lather trouble

Well, I did my first shave the other day and it went surprisingly well. The only problem was that I was having a lot of trouble trying to get a thick lather from my soap (col. conks) and a boar bristle brush (part of the vdh wet shave kit). I filled my dish with hot water and after soaking the brush I strained the water out of the brush and swirled it on the soap. Then I swirled the brush with the soap in the dish of water but it only resulted in a very thin, mostly liquid lather? What am I doing wrong?

Too much water.

I use Conk soap and a VDH brush. I use just enough water to get some soap on the brush and then lather it onto the face. If it's too thick when it's going on the face, I dip the brush about half an inch into hot water and go back to the face to see if it gets the lather just right...if not, get a touch more water.

Sounds like not enough soap on the brush and way too much water in the bowl.

Here are links to a few of Mantic's videos (when it comes to lather, seeing is so much easier than trying picture a verbal description) that might help:

Although he uses cream in this one, this video specifically demonstrates the a lather that is too dry, then just right, then too wet:

video one

The second video shows a little 'upside down' trick for soap lathering. While you don't necessaryly need to try it this trick, or face lathering, this early in the game it gives a very good shot of how much soap mush should be on the brush before you start building a lather... and how the lather should look when it's ready.

video two

And this third one shows how to make a 'super lather' with soap and cream combined.

video three

Hope they help.

Good tips already. Just wanted you to know that I also use col conks soap-- in the beginning I had the same trouble as you, and once I figured out how little water you actually need, BAM! I got rich thick lather. I love the stuff...

I've much better luck face lathering vs. building lather in a bowl. If you are interested in that, shoot me a note and I'll send you my routine...

-Chief