Thread: lathering up trouble

As mentioned before, maybe try a cream. Proraso is good and inexpensive. They tend to be easier. Or an ueberlather using soap and cream. Palm olive cream is available in many supermarkets round me and is also a decent cream.

Cream or soap can both work well with the right temperature range. Everybody that likes hot lather hasn't said just how hot the water is that they use. Almost all soaps/creams do not react well to hot, hot water. Kills the lather. Working with lukewarm water if you like "hot" lather or cold water for room temperature lather can work better for you. I am a cold water shaver. That means water temperature anywhere from lukewarm to cold and I have always had abundant lather, including the oft decried Williams.

I have never met a soap I could not lather. I even lathered Lava pumice bar soap for the fun of it.
Here's how I do it.

I shake out my brush pretty dry and load like mad for 30 sec to a full min. I then smear the pasty soap on my face. It goes on thick, sometimes I need to dip the brush tips in water to get it to spread on my face right. After my face is loaded with soap I dip my brush tips and work the wet brush into the soap paste on my face repeating the water dip until I get a good lather. It takes at most 2 min.

I've done it with bar soap, tallow soap, preshave soap, hotel room bars, even Lava bar soap. I've even done it with new Williams.

Originally Posted by DduckyMark

I have never met a soap I could not lather. I even lathered Lava pumice bar soap for the fun of it.
Here's how I do it.

I shake out my brush pretty dry and load like mad for 30 sec to a full min. I then smear the pasty soap on my face. It goes on thick, sometimes I need to dip the brush tips in water to get it to spread on my face right. After my face is loaded with soap I dip my brush tips and work the wet brush into the soap paste on my face repeating the water dip until I get a good lather. It takes at most 2 min.

I've done it with bar soap, tallow soap, preshave soap, hotel room bars, even Lava bar soap. I've even done it with new Williams.

That lava soap has to be h&!! On the razor, but should have a great exfoliation to it. [emoji23]

Originally Posted by outback

That lava soap has to be h&!! On the razor, but should have a great exfoliation to it. [emoji23]

I never touched a razor to it. It started out as a joke. That was one of the only soaps I bowl lathered. I was afraid I would exfoliate into meat. I work my brush on my face a lot. I have a picture of it somewhere.

And Williams too

both pictures were 15 min after I made the lather. I have one with Proraso too as a control but no one needs to see a Proraso lather.

Latest update:lather problems seem solved, thnx to the many tutorials and the buying of a bowl (cleans easier, used a hand and cheek for reference) I now have an infinite realm of possibilities to experiment in.

A basic succes line for face lathering seems to be loading up for roughly 30 (or more) seconds with a wet brush and spread on face, drip adding water until ready.

For bowl lathering its easiest to use a damp brush (not wet) load it aaggressively for 30 (or more seconds and spread in a bowl, again drip adding water and clopping it like an egg.

Thnx to everyone for the help, now I can finally start on my lathering journey ^^/

I've been having lather issues on and off my whole wetshaving career. I've always been disappointed with MWF, and decided last night I was going to figure it out. I have very hard water, but read threads that said MWF performs in the hardest waters just fine. Well it took some time, and two attempts at loading the brush. Finally figured out the main reason all my lathers were failing. 1) not enough water 2) not building them long enough. Here's my results.

Originally Posted by DduckyMark

I never touched a razor to it. It started out as a joke. That was one of the only soaps I bowl lathered. I was afraid I would exfoliate into meat. I work my brush on my face a lot. I have a picture of it somewhere.

And Williams too

both pictures were 15 min after I made the lather. I have one with Proraso too as a control but no one needs to see a Proraso lather.

I new you wouldn't shave with it.
Was in a rare mood and made the comment.
I just couldn't help myself.[emoji5]
Have a great christmas as well.

scrubs all the hair off my knuckles!

Originally Posted by outback

That lava soap has to be h&!! On the razor, but should have a great exfoliation to it. [emoji23]