Lathering with Hard Water!/?

I have been learning to shave with a str8 for a few weeks now, and my 'New' big question is about working up a good lather. I use very hard well water to shave with, it takes a bit of effort to get a decent lather going with my brush, boars hair by the way, so to the question, does the hardness of the water make a big difference?? And would the water be harder with well water on some day's then on others?? AND, if so does this problem make it more difficult for my str8 to slice off my wiskers as smoothly as it should. OR, am I just looking for something else to blame my problems with shaving technique on!!! LOL[maybe]
Thank you for letting me bend all 'yer ears for a while, just another newbie question 'out'a the way!!!
As ever, SRP's 'tinkersd'

This might help How to make great lather from a soap ~ Tutorial - Badger & Blade. I have hard water and it does make a difference. I noticed when I travel and stay in motels and places with water softeners I have far less trouble building my lather but with a little practice and time you will figure it out. I have noticed to that some soaps work better with hard water. I just got some soap from Shaving, Bath and Body, Skincare, Home Fragrance, Brushes, Creams, Soaps and it lathers like a champ even with the hard water.

Some advocate using distilled water to make lather if you have hard water (I have very hard water). That works but it's enough of a minor hassle for me that I don't do that.

For my water, I've far and away had the best luck with the Bath and Body works remarketed Proraso and the Mama Bear glycerin tub soaps (awesome soaps IMO). I've had terrible luck with some other brands that others swear by so I know it's not the soaps/creams it's my water that makes some of those other brands completely ineffective.

Chris L

I don't know if it would make that big a difference, but well water fluctuates in hardness according to the rate of percolation through the water table. A high water table (eg after a lot of heavy rainfall) increases the pressure and the water comes through less hard.

Simply boiling the water in a non-metal kettle and letting it sit for a while gets a lot of the solids (eg calcium salts) out of the solution, and leaves a much softer water. You could try that before investing in anything else.

A few drops of glycerin (from the baking dept of the supermarket) in your lather might give a similar effect.

RO units are cheap, but don't give the same quality as real distilled water. I do have a home distiller that I use for making up photographic chemicals, and that gives pure water but I expect it would cost around 250 to 350 dollars in the US - a lot of money to make shaving lather!

Regards,
Neil

I live in a hard water area , according to the little test strip that came with my espresso machine it's very hard. I have no trouble making a good lather, and as said by others, adding a few drops of glycerine does make it even better. Many folk in the area have water softeners installed which does save limescale damage to domestic appliances etc.
Apparently hard drinking water is better for your health. When I visit soft water areas the water never seems to taste as good, but that's probably because you become accustomed to the water that comes out of your tap at home.

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Originally Posted by welshwizard

Apparently hard drinking water is better for your health.

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I've read that - apparently the instances of heart disease in soft water areas is greater according to one study. No doubt a future study will refute that. Remember how good apples were supposed to be - "an apple a day keeps the doctor away" - not the dentist, though...apparently!

Regards,
Neil

Thanks I"ll give the glycerin a try, I want to thank all who replied with all the great info, bloody good job!!

it might be a pain but get a jug of water at the store or some city water from a neighbor and heat it on the stove if all else fails :gl:

p.s the huge bright letters are hard on the eyes

I think the problem may not be with the water; I'm on hard water, and have no issues.

It's the brush. Boar doesn't really build a good lather. Get a badger brush.

I also have hard water and have been having trouble making lather. I'm currently experimenting with different soaps and seem to be doing better with the Col.Conk products than I was before, but still not the best lather. I'd like to try adding some glycerin and see if it helps, as suggested above. Where does one purchase glycerin at?

--Nomad

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Originally Posted by Nomad

. Where does one purchase glycerin at?

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In the UK, at a pharmacy.It's inexpensive I assume the same holds for other parts of the world.

I live in Phoenix, AZ and I filter my shaving water. IME the lather is much better.

If you have hard water the closer to pure soap you use the more difficult the lathering will be. The more chemicals the soap contains the more success you will have.

Another solution is buy one of those scale filters they sell for use in ultrasonic humidifiers. That will soften the water right up and periodically you just replace the filter but one filter should last a mighty long time for shaving use.

I tried the B+B method last night and it worked out Great!!! I highly reccomend it to anyone who has a hard water OR just a lathering problem, start with a drier brush!!?? Who would'a thunk it!! Not me, but it gives great lather with little effort!

Thanks again for the great lead,

tinkersd

Dry brushed really like soaps. I always shake and squeeze my brush before rubbing it into the puck of soap. I also face lather, which preps my beard better than mug or bowl lathering.

I was making soapy bubbles until I found that B&B post now I make nice lather. I am glad it worked for you as well.