-applying-razor-how-long/781982 "2017-03-12T06:46:38Z")
**Posts on this page:** 16
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@wisernow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wisernow)
#### Post date: [March 12, 2017, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/working-up-lather-before-applying-razor-how-long/781982/1 "2017-03-12T06:46:38Z")
I am not sure if there is a factual answer to the question since it can be a matter of personal choice, but on an average, how long doe one need to lather before applying the razor to the beard for a shave?
As I understand, the primary purpose of the lather is to provide lubrication. If that is true, can I start shaving as soon as the area to be shaved is covered with lather, or does continued working in the lather have added benefits? Does the shave become smoother the longer I work in the lather? If so, why?
I use a standard gel to work up the lather, so is it different depending on the source of the lather. Also, I work the lather with my finger. Is it different for those who use a brush? What about those who use regular foam? Can you start shaving right way after applying the foam followed by a quick ‘rub-in’?
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### Author:  [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)
#### Post date: [March 12, 2017, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/working-up-lather-before-applying-razor-how-long/781982/2 "2017-03-12T07:23:55Z")
Food for thought:
> **[What Men Don't Know About Shaving](https://www.webmd.com/men/features/mens-shaving-tips)**
>
> WebMD talks to dermatologists and a barber for men's shaving tips.
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### Author:  [@Common\_Tater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Common_Tater)
#### Post date: [March 12, 2017, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/working-up-lather-before-applying-razor-how-long/781982/3 "2017-03-12T23:31:35Z")
Let the shaving cream do its thing for a few minutes, it makes a big difference.
Pro-Tip: Some chicks really dig a guy with lather on their face. I don’t know why. 🙂
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### Author:  [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)
#### Post date: [March 13, 2017, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/working-up-lather-before-applying-razor-how-long/781982/4 "2017-03-13T01:56:52Z")
> [@Common\_Tater](#):
>
> Let the shaving cream do its thing for a few minutes, it makes a big difference.
>
> Pro-Tip: Some chicks really dig a guy with lather on their face. I don’t know why. 🙂
😉 Enthusiastic agreement
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### Author:  [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)
#### Post date: [March 13, 2017, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/working-up-lather-before-applying-razor-how-long/781982/5 "2017-03-13T03:01:25Z")
Personal experience after almost 30 years of shaving. FWIW.
I just lather it on and go to town. Your best bet is getting the whiskers to soften up a bit. Best way I’ve found is to shave after a shower. Let the hot water do it’s work and then shave without drying it off.
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### Author:  [@TSBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TSBG)
#### Post date: [March 13, 2017, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/working-up-lather-before-applying-razor-how-long/781982/6 "2017-03-13T03:27:58Z")
This has got to be an IMHO question, but…
I wet my face with water as hot as I can stand it, put the lather on, and go to town.
I do agree that facial hair after a shower is softer, and that might be ideal for a closer shave. However, I find that if I shave before a shower, any small cuts I inflict will have stopped bleeding after the shower. If I’ve already showered, it’s impossible to get the damn things stanched. Yes, I have a styptic pencil.
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### Author:  [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)
#### Post date: [March 13, 2017, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/working-up-lather-before-applying-razor-how-long/781982/7 "2017-03-13T04:37:43Z")
Yes, it depends on the person. I suspect hot water increases blood flow therefore helping the body to clot blood faster. The same argument is made about shaving only with cold water. (The idea being to restrict blood flow and make clotting easier). Science is awesome!
Myself, I can dry shave with a disposable and be fine. Though I don’t prefer it.
I haven’t had a nick in over 20 years that I can recall. Maybe due to superhuman skin, or more likely just being a very pretty man. 😀
The main thing is really just to use a quality razor. Gillette, Shick, etc multiples are good. I use a safety razor with decent blades. No difference in using any brand of gel or cream. Hell, I’ve used dish soap in a pinch with no difference.
Use a good blade and you can’t go wrong
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### Author:  [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)
#### Post date: [March 13, 2017, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/working-up-lather-before-applying-razor-how-long/781982/8 "2017-03-13T04:42:25Z")
I get out of the shower, towel down quickly, then apply shaving gel without working it in.
I also get a noticeably smoother, closer shave on the days I wash my hair (every other day). From this I conclude that the warm shampoo rinse water softens my beard more. It would seem unlikely that less a minute or two of water running down my face makes a difference. But it does.
My beard coarseness is average-to-fine, and I use Astra double-edge blades (and Feather every so often) in an old Gillette adjustable.
Considering the wide variance of shaving practices extolled by their users, I’d take most of the WebMD article with a grain of salt unless they can show us controlled trials. The exceptions are shaving against the grain (don’t if your beard is coarse) and hot towel/water/lather (do).
