Having Lather Troubles

**freyguy** · 02-08-2010, 10:44 PM

I just got some lovely Tetiver scented soap from SRD, and I'm having trouble keeping it moist. Now being that I'm new, I don't know how long good lather stays moist for, but sometimes I can't even get to the other side of my face without relathering.

I've tried variable amounts of water, whipping it at different speeds, for different lengths of time. However I seem to keep getting very little lather which dries too quickly, making the shave more difficult.

Any suggestions.

Thanks

**InstaRAD** · 02-08-2010, 10:46 PM

How much are you loading onto your brush? Do you bowl lather, face lather?

**nun2sharp** · 02-08-2010, 11:03 PM

If you are new to this you are probably taking your time while shaving and rightly so, dont worry, it wll not hurt anything to relather as needed. When your skills pick up the need to relather will diminish. Good luck and have fun!

**Alraz** · 02-08-2010, 11:29 PM

Sorry to hear about your experience. the obvious answer is that you may have too much soap to water. Try increasing the water or reducing the amount of soap next time you shave. If you are loading the brush for a long time, you may end up with a lot or very dry lather. A starting point is to load the brush for 3 or so seconds. I would give a visit to the SRP wiki, here: Category:Straight Razor Shaving - Straight Razor Place Wiki

The idea is to find the correct water:soap ratio. This is what is called the point of the soap. It is at this point that your lather is at its best. To wet and it would vanish into thin air and if too dry, it may feel like concrete. Both excessively wet or dry lather can have a similar appearance though. If you go too far past this point, the lather would vanish into thin air. One thing is for sure, it is better to use a bit past the point lather than dry lather. Perhaps this video would help:

YouTube - How To Build And Apply Traditional Shaving Lather

**freyguy** · 02-09-2010, 03:37 AM

Originally Posted by InstaRAD

How much are you loading onto your brush? Do you bowl lather, face lather?

I bowl lather, or try to at least. I'm not sure how much soap I'm using, but sometimes I feel like my bowl lather turns into face lather.

I suspect it has something to do with the water to soap ratio. I suppose I will have to experiment a bit to get it right.

**Obie** · 02-09-2010, 08:50 AM

Hello, Freyguy:

Creating the proper lather is an art onto itself. The video by Mantics SRP mentor Alraz provided in his post is an excellent study. I have watched it many times in the past.

Take your time and experiment. You will master it.

Regards,

Obie

**Stubear** · 02-09-2010, 09:52 AM

I find myself re-applying lather as I go I must admit.

I lather my whole face at the start, and though I can do the whole shave without re-lathering, I find that adding a little more makes sure the lather and my face is totally ready for the razor. Just keeps everything totally ready to go!

How hot is the water that you use to make your lather? And do you heat your bowl? If you use hot water in a hot bowl, this can make the lather dry out faster as the latent heat stored in it will push the moisture out.

Al Raz and others have given some great advice as well, so hopefully you will get it sorted!

Good luck!

**AFDavis11** · 02-09-2010, 12:45 PM

Don't fuss trying to get the ratio "right". Keep adding water by either dipping the side of your brush into the sink water or dip three fingers into the sink water and then hover them over the bowl while the water drips.

Eventually the lather will "explode". You'll see this when it happens.

After the explosion add a little more water. The "little more" is what keeps the lather moist. The extra water must be loaded in after the explosion. It can not be added in prior, unless you have a measuring spoon by the sink.

If you add too much, turn your brush upside down, bristles up, and squeeze the brush hard. Water will drip down, cream will move to the tips. Then begin re-swirling.

**Bruce** · 02-09-2010, 03:22 PM

BOOM, and the lather exploded, sending froth and foam from thither to yon!

I'm not the most patient guy in the morning and have sought refuge in creams as they seem to be much easier from which to coax a workable lather. This lather generation obviously takes practice and the essential is getting the right amount of soap from the cake/puck onto/into the brush's bristles. Once there in the hairs of the brush then it is only addding the right amount of water and beating/swirling/pumping/smashing/coaxing the foam to proper lather consistency.

So good luck; be persistent and practice, practice, practice. I'll be doing the same from time to time when I get bored with the predicable BOOM of creams. This may make me a bad person, but at that, at least, I have had much and plenty practice.

**freyguy** · 02-10-2010, 12:03 AM

Sounds good to me. thanks for the tips. I'm going to go try and coax some lather to boom right now. I'll keep you posted on the results.

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