Cream or Soap? Hand Lather or Brush? (2025)

IMHO, and these are my opinions only, creams are generally easier to lather in a bowl when first starting your shave journey. Over time you will (and should!) try creams and soaps and bowl lathering versus face lathering. At some point you will decide if you like creams or soaps (or as in my case both) better. The sames goes for face versus bowl lathering. Try them all but I still think creams lathered in a bowl are easier when first starting your shave journey. YMMV as always.

The only sage advice is to try all permutations to see which works best for you. Frankly, no-one can make a recommendation that works for too many others.
In my own particular case, I see no point is using a bowl for creams or soaps. Yet there will be many who will take the opposite view.
It's all highly personal, and much of the the joy is in the discovery of where one's own preferences lie.

What works for me, may not work you. Further, what works best with my water (quite hard), may not be what you need. Lastly, what works for creams, may not be best for soap and/or sticks. Follow the advice offered to try out all the techniques, including some throwaway sample lathers just to give them a try. The worst mistake I made in my first couple of wet shaves, was concentrating solely on the hardware and neglecting learning how to build a good lather. A little practice with a little product set me on course.

I went with the lather bowl for both shaves this weekend, and I do like making it in a bowl. I see how much I have, and know how much I can use. I tried soap the first time, and I really liked it. I had a beard of a beard, and didn't have too much trouble. I tried shaving cream with some 2-day stubble, and I didn't really like it. Not to mention, it took me several passes. It could be cause of the stubble, and the learning curve, so I'm going to wait a week and give it another shot before I take cream out of my shaving tool kit.

Thanks. Yeah, I'm keen on bowl lathering now. It gives me a good estimate of how much I have to use.

I am no help for you. I use both soap and cream and I lather some on the puck, some in a bowl, and some on my face. Feel free to experiment and enjoy. Variety is the spice of life.

I have done all the permutations, I used to face Lather when I was using carts. Some liquid soaps (Dr Bonner's and Kiss my Face) hand lather very well. Today I bowl lather with one or a combinations of soaps, creams and liquid soaps and for the most I do pretty well but I am still experimenting since I found this fellowship and wealth of soaps and creams out there.

Actually didn't use a soap until last weekend. I think I like cream more so far, it just depends on what kind. Cream in a tin was nicer than cream from a tube imo.

Cream or soap?
A little like asking about Roll-On vs Spray On Deodorant!
Both are effective, viable options!
You only have to try out each for a while and decide.
I switch hit between the two; I prefer the scent bomb of creams, but like the lather quality of soaps.
Either way, I'm a happy camper!!

I am getting to the point where I like having just a 1/2 snurdle of cream with my GFT soap because it gives me a better lather, can't get the richness from soap alone.

Being that I have more time at night when I shave, I use soap but in the mornings I use cream.I do a lot more banging in the glass with the pucks than I do with the shave cream in my schuttle.