How to Use Your Essentials Shaving Kit

How to Use Your Essentials Shaving Kit

Everything you need for a proper lather and shave.

What's in the Kit

Shaving Brush Either synthetic or badger bristle, handmade
Wave Brush Stand Keeps the brush upright for proper drying
Artisan Shaving Soap Handmade with coconut oil

About Your Brush

Your kit ships with one of two brush types. Both do the job well — they just get there differently.

Synthetic bristle Ready to go out of the box. No break-in period, dries fast, creates lather quickly. Low maintenance.
Badger bristle Holds more water, builds richer lather. Needs a thorough warm rinse before first use. Gets softer and better over time — expect some bristle shedding early on.

Lathering & Shaving

1. Prep

Shave after a hot shower, or wash your face thoroughly with warm water. This softens the hair and opens pores — makes a real difference. Rinse your brush under warm water and shake off the excess. Badger brushes benefit from a slightly longer soak.

2. Build your lather

Work your damp brush on the soap using firm back-and-forth strokes (not circular). Keep going for 15–20 seconds until thick lather forms. Add tiny amounts of water if it's too thick — aim for a creamy, yogurt-like consistency.

Synthetic brushes lather fast. Badger brushes take a bit longer but produce thicker results thanks to their water retention.

For more detail on technique and troubleshooting, see our complete lathering guide.

3. Apply

Work the lather into your face with circular motions. The brush lifts the hairs and gets the lather underneath them. Make sure every area you're shaving is covered — the soap is the protective barrier between blade and skin.

4. Shave

Whatever razor you're using, the lather from your essentials kit will improve the shave. Start with the grain, re-lather between passes, then go across or against the grain for a closer result. Your soap has plenty for 2–3 full passes.

If you're using a cartridge and thinking about switching to a safety razor, the WÖLFE 75 pairs well with this kit.

5. Finish

Rinse your face with cool water, pat dry. Follow with an aftershave balm or moisturiser if your skin needs it.

Care & Storage

  • Rinse the brush thoroughly after every use — get all the lather out
  • Hang it bristles-down on the Wave stand so it dries properly
  • Keep the soap somewhere dry between uses — standing water shortens its life

Badger brushes need a more thorough rinse and take longer to dry. Synthetic brushes are quicker — a good shake and they're nearly done.

Troubleshooting

Lather won't form: Not enough soap loaded, or too much water too early. Load more soap and work it longer before adding water.
Lather disappears quickly: Spend more time building the base on the soap before adding water.
Badger brush feels stiff: Normal when new. It softens with use and proper soaking. Give it a few weeks.
Not enough lather for multiple passes: Load more soap up front. Better to have too much than not enough.