Originally Posted by
bharner
I'm not a huge fan of the VDH brush and soap but other than my preferences there isn't anything wrong with them. They will make a good lather with hard water. The VDH soap is one of the few that will lather for me no matter what water I'm using.
Your use of free time to practice lather making is great. Practice makes perfect and I think most folks spend some time the first month or so just making bowls of lather until they get it right.
Since nobody has mentioned the pinch test yet, I will ;). It's an easy way to tell if your lather is in the ballpark. Once you've got your lather going just pinch a bit of it between your thumb and forefinger. Then sowly pull them apart. If it takes an inch or more of separation before the lather breaks apart you're in good shape. If it takes less than an inch figure out of it's too wet or dry and either add water or soap and mix it back up and test it again.