Shaving soap - how do you use it?

[FrancisB]

I recently bought a tub of Wilkinson Sword shaving soap. It comes in a blue container and has a hard texture.

However, I'm at a loss as to how it is used; I'm more familiar with can-based gels.

Can anyone help?

[kempie]

You work up the lather with a shaving brush.

[Clanad]

The shallow blue bowl in which this product is packaged is probably going to prove unhandy to use. Shaving soaps have, historically, been placed in a standard shaving "mug" for everyday use. The mug looks exactly like a coffee cup and the handle makes it easy to use while your working up the lather with the brush, as kempie describes.
I've found that the typical shaving soaps tend to dry out on the face before shaving is completed. For that reason and the fact the mug tends to get messy from the dried soap between uses that alternate methods are more satisfying...