I'm new to straight razor shaving. Been about 4 months. I'm really struggling to get a good lather. The videos I've watched make it seem so easy but the minute I try to do it for myself, it seems as difficult as understanding quantum physics (lame joke but I tried). In any case my problem is that once I get a little foam in my hand (I create the lather in my hand) and apply it to my face, within a minute or two it starts to dry and flake off. After just a couple minutes I have a bunch of white flakes floating around my bathroom. My equipment is fine (Castle Forbes shaving cream and Best Badger brush), it's me that's the problem.

I try to add more water but then it just becomes soapy and I don't get that foamy feel that I need. I know it's very difficult to diagnose exactly what I'm doing wrong but maybe you guys have had similar trouble before and could offer some advice. Any advice would be great. Thanks.