lather building help

Before anyone tells me to just read the wiki, let me say that I have read it and I have watched manic's videos. I have also been shaving for a few months now and rarely nic myself anymore. So I would think I'm not a complete newb. The problem is though, my lather seems to dry out way too quickly. The obvious answer is that it isn't wet enough, but I have tried making it really dry, really wet, and everywhere in between. This is a problem I experience with any lather (AOS cream, Truefitt and Hill Cream, Proraso Cream, Tabac soap, or MWF soap). I shave one cheek and neck area, then the other. Then I get to the mustache and chin area and the lather is so dry it flakes off and "snows" all over the counter! I really need some help here guys.

P.S. I have also tried uber and superlathers to no avail.

Do you face lather or use a bowl? Nothing wrong with adding a little water to the brush between passes to recharge it.

Haven't had that exact problem, but I've had the problem of lather thickening up after sitting between my first and second pass due to cooling. I'm pretty sure a scuttle (redneck style on my wishlist) should take care of this problem. However, that's due to me lathering in a bowl.

I'm assuming you start off with a nice thick and pasty mixture on your brush before moving to water? Do you have problems with hard water in your area? Are you shaving with Isopropyl Alcohol?

That's odd. Some good soaps and creams your using. You're not smoke diving while shaving are you? ;) (I'm a volunteer fireman) We can guess till the cows come home and beyond and never hit the issue. Best if you list your brush, technique (where and how you build lather), face prep, water source and time span. I've heard of cream drying out but to flake off with the creams you are using is very odd.

Well, for sure with the soaps you are using many many people have no issues with making great lather. So, that leaves us with three possibilities, 1-You have very very hard water, 2-Something about your brush, 3-Operator error.

Tell us about these possibilities.

As the others have already stated a step by step breakdown would be helpful pics or a video would be even better:)

Only thing I will ask is how long do you mix for? A good lather can take 1-3 minutes to whip-up. You mentioned you made lather too dry to wet and in between. Did you make a practice lather and keep slowly adding water so it went from dry to perfect to runny like in mantics video?

also if you decide not to take photos would you describe the lather: ie does it little tiny bubbles in the lather? Can you scoop out the whole bowl of lather in one go? Can you form "peaks " with the lather and will they hold thier shape?

Well bigspendur, in regards to the question you put to me, the most likely explanation is operator error for sure. I just want to know what that error is. But yes I do have very, very, very hard water. As in I had to replace the element in my hot water tank two years after installing it. Nearly two inches of sediment had built up in it. That could certainly have something to do with it. I never really gave it much serious thought. I'll heat some bottled water and try that. Distilled I would guess? And yes I lather in a bowl. I use a pure badger brush from AOS. Crappy I know, but hopefully this weekend I will have time to turn the handle for the 28mm silvertip knot I got from golden nib. Anywho, I soak the brush in the bowl while I shower. I then rub a drop or two of preshave oil into my beard. I then strop my razor (sometimes I do this before I shower). Then I build my lather using an almond sized amount of cream and the amount of water left in the brush after three shakes. (anymore and you're playing with it). I then add more water, a little at a time, until I reach what I feel is the desired consistency. I take 2 or three minutes probably to build my lather. I have never timed it, so I don't know for sure. I then work it into my face for 30 seconds or so, then using painting strokes I smooth it all out. I have the most problem with the flaking during my first pass since it takes the longest. But I still have problems during my XTG pass which is by far the quickest pass. I usually have to just apply more lather halfway through a pass. I have been doing this since I started shaving, but I just thought there has to be a better way.

Sorry about the novel.


I just saw your message mbwhoosh. I'll try to take some pics tomorrow. I'm at work today.

your brush sounds okay a stiffer bristle brush is actually easier to make lather with usually. So I am gonna go with your water and/or technique.

Good luck with using the bottled water and looking forward to some lather pics you know how we all love pics.

I have very hard water as well, as other member of SRP can tell you, from all my compaining on the site I mean. As I use well water it varys in hardness from very to cut this stuff with a knife. So I started using bottled water, distilled, from wally world[Wal-Mart] and heating about 9oz in the microwave till very very hot and use that to build my later and it makes ALL the difference in the world. Its does make my shaving routine just that much more time consuming, BUT I'M WORTH IT, ARENT YOU!
Of course you are we all are, so pick up a gallon today and find out just what I"m talking about. But it still does take more than a few seconds to build up your lather to the right balance of air and oils to wet up the beard.
I hope this helps a bit, it did for me and a few others.

Your loyal servent, tinkersd of SRP.

Ok I live 2 hours northwest of you and have very hard water as well. I have shaved a few times while in OKC.

I hate to say it but the soap I have the most trouble with in the hard water at home is Tabac and MWF (and just about every cream I have tried). I ran into some of the same issues. At the end of my shave when I got to my upper lip the soap would be flaking off it was so dry.

I figured it out but it took some time so I don't know if I can help but I will try. First I only face lather. I start by loading my brush a little heavier than normal (I only use soap now). I whip the lather real thick on my face and slowly add water. I add water by dipping the tips of my brush real lightly in the water, then whip some more. I get the lather real thick on my face. This seems to help keep it lather and not dry flaking soap. That and I have gotten a lot faster with my shaves so maybe that's it.

Wow I don't know if I helped any but I hope so :gl:

Have you tried other soaps, I have had real good luck with the TGQ soap in the hard water. Just an idea.

I have very hard water too but have a water softener. Hard water can make building a lather very challenging and some soaps flat out won't work. But that would be an easy test. If you have no problems with the bottled water then you have solved the problem. If you still have problems then we have to look at your technique. Really, technique in lather building involves the amount of water in your brush and the amount of time you go about building it. Even the smallest and cheapest brushes can build a good lather it's just with larger and better ones it just comes more easily.

When I use MWF for instance I keep my brush pretty wet because that soap requires more water than most others and I just go round and round with my brush with a little pressure and in about 30 sec I have enough lather to shave a platoon.