problem with my shave soap

my lather, i feel, contains too much water but i could be wrong. it takes farrr too long for me to get a lather and when i do, i feel like its not thick enough. why? i feel like ihave to push the lather along my face with my brush rather than "paint" it on if that makes any sense. i feel like im using the right amount of water though. making the lather directly on my face feels like it works much much better but it still doesnt carry that consistency of whipped cream. all and any help would be awsome. thank you. ohhhh and its "art of shaving brand" my gf bought me. i usually use the tub.

Sorry to hear about your experience, you should not have problems lathering that stuff. I would give a visit to the SRP wiki, here: Category:Straight Razor Shaving - Straight Razor Place Wiki

If you think you added too much water, one thing to try is using a bit less water, remember that you can always add more water. The point is to find the correct water:soap ratio. This is what is called the point of the soap. It is at this point that your lather is at its best. To wet and it would vanish into thin air and if too dry, it may feel like concrete. Both excessively wet or dry lather can have a similar appearance though. If you go too far past this point, the lather would vanish into thin air. You can also get a better consistency by adjusting the whipping speed. One thing is for sure, it is better to use a bit past the point lather than dry lather. You also may want to work the lather on your face as well so that it serves one of its intended purposes, prepping your beard but as you said, it should look similar to whipped cream. Also, you may want to check the videos that mantic, a member here, has made about making lather; his videos are excellent.

YouTube - How To Build And Apply Traditional Shaving Lather

If you have any questions, drop me a PM for tips.


Al raz.

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Originally Posted by sharphands619

my lather, i feel, contains too much water but i could be wrong. it takes farrr too long for me to get a lather and when i do, i feel like its not thick enough. why? i feel like ihave to push the lather along my face with my brush rather than "paint" it on if that makes any sense. i feel like im using the right amount of water though. making the lather directly on my face feels like it works much much better but it still doesnt carry that consistency of whipped cream. all and any help would be awsome. thank you. ohhhh and its "art of shaving brand" my gf bought me. i usually use the tub.

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ive seen his videos before. this one in particular, many times. ill be dropping you a PM for sure. thanks.

IMHO, soaps won't create a later like the creams will but provides me with just as much protection. If your lather is too thin, go back to the bowl for more soap.

Depending on the soap its either too much water or not enough soap. Get the brush thoroughly wet, give it a flick or two and then start loading the brush with soap. It does take a little practice, but you'll figure it out.

I've had to experiment with the amount of water also and was wondering if water hardness has any effect the lather? If so, then what effect and how does one counter measure it?

thank you guys. i was able to finally make an awsome lather today.

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Originally Posted by red96ta

IMHO, soaps won't create a later like the creams will but provides me with just as much protection. If your lather is too thin, go back to the bowl for more soap.

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+1. I find the same thing.

My GFT soap gives a thinner lather than the cream, but both give equal amounts of glide.

The shave creams (and uberlather) will get that whipped cream consistency, but the soaps are much thinner I find.

Its all a balancing act between the water and soap levels. Too much of one, just add a bit more of the other.

Get some Tabac soap, take your brush, wet it, swirl around on the puck of soap for 10 seconds max, face lather, enjoy. I find it very difficult not to get good lather with that soap, too wet, too dry, nope, always, just perfect :-)

ABSOLUTELY! Hard water kills lather. In fact, soap is insoluble in high salt, this is one way to purify soap, please do not try this at home ;-). The effect ranges from lather that disappears (unstable) to no lather formation at all, depending on the magnitude of he problem. There are several ways to help the situation: first and foremost, work on your lathering skills!!!; use hot water when you are making lather, the hotter the better; use distilled or deionized water to make your lather; buy a water purifier, reverse osmosis works best; move to another location with softer water ;-). I you use the first 3, especially the first, you should never have lathering problems.

Al raz.

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Originally Posted by Boker

I've had to experiment with the amount of water also and was wondering if water hardness has any effect the lather? If so, then what effect and how does one counter measure it?

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Originally Posted by Alraz

ABSOLUTELY! Hard water kills lather. In fact, soap is insoluble in high salt, this is one way to purify soap, please do not try this at home ;-). The effect ranges from lather that disappears (unstable) to no lather formation at all, depending on the magnitude of he problem. There are several ways to help the situation: first and foremost, work on your lathering skills!!!; use hot water when you are making lather, the hotter the better; use distilled or deionized water to make your lather; buy a water purifier, reverse osmosis works best; move to another location with softer water ;-). I you use the first 3, especially the first, you should never have lathering problems.

Al raz.

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i think ill try the distilled water this weekend. what worked for me was, a lot less water (when i thought i didnt have enough too!)