Thread: Water hardness / shaving lubricity....

I have some aquariums at home, so I know my water chemistry like the back of my hand. I've only ever shaved with a kH of 6 or less and have never had a problem with getting a good lather.. If you want to know the specific chemistry of your water, get a sample of about one cup's worth and go to your local pet store. They'll run any parameter you ask for free.

Jeff, the water hardness (or softness) make huge diference. When I was on vacation, I had a very hard time producing decent lather from my soap (which lathers fine at home) and was shaving half of the time with watery translucent slime instead of dense rich foam... minerals in action...

Nenad

Originally Posted by mgraepel

I have some aquariums at home, so I know my water chemistry like the back of my hand. I've only ever shaved with a kH of 6 or less and have never had a problem with getting a good lather.. If you want to know the specific chemistry of your water, get a sample of about one cup's worth and go to your local pet store. They'll run any parameter you ask for free.

Oh, it lathers, but it doesn't come close to soft water, and the film on my face is much more slippery with soft water.

I just tried using distilled water for a shave, and man was the lather good. Just ordered a hotshot and will start using this set-up from now on.

I wonder if hard water deposits minerals on the hairs of your badger over time? THAT will not be tolerated. Might be time to look into a whole-house softener.......keep the water spots off the cars too! Jeff

I live in the S.W and my water is very hard and you just can't get a good lather with it. I do have a water softener and it makes all the difference in the world. Makes your skin very slippery and ou get loads of lather. Thats why most soaps and laundry detergents are all chemicals.

If you live in a hard water area just get some pure soap like liquid green soap and add water and shake it and see how long it takes before you get some lather. All you will get is a bluish scum in the water. Its all in the minerals.