Thread: Lather or suds?

I need some help building lather from shaving soap.

I am using Classic Brand (coconut lime sent) soap with a supper badger brush from Edwin Jagger. The result I get from my lather efforts is similar to liquid hand-soap. Once I apply a thick coat of ‘suds’ I set the brush down and look back in the mirror, what little lather I had on my face has almost completely evaporated.

I have tried to build the lather on my face, in a scuttle, and a bowl with a textured bottom.

I have tried to use a dry brush, wet brush, and several variations in between.

I have also tried to add water as I work the brush in the scuttle/bowl.

I have even used a pure badger brush (v. my EJ silver tip).

I do not have this problem with shaving cream (EJ’s Sandalwood and no sent AOS).

My shaving cream lather is sometimes a little pasty, but I have found that a little more water and a few seconds of work create a nice thick soapy lather that stays put (does not evaporate).

All my efforts with the shaving soap have not changed the results. Does anybody have some suggestions on how to work shaving soap into lather?

I've never been a fan of glycerine soaps like Classic's, but they should work better than that. It sounds like you need more soap in your brush. If you're lathering on your face, the first application of the soap should be a pasty consistency. Then you add a little bit more water to your brush and work it up into a lather.

Really work the soap into the brush from whatever is holding the soap. I mean work that soap back and forth till you see it foam up, then transfer it to a bowl. Im waiting for my scuttle to come in, but people that already have one say that you cant really build a great lather in one. If theres something i know...its how to build a good lather

There's a really good tutorial here:

http://www.badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=21136

Give that method a go. I've used it with Taylors and Trumpers soaps with great results. Also, it might be worth mentioning that cleaning your brush could help? Soap scum on the bristles will prevent a lather from forming. Just use normal shampoo a couple of times. You can also follow with conditioner. I do this every month or so and you really see a difference afterwards. If your water is particularly hard, this may also prevent a good lather from forming.

The soft bristles of the super badger could be part of the problem. You really need to load up the brush with soap, and that'll be harder with a softer brush. Don't be shy about working the brush on the soap for a minute or two.

Josh

I'm hooked on the shaving soaps from KKcogle, an ebay seller. Really great smells! After a shower, I soak my shaving brush in hot water while I cotton swab my ears, brush my hair and deoderantize my pits. Then I remove the brush from the water and allow the water to drip from the brush until it stops. I give it one gentle shake and rub it into the shaving soap. Really get the brush in there to pick up the soap. Don't be too gentle! This usually gets just the right kind of lather. In addition, I also build up lather on my face with the brush.
While I go through the first WTG pass, I let the brush sit ontop of the soap mug. I rub the brush into the soap again for the second WTG pass and this time the lather is even better than the first time.
By the time I get to the third ATG pass, I barely tap the brush into the hot water to warm up more lather. This is hardly necessary since I have plenty of good lather to go around, this is just to warm up the lather. While I finish up I allow the brush to soak in the hot water mug to loosen the remaining soap and make rinsing the brush easier.
While we're on the subject, always use feather-lite pressure when shaving. I can't stress the importance of using ultralite pressure to get the ultimum enjoyment out of shaving. My two cents.
Ernest

This is all good advice. It sounds like you're getting too much water into the mixture initially. Shake out the brush just like Big_E said. It's easier to add water later than to remove it from the mixture.

Josh

Originally Posted by JoshEarl

This is all good advice. It sounds like you're getting too much water into the mixture initially. Shake out the brush just like Big_E said. It's easier to add water later than to remove it from the mixture.

Josh

I agree, too much water.

I started out with the classicshaving soap too, have found some other glycerine based soaps since then that I like much better but the CS soap is certainly capable of better results than you've been getting.

You'll probably see much better lather if you work that brush on the puck longer than you have been - at least that's what worked for me when I had problems lathering with that soap. The exact technique will vary somewhat depending on the brush you use, but I have to suggest that you need (a lot) more soap and not necessarily less water.

Treat yourself to some Mama Bear, TABAC, T&H, Goldman-Dachs, or other premium soap when that CS puck is used up.

Thanks all,

I was able to get a good lather from my soap this morning. As it turns out I have not been working it enough. I used my silver tip and even with the soft bristles I was able to get a great, almost pasty, lather.

Best shave I have had in weeks.