Thread: 1st lather making...

So I decided to go ahead and use the VHD heavy soap I got from Walmart ahead of the arrival of proper soap I ordered.... just to practice lathering.

I'm not sure what I was doing wrong, but I could not make a proper lather that I'm seeing on all the videos. It was little more than light suds... like you'd get from a handsoap.

I don't think it did me any favors on my 1st shave buuut that's another thread.

So... Do I not have the right product? Am I doing something wrong? Crap soap?

Here was my method: Wet the warm silvertip brush, shake off a couple of times. Slightly wet the soap with warm water, swirl brush in the soap for about 30 seconds. Pick up warm cup and start to swirl circles... and more circles. Nothing but a tiny bit of suds that when applied to face comes out looking like a thinned light suds.

Thanks all.

I'm not familiar with VHD heavy soap but what you describe is classic too much water and not enough soap. What are you holding the soap in? You need to load the brush with more soap than you will get in 30 seconds. Start with less water, stay on the soap longer, go back for some more water (very little), back to the soap ..... repeat 3 to 4 times then try the mug. You need to load the brush with a lot more soap. Keep the water to a minimum as you can always add if you need to once your into the mug.

Is it the VDH Luxury soap? If yes, then that's a good soap.

I have it in my soap collection and use it once in a while. I have the soap in its own bowl for lathering; I do not lather in a separate bowl. Keep the soap in its own bowl and try this technique:
* Wet the brush well.
* Allow the brush to drip dry.
* Shake the brush once.
* Add water to the soap bowl, wait 10 seconds, then pour out the water.
* Swirl brush on the soap for a minute.
* Apply the lather to your face.

Hope that helps.

I am going to try each and every way you gents suggest.

I wish I could shave again tonight... Maybe, I'll just try the lathering using these techniques.

Oh. Yes, its the VHD deluxe shave soap. I'm glad to hear its good stuff. Pretty cheap at the big W.

I can only suggest more soap, less water.

Like everyone says, load your brush with more soap before going to the bowl. Work it in the bowl adding a few drops of water every now and the till you get the right consistency. Just takes a bit of practice.

Bob

Initially I had trouble building lather as well... The key for me was not to really shake the water off the brush, just turn it upside down and give it a little wiggle... Then, go right to your soap and I do circles each direction, forward/backward, left/right, etc until I see about 10-20% of all the bristle's length loaded with soap/cream... I then go to the cup where I keep rotating clockwise, counterclockwise, forward/backward, left/right, more gentle, more vigorous and on and on... Until I notice the brush is completely loaded with soap/cream up to the knot and then I switch to quicker/shorter motions to build the emulsion further to the degree of thickness that I like.

I no longer pay attention to time. I just go until I get the result... My guess is about 3 minutes or so.

It may also depend on the brush you are using... I tried a synthetic a few times and with even the most gentle shake/wiggle at all after fully wetting it, the brush would seem as if it were not wet at all.

I have also covered the soap puck in warm water for a few minutes while the brush is soaking and this seemed to help quite a bit... I just poured off the water right before starting on the soap with the brush.

Shawn
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2nd attempt slightly better. Shave was horrible. I think a combination of not stropping long enough, improper technique and not enough lather(soapy and bubbly again), and too much growth.

I did a better job stropping this time and will see how I work the lather tomorrow.

Oh, I had 3 solid days growth and I do think this has something to do with it, no?

Originally Posted by Siguy

2nd attempt slightly better. Shave was horrible. I think a combination of not stropping long enough, improper technique and not enough lather(soapy and bubbly again), and too much growth.

I did a better job stropping this time and will see how I work the lather tomorrow.

Oh, I had 3 solid days growth and I do think this has something to do with it, no?

You can just make a few batches of lather and ditch them, uberlather is fairly easy too, but you will need shaving cream and glycerin as well as soap.

It doesn't matter what soap or cream you're using, if you are new to wet shaving, you need to practice making a lather. You don't need to limit this to just shaving experiences, you can practice any time; use the lather you made to wash your face; it's nice!

You need to get the soap/water mix right. It's all about soap/water mix. However, some soaps need a bit of a boost; you can make a mix of cream and soap or cream, soap and glycerin (Überlather).

I'd recommend all beginners start with a good easy to use cream, like Musgo Real classic or Tabac for instance. That way you can concentrate on the technique of shaving rather than the lather making; I always find making a lather with a soap harder than with a cream.

A common problem with making a lather from a soap is not loading the brush enough, REALLY load the brush; you can always add more water I lie face lathering soaps and bowl lathering creams...