Thread: How to tell if my lather is right

I'm pretty good at using the search function to find my answers. However, I didn't see anything with regards to this.

Is there a way to tell if my lather is "right"? I'm using Mitchell's wool fat mostly, but I've also got some tabac that I'm mixing in as an uber lather occasionally. I feel like I build a pretty good lather, but yesterday I pulled the can of Barbasol out of the drawer and sprayed some in my hand. It was thicker than I remember. Much thicker and more dense than what I'm making.

Any tricks to tell if you've got it right?

Thanks.

For me, if it doesn't dry on my face before I finish the first pass. I look for as small a bubble size as possible while mixing it. I also find that if I let it sit for a couple of minutes while I strop my razor it thickens up. But probably the best test is if it cushions your blade so that you feel as if the razor wasn't touching your face while you shaved. The canned goop has chemicals I it to give it that thick, dense look. To me that's apples and oranges. A good uber lather is MWF and Maca root.

I like my lather wetter than Barbasol so you're probably doing just fine. I find a wetter lather is slicker and Barbasol, not so slick.

Originally Posted by Razorfeld

A good uber lather is MWF and Maca root.

Interesting...I've never heard of maca root. I just googled it. It appears to come mostly in powder form. Can you get it in some type of liquid or paste also?

Thanks.

If your making it in a scuttle ....shake the water out of the brush after it has soaked. Now with the damp brush...load it with MWF swirling 35-40 times,then put an almond size dollup of Tebac cream in the scuttle and take the loaded brush and start swirling ..after a minute..add ten drops of water..swirl 1 more minute..when you pull the brush out ..you should have a stiff peak of lather that wont lay to one side or the other .kinda looks like cool whip. If no stiff peaks...more swirling . If you start off with too much water in your brush your never going to get good lather.

Try searching for Macca Root shave cream...

It's a body shop product, and good too, and cheap to boot. Musgo cream is.pretty slick too, infact musgo and maca root cream mixed together with some added glyceryn is good, make a super lather with that and cella mmm-mmmm.

This link is the best explanation for the correct lathering technique for mitchells wool fat. Before I found this link i despised mitchells some of the worst shave i ever had were with mitchells. But now Mitchells has become one of my favorite soaps. hope this helps.

Mitchell's Wool Fat Shaving Soap

You'll know it is just right when you LIKE IT. I know folks will get quite upset when I say this but if you like the canned shave cream, USE IT. It all depends on what you like.

Originally Posted by Mvcrash

You'll know it is just right when you LIKE IT. I know folks will get quite upset when I say this but if you like the canned shave cream, USE IT. It all depends on what you like.

Well said. It's your face, if the result you get is acceptable to you then that's what counts.