The "Bloom" is back baby...

I've mentioned the same in other threads, but I'm with TSE on this topic and never bloom my soaps.  For that matter, I don't even allow any water to touch my soaps!  I use a clean butter knife to scoop out enough for a single shave and spread the soap into a warm, ceramic bowl for lathering.  I will place a small amount of hot water into the ceramic bowl to "bloom" the soap, usually for about 3-5 minutes.  

Anyway, I've done this for years.  I realize I'll never get to the bottom of my 50+ soaps and creams, and so I feel as if it helps keep my soaps in like new condition.  It also helps if I choose to trade the soaps later on - they are clean and untouched by a wet brush!

Everybody has their own method. If it works for you, that's all that matters.

As I think about this a bit more ... I guess I actually bloom every soap I use ... I just happen to do it in a bowl, not the original tub!

Everybody has their own method. If it works for you, that's all that matters.

+1

I've mentioned the same in other threads, but I'm with TSE on this topic and never bloom my soaps.  For that matter, I don't even allow any water to touch my soaps!  I use a clean butter knife to scoop out enough for a single shave and spread the soap into a warm, ceramic bowl for lathering.  I will place a small amount of hot water into the ceramic bowl to "bloom" the soap, usually for about 3-5 minutes.  

Anyway, I've done this for years.  I realize I'll never get to the bottom of my 50+ soaps and creams, and so I feel as if it helps keep my soaps in like new condition.  It also helps if I choose to trade the soaps later on - they are clean and untouched by a wet brush!

This approach seems to have many benefits. If only it were somehow applicable to lathering directly on the face….

(I suppose a similar application would be to extract part of a hard soap or a croap, then either grate it or press it into a separate tub or other container, and use that when loading the brush. Hmm, something to think about….)

I've mentioned the same in other threads, but I'm with TSE on this topic and never bloom my soaps.  For that matter, I don't even allow any water to touch my soaps!  I use a clean butter knife to scoop out enough for a single shave and spread the soap into a warm, ceramic bowl for lathering.  I will place a small amount of hot water into the ceramic bowl to "bloom" the soap, usually for about 3-5 minutes.  

Anyway, I've done this for years.  I realize I'll never get to the bottom of my 50+ soaps and creams, and so I feel as if it helps keep my soaps in like new condition.  It also helps if I choose to trade the soaps later on - they are clean and untouched by a wet brush!

This approach seems to have many benefits. If only it were somehow applicable to lathering directly on the face….

(I suppose a similar application would be to extract part of a hard soap or a croap, then either grate it or press it into a separate tub or other container, and use that when loading the brush. Hmm, something to think about….)

While not exactly the same, just keep dipping the tips of your brush in water and "work" that lather on your face. It'll work...might get a bit sloppy though.

Thanks, primotenore. Sometimes it’s good to re-assess new routines and think of ways to perhaps improve them further. What jnaff811 said about his routine made some cogs start to turn, and now I’m wondering how I didn’t think about this before. (That is: extract some soap to separate container, bloom to heart’s content, load and face lather as before, original soap stays virtually untouched.)

Matsilainen, that's what I always do with my samples. I might start doing this with all of my soaps now. The only drawback is that it would be adding yet another step to my already-taking-too-long shave routine!

Matsilainen, that's what I always do with my samples. I might start doing this with all of my soaps now. The only drawback is that it would be adding yet another step to my already-taking-too-long shave routine!

That is true — it would be better to minimize instead of maximize some aspects of this hobby. And in addition to that, doing what I described would effectively almost double the amount of jars that I currently have, which could cause some issues…. Maybe using the method on a limited rotation would make sense.

I'm a bloomer. Bloom all my soaps for a minute or three. I pour the bloom water off into my scuttle and use that to start my lather building.

I only bloom for a few minutes and I load a slightly damp brush...soaked and shaken out if natural hair but just dampened if synthetic.

It takes me about half an hour to shave my head and my soaps stay open the whole shave. I close them when I'm done.

I live in the desert. Relative humidity is 3-8% on average. Never had an issue with mold, mildew, or scent depletion, and I always get good lather and great shaves...


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