Thread: Lather Dries out mid shave

Originally Posted by UAcowboy

So I am still chasing a good lather but on thing i have had issues with is that i get halfway through my shave and have to reapply to the other side of my face due to it drying out. I live in Southern AZ where humidity is pretty much nada for most of the year. is that part of the problem? also we have hard water and that can kill the lather but will it also cause it to dry out?

I live in Phoenix (I am a U of A alum), and I have the same issues with soap drying out. For some soaps, using more water helps keep the soap from drying out too quickly. Also, making sure that you face is a little moist before applying the soap (by either swirling a wet brush on your face or just splashing it with water) keeps the soap from drying out. In particular, I find that splashing a little water on the face between passes improves the 2nd pass quite a bit. The issue with the second pass and the dry climate is that the soap in the brush or bowl dries out between passes, so if you apply such lather without adding more water, you will get a drier soap on the 2nd pass than on the 1st pass.

You might also find that shaving immediately after a shower can help as the shower can increase the humidity in the air for a bit.

So i found today that i had not been using enough water with the TOBS creme. I added more water and it held up much better. I also shaved right after a shower which also seemed to have helped.

So why are you in Sun Devil territory Bordee?

Thanks, I'm also interested in this. It happens to me too with Geo F Trumpers soap and others.

Originally Posted by UAcowboy

So i found today that i had not been using enough water with the TOBS creme. I added more water and it held up much better. I also shaved right after a shower which also seemed to have helped.

So why are you in Sun Devil territory Bordee?

I'm moved up to Phoenix for work. As much I as liked Tucson, it can be hard to find a good job there.

Originally Posted by Bordee

I'm moved up to Phoenix for work. As much I as liked Tucson, it can be hard to find a good job there.

Yeah. If i didn't know someone already working where i am i probably would have had a pretty hard time as well.

You should introduce more water into your lather and keep working it in...

Originally Posted by Dries

You should introduce more water into your lather and keep working it in...

+1. You can produce a pretty dry or wet lather based on the ratio of soap to water.

I recall a member suggesting that one keep adding water on a "practice lather" until it basically rinses away: then you know what counts as too much water for that soap and brush. Based on that advice, I've played with new soaps by first making a lather that is obviously way too dry (letting it dry out on my face), then making a lather that is way too wet (rinses away). By then I'll feel like I know the soap well enough to find my way through a real shave.

You could also try adding a couple drops of glycerin with your soap as well

Originally Posted by Pagan2003

You could also try adding a couple drops of glycerin with your soap as well

Do you have a specific/favorite glycerin you use and where do you get it?

I have the same issue with the soap drying on my face since going back to the SR. I am taking much longer to shave now and still use the DE to finish but by the time I get to the DE things have started drying. I have never used glycerin but am curious to give it a try. Are there any negative affects to using it?