Thread: Having a hard time creating decent lather

Shaking the brush and adding water later is more difficult than simply letting the brush hold its natural load of water.

I remove my brush from the mug of water and hold it vertically so excess water runs off. I swirl it around lightly in the pot of cream 5-10 times. If there is any water left in the pot of cream, I tip it into the empty mug. I stir the brush quite slowly for up to 30s. This gives a thick creamy lather - can't see skin through it - and will last for 4 passes with plenty remaining.

I think you are shaking out too much water. Also your new brush may need breaking in (clean it with shampoo a few times.)

Where is the latherking when we need him?

Originally Posted by Rajagra

Shaking the brush and adding water later is more difficult than simply letting the brush hold its natural load of water.

I remove my brush from the mug of water and hold it vertically so excess water runs off. I swirl it around lightly in the pot of cream 5-10 times. If there is any water left in the pot of cream, I tip it into the empty mug. I stir the brush quite slowly for up to 30s. This gives a thick creamy lather - can't see skin through it - and will last for 4 passes with plenty remaining.

I think you are shaking out too much water. Also your new brush may need breaking in (clean it with shampoo a few times.)

Maybe thats the issue im running into here, ive been completely ringing the water out of the brush. Youre just saying to let the excess drip off the brush?

Rajagra's point about the water is valid. I give mine a gentle flick, but as it's a silvertip, there'a quite a lot left in there.

Originally Posted by shorynot

Maybe thats the issue im running into here, ive been completely ringing the water out of the brush. Youre just saying to let the excess drip off the brush?

Yes, I just hold it still for about 5 seconds. Sometimes I hold it bristles up, it seems to release the excess water more quickly.
My brush is silvertip so it holds lots of water. I don't use too much cream, I've been using this tub for 6 months for about half my shaves, I'm about 3/4 through the tub.
I don't whisk vigorously, that makes frothy suds for me, at least at first. Slower stirring works better for me. I end up with lather so thick and creamy it's hard to avoid the "Father Christmas" effect on the first pass. It is most definitely not too watery.

As you can see there are different methods that work.

For reference I use Taylors of Old Bond St. cream. My water is hard.

Originally Posted by Rajagra

Shaking the brush and adding water later is more difficult than simply letting the brush hold its natural load of water.

I remove my brush from the mug of water and hold it vertically so excess water runs off. I swirl it around lightly in the pot of cream 5-10 times. If there is any water left in the pot of cream, I tip it into the empty mug. I stir the brush quite slowly for up to 30s. This gives a thick creamy lather - can't see skin through it - and will last for 4 passes with plenty remaining.

I think you are shaking out too much water. Also your new brush may need breaking in (clean it with shampoo a few times.)

This is my method as well. Your new brush should hold the proper amount of water. Experiment with the amount of time you let the water run off. I find 2 seconds is too long. Have fun with lather practice. Hey, this is supposed to be fun.