Boom! Lather! - Legend Mark Szorady on How to Build the Perfect Lather

There are a handful of voices that make the wet-shaving world feel like a true neighborhood, and Mark Szorady—beloved creator and host of the “Monday Morning Mailbag”—is one of them. Every week, Mark’s cheery greeting of “Hello Youtubers and wet shavers everywhere!”, with a steaming mug of coffee in hand, and an avalanche of viewer letters have turned Mondays from mundane to must-watch for thousands of shave enthusiasts around the world.

Long before wet shaving, Mark was making readers laugh in print as the nationally syndicated cartoonist behind George and other puzzle features for King Features and DBR Media—a storyteller’s background that infuses every Mailbag with wit, warmth, and insight.

Mark has tested countless pieces of shave gear – razors, soaps, splashes and more – and made over 1,800 review videos. When looking for guidance on how to build a lather, there are few wet shavers with more experience using the panoply of options in both hardware and software than Mark. Without further ado, here’s Mark…

Rediscovering Wet Shaving

Q: In one of your earliest YouTube videos—about eight years ago—you had just returned to double-edge (DE) shaving and were showing a Viking’s Blade butterfly razor. What sparked your renewed interest in the hobby, and was the 1957 Gillette you later featured (inherited from your father) the first DE razor you ever used?

A: Let me start with some background. I was an electric razor shaver for many, many years.  My father would always tell me that the safety razor shave was the BEST shave. Well, I was unfamiliar with the process and held fast to my electric razor routine. After dad passed, I bought my parents’ home. Not only did I now own my parents’ house, I also had about 40 years of stuff in the basement, attic, etc. So, in trying to get things organized, I decided to first tackle the bathroom. While cleaning out the bathroom, I came across a box with Dad’s shaving gear. It contained his 1957 Gillette Silver Tipped Super Speed. It was in beautiful condition. It looked nearly brand new.  Anyhow, it was at that same time that I was looking to replace yet another electric razor. I had a box filled with old, worn out electric razors. I really did not want to buy another electric razor. I decided to give the safety razor shave a try.

Instead of using my dad’s Super Speed razor, I decided to find a comparable safety razor that would allow me to learn the process. My logic was, if I didn’t like the process, I wouldn’t be able to blame dad’s razor.  

I opted for the Vikings Blade TTO razor. I liked the look, the solid build, the fact that the razor blade end tabs were enclosed in the razor head, and the price. Their product page on Amazon had a lot of helpful information. Plus, it was Twist-To-Open. A safety razor with easy blade loading was a must.

So, I started to learn the traditional wet shave process with the Vikings Blade Chieftain. It was also a rather fortuitous choice. The folks at Vikings Blade became the first major company to support my channel. Because of their support, I gained more experience with their different razors. Through Vikings Blade and viewers, I quickly learned about adjustable razors, three-piece razors, etc.  

Once I felt I had enough experience using the Vikings Blade Chieftain (and, as it turns out, I LOVED the traditional wet shave), THEN I used my dad’s SuperSpeed razor.

The Allure of the Hobby

Q: What originally excited you about wet shaving, and why do you think it so often turns casual shavers into passionate enthusiasts?

A: The hardware. There’s something about a well-made safety razor that just resonates with people. The weight, the material (stainless steel, bronze, brass, chrome plating, etc.), the gleaming finish. This also applies to shaving brushes. Some specialty artisan shave brushes like those form Wolf Whiskers are works of art. Plus, when both pieces of hardware, razors and brushes, are very well made they will last generations. So, I think there’s also that allure of being able to pass on to future generations some really beautiful razors and brushes.

Additionally, there are so many choices when it comes to shave soaps and creams.  Artisans are everywhere offering some really top shelf products.  You can find any sort of scent.  The lathers these soaps and creams build are picture perfect!  Like the stuff you see in classic movies.

Finally, there’s a nostalgic quality to the traditional wet savage.  It’s a yearning to return to, even temporarily, a simpler time.  No batteries, no apps, no blinking lights.  Just a solid razor, a brush and some shave soap.

Eight Years, 1,800 Videos

Q: With more than 1,800 uploads, you may have tested more products than any other reviewer. How has the wet-shaving community evolved over those eight years, and are you still as passionate today as when you began?

A: 1800? Is it really that many already? I guess that comes from my cartooning days in always meeting a deadline. 

Many of those early videos are 4 or 5 minutes in length and edited in a very simple way. At the time I was learning about the traditional wet shave, I was also learning about how to edit video, audio, post to YouTube, etc. Through it all, the community was always there to lend a hand. Viewers not only contributed great info, tips, tricks, etc. on doing the traditional wet shave, many others were quite tech savvy and helped with setting up podcasts and other things.

What Makes a Great Shave Soap?

Q: From your experience, what qualities distinguish an excellent shave soap?

A: I think it boils down to good skin food ingredients. Plus, elements that provide a smooth glide for the razor.  Artisan soap makers really know how to touch all those bases.

Defining the Perfect Lather

Q: What do you consider the hallmarks of an optimal lather—its appearance, texture, and function during the shave?