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### Author:  [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)
#### Post date: [March 13, 2017, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/working-up-lather-before-applying-razor-how-long/781982/9 "2017-03-13T05:51:50Z")
Good point about the shampoo. It helps to wash your face with shampoo instead of soap. Easier on your skin as well as keeping facial hair more manageable
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### Author:  [@wisernow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wisernow)
#### Post date: [March 13, 2017, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/working-up-lather-before-applying-razor-how-long/781982/10 "2017-03-13T06:09:35Z")
Ok so next question - how does water make the beard softer? I mean the science/mechanism behind it. Does the keratin which makes the hair shaft absorb water thereby making it soft?
Also, why is shaving a soft strand of hair easier? It is after all only a cut applied to the hair shaft above the skin. Even if not as soft, the cut should be relatively easy, perhaps even better if the shaft is rigid since that would make for an easier slicing with the hair not bending with the stroke of the blade. I know my understanding is flawed, but I wold like to know why?
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### Author:  [@Weisshund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weisshund)
#### Post date: [March 13, 2017, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/working-up-lather-before-applying-razor-how-long/781982/11 "2017-03-13T06:50:15Z")
> [@wisernow](#):
>
> Ok so next question - how does water make the beard softer? I mean the science/mechanism behind it. Does the keratin which makes the hair shaft absorb water thereby making it soft?
I guess the same way it makes wood softer, you soak wood in water and you can bend what would normally have broken.
> [@](#):
>
> Also, why is shaving a soft strand of hair easier? It is after all only a cut applied to the hair shaft above the skin. Even if not as soft, the cut should be relatively easy, perhaps even better if the shaft is rigid since that would make for an easier slicing with the hair not bending with the stroke of the blade. I know my understanding is flawed, but I wold like to know why?
Well, think about it a moment
razor blade, and dry spaghetti.
Yes it will cut it, it is going to take a lot of pressure.
Now take some spaghetti that was soaked in water and is now soft.
ZIP!! right though it, no effort.
Plus if the blade needs more pressure to cut the hair, it tugs the heck out of that hair
yanking it around in the pore and that does not feel good.
Try dry shaving a small patch once, it is not pleasant.
Hair is actually very tough stuff.
I’m not sure about anyone else, but i can kill a razor blade in two shaves.
I somehow inherited the facial hair of a porcupine :mad:
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### Author:  [@Dereknocue67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dereknocue67)
#### Post date: [March 13, 2017, 8:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/working-up-lather-before-applying-razor-how-long/781982/12 "2017-03-13T08:13:25Z")
I shave while showering, at the end of the shower and it’s the most comfortable method of shaving for me. Trim sideburns afterward in front of the mirror. For the clean shaven, other than sideburns, I never understood why men stand in front of a mirror while shaving.
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### Author:  [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)
#### Post date: [March 13, 2017, 9:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/working-up-lather-before-applying-razor-how-long/781982/13 "2017-03-13T09:11:28Z")
> [@Dereknocue67](#):
>
> For the clean shaven, other than sideburns, I never understood why men stand in front of a mirror while shaving.
1. If I shave “blind” I might miss some small patch. And it’s difficult to feel with my hand which parts still have stubble while my face is still wet. So even if I shave in the shower I still need to check I’m done in front of a mirror.
2. I need to do some stuff in front of a mirror anyway, like check for errant hairs on other parts of my face.
3. I have a mole that I must carefully shave around. If I nick it, the floodgates are open (I was on a commuter train once, when my first indication that perhaps my earlier nicked mole might have resumed bleeding again was seeing a drop of blood on the ground :o)
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### Author:  [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)
#### Post date: [March 13, 2017, 9:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/working-up-lather-before-applying-razor-how-long/781982/14 "2017-03-13T09:21:38Z")
> [@Duckster](#):
>
> Food for thought:
>
> [What Men Don't Know About Shaving](http://www.webmd.com/men/features/mens-shaving-tips#1)
urck “Harsh soaps wash away softening hair oil”… urck again.
Harsh soaps wash away hair oil, letting the water get into to weaken the hair.
And “wash away” is a chemical reaction between the soap and the fat. It’s not instant, and it goes faster when the elements are hot. Which is why the traditional barber used hot towels.
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### Author:  [@TSBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TSBG)
#### Post date: [March 14, 2017, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/working-up-lather-before-applying-razor-how-long/781982/15 "2017-03-14T04:37:27Z")
You use a mirror to make sure you’re getting the spots you haven’t already gotten, and don’t re-shave and irritate the places you have gotten.
That said, I now shave my head, and it requires constant hand-checking to make sure I haven’t missed a spot. I believe my skin has toughened up somewhat, as I used to nick myself every time, lately never. But maybe I just got more skilled.
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### Author:  [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)
#### Post date: [March 16, 2017, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/working-up-lather-before-applying-razor-how-long/781982/16 "2017-03-16T01:29:25Z")
To get a good close shave, you want to soften the whiskers with hot water. The lather helps the blade shave without friction but too much obscures the view. Unless using an oil based preshave I don’t think lather really works in much.