Thread: Using Col. Conk Soap

Hello. I searched around on the forums on how to properly make lather, but almost every thing I find uses creams. So Far I'm stuck with a bar of Colonel Conk soap. I'm not sure if I'm doing this properly, since my lather seems to be on the thin side and it disappears rather quickly. First I wet my brush thoroughly. Then I put the soap in the little mug, pour some hot water on it and then pour the water out. Then I "charge" the brush with lather from the mug. Then I proceed to stir the brush around in the mug till some quantity of lather has developed. Then I put it on my face. Am I doing something wrong? My lather is neither thick or very lubricous. Can it be the water quality?

Col. Conk is pretty decent soap. If you have hard water (high mineral content) it could impede the lather making. Generally, you need to put water on the surface of the soap and let it sit for a while (experiment starting with five minutes and go more or less from there). Soak the brush as well. If you are charging the brush then using a different container to make the lather, flick the brush almost all the way dry and make sure that the brush is thick and sticky with soap. If you are making the lather on top of the soap, leave about 2 teaspoons of water in the brush. One gentle flick should do leaving the brush full of water but not dripping too much.

Then swirl, pump, swirl, vigorously until the bubbles that you are forming get very small (think like the head on a draft guinness) a fine foam should develop but may take some work. If it is runny and not sticking to your face or hand well, reduce the water by flicking the brush out more or adding less. The nice thing about lather making is you can practice a lot since you don't need to actually shave to gain the skill. Good luck, let us know how you make out!

I have found it easier, with Conk soaps, to use a seperate mug/bowl/scuttle to make the lather. when you are loading the brush it should not be very wet, damp tops. if you see a lot of foam on the soap, your brush is too wet.

once the brush is loaded, switch to your other container and add a bit of water, thrashing it like a madman, and you should get thick luxurious lather.

Your technique sounds good, could be too much water in the lather, maybe not enough time spent whipping the lather before applying it.

Originally Posted by Gaz

Hello. I searched around on the forums on how to properly make lather, but almost every thing I find uses creams. So Far I'm stuck with a bar of Colonel Conk soap. I'm not sure if I'm doing this properly, since my lather seems to be on the thin side and it disappears rather quickly. First I wet my brush thoroughly. Then I put the soap in the little mug, pour some hot water on it and then pour the water out. Then I "charge" the brush with lather from the mug. Then I proceed to stir the brush around in the mug till some quantity of lather has developed. Then I put it on my face. Am I doing something wrong? My lather is neither thick or very lubricous. Can it be the water quality?

I was thinking of trying this soap out as my supplier now stocks colonel soap. Are you using a good badgers brush. I find bristle or sinthetic brushes don't work as well with the soaps. Just wondering what type of mug have you got because the soap does'nt actualy come with a bowl as such cheers gary haywood.

Sounds like you're not adding water to the mug after your brush is loaded and you're trying to lather up.

"Charged"?

"Loaded"?

Also, is there a step by step guide for making lather using this kind of (glycerine-based?) soap? I have the same soap and I'm a newbie and I've had a hard time finding detailed, hand holding level instructions.

I ordered Lynn's DVD so hopefully it's covered in there. Still, I'd greatly appreciate any other tips or references.

One of my major problems last time (the first time) I shaved was the lather and since I understand that a good lather / good prep is important, I want to make sure I'm doing it right.

I just started wet shaving and got both Proraso and Col Conk Almond. I found it to be no problem to make wicked lather with the Proraso, but was having problems with the Conk. I have been working with the Conk for the last week and over the last 5 or so shaves have improved my lather quite a bit.

I like to put my brush into a bowl of water and dribble some water onto my soap (still in the plastic container thingy) before I shower. I close the lid on the soap thingy.
I get out of the shower and drain the water from the bowl. I shake the brush a couple of times so that there is no dripping water.
I then twist the brush back and forth until I have a good lather going right on the soap.
I transfer to my bowl and begin to whip/pump.
I try and get stiff peaks on my lather, but I usually do not quite get there. Soft peaks for sure.
I then work the lather on my face for probably a minute on top of whatever I did in the bowl.

This has been working pretty good.

I would suggest making a couple of bowls of lather to get a feel for how much water you need to add. I probably make about 5 bowls before I got it right enough.

I'm pretty new at this, but what I found works, is just to really bear down on the soap, and use a lot of it. It burns through your bar quickly, but it works for me.

Originally Posted by modul8r

"Charged"?

"Loaded"?

Also, is there a step by step guide for making lather using this kind of (glycerine-based?) soap? I have the same soap and I'm a newbie and I've had a hard time finding detailed, hand holding level instructions.

I ordered Lynn's DVD so hopefully it's covered in there. Still, I'd greatly appreciate any other tips or references.

One of my major problems last time (the first time) I shaved was the lather and since I understand that a good lather / good prep is important, I want to make sure I'm doing it right.

Where in Austin? North, South....I lived in San Marcos for a while before I joined the service, and I always had a hard time with all my soaps when i was there. A lot of places south austin and below, have pretty hard water.