A: Good body and density. A yogurty consistency. I like when I get those nice peaks that loop around like a Dairy Queen ice cream. I usually look for those qualities when building a lather. Again, does it offer cushion for protection and glide? Is there residual glide if you’re doing a little buffing and pick-ups with the razor? If the answer is Yes, then you’ve got a good one. Also, I’m amazed at how quickly a lather can be built with some artisan soaps. I mean, in almost no time at all, you’ve got a Boom! Lather!

Common Lathering Pitfalls

Q: What mistakes do beginners most often make when they first try to build a lather?

A: The first mistake is not getting the proper shaving brush. When new wet shavers look for a brush, for some reason, low priced, low quality badger brushes get listed on Amazon searches. It happened to me and I had trouble making a lather. It was only when I switched to a synthetic brush that things really ramped up and improved. I always tell new wet shavers to get a good quality synthetic brush. They are sturdier and more forgiving when doing a bowl lather and face lather. Once you have the basics, then you can move to boar brushes, then to badger brushes. Badger brushes, especially, require a different routine when doing a face lather. I learned this from viewers. When using a badger brush for face lathering, a back and forth motion is preferred rather than pushing towards the skin to splay the hairs and move it in round, circular motions. That’s fine with synthetics.  Synthetics, as I mentioned, are forgiving in this area. Badger brushes require more finesse. Boar brushes are somewhere between synthetic and badger when it comes to technique, in my opinion.

The other problem that new wet shavers sometimes run into is adding too much water when trying to build a lather. Use minimal water and then build from there. Add water as you go. You’ll see the volume of the lather increase while it maintains it’s nice, creamy consistency. 

Your Step-by-Step Method

Q: Could you walk us through your personal technique for building a lather, step by step?

A: I always get a good, generous brush load. I really swirl the brush in the puck or tub. With some shaving soaps, you may not need to swirl as much as others. Regardless, get a somewhat damp brush, swirl to load the soap onto the brush, and be generous. Then when doing a bowl lather, I simply add a little bit of water as the lather starts to develop. As I always say, add water, rather than add soap. The lather will start somewhat pasty, but keep adding water little by little, and you’ll see this wonderful, creamy consistency emerge.

The “Szorady Shift” Explained

Q: You’ve mentioned the “Szorady Shift” on your show—what is it, and how did you develop it?

A: During one video review, I happened to mention that I heard a noticeable tone drop as the lather came to the point of completion. I figured this was due to the increase in volume causing this tone drop. Viewer Jimi V mentioned that he also listened for this tone drop when building a lather (bowl lathering). He coined the phrase “The Szorady Shift” for this tone drop. Again, it’s an example of how viewers contribute in an original and organic way to the channel. 

Choosing a Bowl and Brush

Q: What advice would you give a new wet shaver on selecting a lather bowl and brush?

A: As mentioned before, get a good quality synthetic brush if you’re just starting out. $20.00 will get you a good synthetic brush. When it comes to shaving bowls, regardless of material it’s constructed from (ceramic, stoneware, stainless steel, plastic, etc.), make sure it has some raised areas/ridges in the interior to give a little bit of resistance to the brush. This will help develop a lather more quickly. If the bowl doesn’t have raised ridges or bumps but instead offers a little bit of a rough texture, that’ll work, too. A smooth interior on a shaving bowl is fine, too. But those raised ridges, bumps, etc. really help.

Inside Your Daily Kit

Q: Away from the camera, what does your own shave kit look like? Which soaps, razors, splashes, balms, and brushes are personal favorites—and do you lean toward mild or aggressive razors, hard soaps, croaps, creams, badger or synthetic brushes?

A: I lean toward mild razors. The Timeless Bronze Razor is a favorite. Any of the Chieftain Razors form Vikings blade are also welcome in the shave den. I love the Rex Supply Envoy. Phoenix Shaving’s Ascension razors are awesome, double open-comb, adjustable, and made from premium materials! Their Meta4 razors are wonderful mild and have a great vintage vibe. You cannot beat the Muhle R-89 for a mild shave. This one is perfect for beginners. Any vintage Superspeed (silver tip and blue tip) are must haves!  Some of my early favorite shaves came about due to the Gillette three-piece Tech razor. When I came back to the traditional wet shave, these Gillette Techs were only five or ten bucks. Now, due to their popularity and the increased interest in the traditional wet shave, they are somewhat pricier. Yaqi is coming on strong with some very well made stainless steel razors, although they tend toward the medium aggressive side. I also love the Pearl shaving razor offerings. The L-55 is a nice razor at a great price point.

Looking Ahead

Q: You’re a beloved voice in the wet-shaving community. What future plans or goals do you have for your channel and your role in the community?

A: Thanks for the really nice words. Actually, I didn’t plan any of this. I’ve been flying by the seat of my pants since the channel started. It all happened and came together due to the wonderful generosity and contributions of viewers and the wet shaving community. I’m going to keep doing what I’m doing and let the viewers guide me with their insight and input. 

Parting Wisdom

Q: After years of experimentation, what single lesson do you value most and wish every wet shaver knew?

A: I say it with every shave, “30 degrees, a light touch, let the razor do all the work, gentlemen.” One of the most satisfying emails/comments I receive is from new wet shavers who have said that this single phrase, repeated in their head while doing a shave, helped them to learn the traditional wet shave. That’s very gratifying.

Mark Szorady

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