[Vittoria]

An age old question.
Face or bowl lathering.
For the longest time I face lathered all the time but mostly now if I have the time and if
I'm at home I bowl lather it took me a bit of time to start with but the results are worth it.
You are also not contaminating that rare or expensive soap with a brush or tap water.
Of course the results depend on a few factors like.

Soap quality  as you know some soap is crap.

A good bowl many of the good ones have raised ridges in the bottom to help break up the soap.

Right amount of water including whether the water is hard or soft.

And a bit on the brush, stiffer brushes lather easier than softer ones.

With a bit of practice you will have the best lather you have ever had and enjoying your shaves even more.
So whats you thing face or bowl??

Cheers.

[poppi]

Face lathering only. When using synthetic brushes I get fantastic lathers.

[Glint Eastwood]

Face lathering only.  When using synthetic brushes I get fantastic lathers.

If I have time I bowl lather but that's often these days. Usually I load the brush then face lather - especially if I am using a cream.

[twhite]

Face for me. I get great lather that way.

[kkazan]

I have a hybrid approach, I start the lather in the bowl and for the exfoliating advantages and better control of soap to water ratio (that face lathering is just fantastic) finish up the lather on the face.