Thread: Question about brushes and lather

There are tons of vids on youtube, but I feel your pain. When it comes right down to it though, you'll just have to play with it until you get the hang of it. There's a lot of variables that come into play. I don't think your brush is as much as a variable as you might assume. The ratio of soap to water is what's going to trip you up. I'd start out with a very dry lather on the bush (really load the brush with lots of soap-once you get a lather you can adjust so that you don't waste so much) and bowl lather adding water a little at a time. I have some MaMa's Bears and that really lathers quickly, so I'd start with that. Water quality also plays role, but that variable can easily be eliminated by using distilled water sold at walmart or any drugstore and even some gas stations. You may even find that you're water is hard and is what is causing all your problems.

both the soaps you mentioned can be of the very tricky ones to lather. Go to your local shoppers and pick up a tube or tub of Proraso. It is very easy to lather with the omega brush your speaking of. I personally have experienced it. If you don't feel like spending any more money then check out the vids on youtube. They should help. Just remember, its easier to add water later then to take it out. So starting with less water is probably your best bet!!!

I'm not familiar with the soaps you are using however there are some soaps that no matter how great they seem to be when you apply them they just seem to evaporate on your skin and adding more water or less doesn't seem to help them much.

If you play with the soap water ratio and see no improvement next is look at hard water issues and then try another soap.

In theory a brush should play a big part because if you think about it, it's kind of like whipping up egg whites into a froth. The mixer you use makes a big difference and the brush has to be able to incorporate air into the mix as with the egg whites and the character of the bristles should make a big difference.

Sounds like an experiment waiting to happen. Maybe someone with a variety of brushes from boar and horse to types of badger could try it and see what happens.

Keep practicing, it just takes some time to get your touch. That is part of what makes shaving so enjoyable.

I just got done having my shave this morning and didn't get the lather just right and man did i pay the price. cuts and burns. it was too dry. just remember take your time and get a good smooth thick lather. smooth is the key if it looks like its drying on your face, its way too dry. hopefully tomorrow i get it right.

The video Mantic did is what really helped me. It really is all about technique and how much water to use. I haven't been doing this very long, but the one thing I have figured out is how to make lather. Good luck to you, but seriously watch and study that video.

My early issues with lathering were all solved when I increased the time spent moving the brush. I move slowly so I gotta move more. If you are quick it won't take as long. Pumping, spinning, or painting I discovered more agitation meant richer lather. Then if it is too dry it is an easy matter to dip the tips and keep agitating.

When I start I was having the same issues. But I just resolve them with one scuttle. I have the Sara's texan one and when I use soaps eventhou the brus is wet I put some more water in the jar and when I use creams I just keep the brush very wet.
I hope this may help.
K