Thread: Tips For hard water?

So I have shaved 3 times now and each time I can not seem to get a good lather going, it just wont froth up, and when it does get to the right consistency it just wimps out as soon as its on my face for 30 seconds or more. I have played with a bunch of different ways, less water, more water, more soap, and I started from the begining over and over to try and get it to lather up but it just wont work, I spent an hour the other day trying to figure it out. And seriously it cant be that hard right? So I have super hard water in my house and I have come to the conclusion that that has to be factoring into the lather to some extent. Does anyone have tips for dealing with the hard water? Im sure Im not the only one here that lives in an old farm house with hard water lol
I did notice that when I built the lather on my face that worked better but it still seemed rather "thick" and if I added more water it was right... and then wimped out 30 seconds later. Im using SRD unscented soap.

any help would be much appreciated
sorry if this question was posted already

Thanks peoples!

Just a thought, have you tried making lather with bottled water? That would tell you right away if it is your water or not. If the bottled water works there is your solution, just keep one handy for shaving with.

Bob

I have hard water here in Colorado too. I use a drop of glycerin in the mug with the soap. You can pick it up at Walmart. Gives a Uber lather that makes it worth it too.

You have basically three options. You can use some bottled water for shaving, you can use a soap that is hard water friendly or you can add something to the mix to increase lathering ability. Personally, I think the bottled water idea is best. It doesn't cost much or you can buy a small water distiller.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

You have basically three options. You can use some bottled water for shaving, you can use a soap that is hard water friendly or you can add something to the mix to increase lathering ability. Personally, I think the bottled water idea is best. It doesn't cost much or you can buy a small water distiller.

Ooohhhh, that sounds like a new AD, WDAD or DAD. Scary scary stuff.

I use a body soap, Aveeno, that is very hard-water friendly. I tried making a shaving lather with it once, and it was a failure. I got an OK lather but an awful shave. Still, next time I'm staying somewhere with hard water, I'll try putting a drop of the Aveeno in my lathering bowl to see if it'll tame the water.

Good luck, Thunderhorse. I'm with the bottled-water crowd for the short term solution, anyway.

Thanks for the tips guys! Ill try it and see what happens!

My scales broke off my razor today though for no apparent reason... so I guess its back to cartriges till it gets fixed

Look into installing a water softener into your plumbing, the benefits of soft water far exceed shaving.

I would install a water softener but I'm renting and the landlord won't let me near the water supply. And I use a lot of water when I shave so bottled water isn't practical. I'll try the glycerine, that sounds promising!

SRboy

I think you would only need bottled water to make a lather with and not for rinsing you blade and other things. For the tiny amount of water needed to make lather in a bowl using bottled water might not be too bad.

Bob

Heat
Choice of product
Überlather

I have very hard well water, in fact I don't even drink the tap water here ..

I have found that heat helps to a point, if you go to hot then it hurts again, I have our hot water heater set to max all the time anyway at 140

The product you use can also have an effect although I read your "SRD" soap and that is actually one that I use well here, never tried the unscented though
There are certain soaps that I have moved to my Sister's house in Loveland CO because they do not work here
Cream's I have just never had much issue with maybe because you can adjust the amount easier..

Überlather has never failed me and my well water is probably the reason I have championed it for the last 5 years, it costs more, and is more work, but it is that much better

Experiment