Thread: Skipping razor?

Hey everybody. Fairly new here..about 10 shave under my belt. Question is I have been using van Der hagen shave soap and having a hard time building a good lather...would this result in a skipping razor or more from a technique issue?

Sent from my ADR6325 using Tapatalk

If your face is drying out that can cause skipping (that and bad technique or a bad edge too but as you mention problems with the lather I'm gonna focus there ).

If you can't get a good lather from Van Der Hagen, maybe time to try something else? What method are you using to build the lather?

I've never used VDH, but here is what I do for my soaps and seems to result in nice lather..

1) Soak brush in HOT water while I shower
2) Shake the brush out 3 times (Do NOT wring it out)
3) swirl the brush on the soap puck (3 "Presses" in the center while I am swirling) to load, I usually swirl for about 30 seconds
4) Build lather in a cup (in my case a scuttle) and add water SPARINGLY as needed until it's nice and creamy (Can take a few min depending on the soap)
5) Take a good 30 seconds to really work the lather into my face with the brush,,,,really get it in there good
6) Shave 1st Pass
7) Apply more HOT water to my face (keep it wet, always keep it wet always re-apply water before relathering)
8) Re-Lather face
etc
etc


This is what works for me, YMMV but from what you describe I'd focus on your lather, or maybe try a cream and see if that helps.....

I'll take a pluck, too much water too little soap, i.e. soap is too thin. You could swap to a really easy-to-lather cream (like Musgo Real, La Toja, Truefitt and Hill) and see if you still have the problem, or just try and improve the lather. The benefit of using a cream might be that you can strike out shaving tecnique...

try taking some barbaso or other canned cream and adding a small squirt to your lather you make and giving it another good series of swirls it should flufen it up and make a better lather i have done this a few times to thicken it up and make it better

I'll make some up tonight...it ends up thin is my problem...not creamy and fluffy at all. Thanks! I'll let you know how it goes!

Sent from my ADR6325 using Tapatalk

yea be sure to let me know i know it has helped me out alot and if you use use a decent squirt size a small cann will last you months.

Lather building can take a while to master, you can get all the advice in the world but the water you are using can vary the results. I personally have to apply it directly to the face to build a good lather, but using bowls or even your hand are standard techniques. ( using hand allows you to feel how slippery your lather is, but It can be messy)

What kind of brush are you using? My biggest step forward in lather building was switching from synthetic to badger

Agree with the recommendation to try a good tube cream or soft soap. Something like the TOBS creams, Proraso, Musgo Real, etc. lather wonderfully with minimal effort.

In my experience, while poor lather can cause skipping it is usually due to pressure and insufficient stretching.
I have used this soap and still do on occasion. I have found that while learning to lather I was able to lather better in the palm of my hand than in a bowl or face.