Thread: Lathering

I think you just need to experiment. Differences in water quality and soap make it hard to give a one size fits all method of lathering.

Lather going dry? Needs more water.
Too runny? Use less water.
Not building enough? Load up more soap.
etc.

Yes, YMMV. It's funny, certain products work well for certain people, water plays a big role....3 second build on soap seems kinda chinsy to me...Surely, a few seconds more won't hurt anything? It may be adequate for some, but not enough for others...

I have a water softner, and some soaps, and creams other's rave about, are only so so in my world....and I've been building lather for more years than I care to mention...

I have been having a few rough shaves recently and, after reading through this thread, i have realised i am using too mush soap and not enough water. I followed the advice of 3 seconds of brush loading and face lathered. The result, absolutely superb lather and enough for 3 passes. I was throwing more soap at the problem instead of using alot less and more warm water.

Originally Posted by Lenny

I followed the advice of 3 seconds of brush loading and face lathered. The result, absolutely superb lather and enough for 3 passes.

But could you recreate the same amount and quality by bowl lathering?

I still say 3 seconds isn't enough...

Originally Posted by Lenny

I have been having a few rough shaves recently and, after reading through this thread, i have realised i am using too mush soap and not enough water. I followed the advice of 3 seconds of brush loading and face lathered. The result, absolutely superb lather and enough for 3 passes. I was throwing more soap at the problem instead of using alot less and more warm water.

I don't know Mate...Sounds like your technique to me. I can shave dry with no problems...Many times, my last pass XTG is dry. I think you had an off day, and got lucky....I can smear Peanut butter on my face and get a good shave....or just rub the puck on my face and still shave...Now, Al is a good friend, and I appreciate his advice, and have used it before..but I doubt a load longer than 3 seconds will hurt anything, or change the quality of the shave....I routinely load for longer than 3 seconds, get great lather and outstanding shaves, maybe 10-15 seconds....Who knows...but it's longer than 3...MWF, Tabac, TGQ, Mama Bears, Triple Milled, C&S88, I've used all of them...It doesn't matter...Most member's that know me, including Al, know I'm a soap/Shave Cream addict....
My Rooney wouldn't even be awake after a 3 second load....

I've been on this forum for a few years now, and until recently, I've only heard of guys blaming shaving cream for bad shaves. How does too much soap give you a bad shave...? Really, I can load my Rooney forever, and not get a bad shave...How is this possible...? All it does, is make more lather, you add more water, Ouila, More Lather....Water does play a role, so you adjust for your water...

I hope I don't need to make a video....Hey, here's a WIKI link:
http://straightrazorpalace.com/srpwi...ic_soap_lather