Thread: Weak Lather

https://youtu.be/XdbWkVyVUDQ

Been straight razor shaving for about two weeks now, but I'm not sure I'm getting the lather I want. I'd greatly appreciate it if you could check the video of my lather above and give me some pointers and tips, or maybe just tell me I'm flat out doing it wrong. The mentor in my area is too far for convenience.

I feel like I'm not getting much lather at all. I'm getting just enough to spread on my face, but it's a rather thin coating. By the time I'm done shaving the right side of my face, the lather on the left side of my face has faded and all but disappeared - to the point where I now have to reapply a couple times mid-shave. I'm not spending an exceptionally long time on one side of my face either.

Basic info: SRD Unscented Soap, Simpson Beaufort B4 Pure Badger Brush, water is hot.

So, how does my process look? Am I missing something big? Pointers and tips? Thanks!

Hi Ratchet

Without looking at the vid I can say the following:

You need to load more soap on the brush
More water is needed
The lather needs to be worked more regardless if you are face or bowl lathering.



We have all been in your shoes when first starting wet shaving. As you gain experience you will start to get a "feel" of how much soap is needed on the brush and how much water to add. It is said that any soap will make a shaveable lather when prepped correctly. Getting the prep right takes a bit of practice and a familiarity with the soap.

Furthermore, soaps are different. You need very little Martin de Candre but quite a bit of a Stirling. I used a Maggard's soap for the first time this morning and had to go back to the bowl twice to get enough product to make a good lather.

A good trick: Practice. You don't have to wait for shave time to play with soap. Soaps are fun! Your hand is a good place to see how the particular soap should be prepped.

Keep us posted.

This may help

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icTCqQTVFgI

and this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4zESTQWDuw

Bob

As per Dave, I have not watched the video but everything he said is what I 2 old have said. Soap is cheap enough that you can make and throw away lather many times with little financial cost.

If you bowl lather the amount of time you spend whipping/ whisking is important too, much like whipping cream.

OK I just watched the vid, it looks like you are leaving the brush far too dry and I would also get a bigger, shallower bowl to lather in something around 2 inches deep and 4 to 5 inches wide, even a plastic tub from the kitchen would do to experiment with.

I watched the video. Here are a few observations.
You soaked the brush, allowing it to suck up water, and then wrung it out. I'm not sure why you did not leave the water in the brush. Then you tried to load the dry brush. In order to get enough soap in the brush you are going to need water. After you get the brush loaded you will likely want to add a little water to the lather in the cup. It is not rocket science but there are no recipes either. You are going to have to play with your brush and soap to figure out what you really like. There is no harm on lathering or building lather for practice. Soap may seem a little pricey when looking at the cost of a puck but it is unbelievable how many lathe rings you get from a puck. Also it is a personal issue, but I never try to load my brush in a full container. I take some out and put it in a bowl, mug, or similar container so that I have clean soap to share and never have to load my brush on such a flat surface. Now get back in there and play with the soap and brush. ;-)

Originally Posted by RezDog

I watched the video. Here are a few observations.
You soaked the brush, allowing it to suck up water, and then wrung it out. I'm not sure why you did not leave the water in the brush. Then you tried to load the dry brush. In order to get enough soap in the brush you are going to need water. After you get the brush loaded you will likely want to add a little water to the lather in the cup. It is not rocket science but there are no recipes either. You are going to have to play with your brush and soap to figure out what you really like. There is no harm on lathering or building lather for practice. Soap may seem a little pricey when looking at the cost of a puck but it is unbelievable how many lathe rings you get from a puck. Also it is a personal issue, but I never try to load my brush in a full container. I take some out and put it in a bowl, mug, or similar container so that I have clean soap to share and never have to load my brush on such a flat surface. Now get back in there and play with the soap and brush. ;-)

The beatings will continue until your lather is perfect.

It looks to me that your brush was way too dry to start with. A couple shakes is normal, but wringing it right out might be your problem. On a side note, why is your tap running the whole time? Seems like a lot of water waste.

Originally Posted by Firefighter2

It looks to me that your brush was way too dry to start with. A couple shakes is normal, but wringing it right out might be your problem. On a side note, why is your tap running the whole time? Seems like a lot of water waste.

You can probably blame Lynn for that one. I would just put the plug in and fill the sink.

I watched. By the end, I would call what you've done "loading the brush." That is, you've worked the soap well into the brush (that's good!), but not yet lathered.

Try a shallow bowl instead of that cup: it's hard to work at the bottom of a narrow well. Start where you are at the end of the vid, get into a shallow bowl, and start adding water a little at a time. Each time, work the water/lather in and out of the brush, more times than you feel like you should have to.

Tip: practice in non-shaving days, when the pressure is off. Like RezDog says, play play play. Waste some soap & time and have fun.

Yes, if you have been lathering the same way the whole time with the same terrible result every time it is time to experiment. It is just a matter of practicing using different combinations of soap to water ratios until you produce lather you are after.

Bob