Thread: Water too soft?

I'm hoping this is the best place for this topic. I was recently in San Antonio, Texas (for my sons USAF basic training graduation, very proud), and the water was very soft. The kind of soft that doesn't feel like it rinses off soap. Anyway, my lather foamed up faster than normal and the shave was not the greatest. Passable but the razor felt on the dull side. Then a day later, I was in Corpus Christi were the water seemed 'neutral' and everything went great. Nice and super sharp and smooth. Used the same soap and razor.
Anyone else notice this? I read a lot about hard water issues, but don't see much on soft water issues. Thanks.

Congratulations on your son's graduation.

Yep, I regularly travel long distance and too noticed that lather from the same shaving soap may differ between locations.

With some soaps this is more noticeable than with others and I now keep a permanent pre-packed "shaving kit" in my suitcase that includes Nivea, Taylor's of Bond St. and sometimes Musgo Real, which all seem to work well with the different types of water that I encounter en route.

Congratulations to your son!

I ran into the soft water problem about a week after I started using soaps instead of canned goo. My first thought was "I finally got lathering down", nice foamy lather just rising out of the bowl. Then I put it in my hand, gave it a squeeze and it collapsed. And then I was stupid enough to still try and shave with it. I stopped after one stroke, found some bottled water, and used it to make less fluffy lather, but at least it cushioned well.

Soft water is definitely a bad thing. Maybe someone around here deals with it everyday and knows the fix for it. Maybe add glycerin???

the real problem is not "soft" water, but "softened" water.
Most all water treatments will result in a variety of salts being added to the water, and I have found this to be a real PITA.
Naturaly soft water like from some of the springs upstate is a joy to shave with, and far superior for baking and brewing!

it might be the softening treatment, because ive found most water to be hard in most areas if Texas,, I usually use bottled water unless im home and the water in the Memphis area is naturally soft . artisian well ,, so I agree with Magpie on that tc

There is nothing bad about soft water. You just need to alter your lather making routine to match the difference. The amount of salt in the water is minimal. It doesn't even approach the MDRs for salt intake even if you drink gallons.

Hard water has many negatives but I've never heard similar about soft water.

Have to go with Nelson on this one. Water Softeners do not add salt to the water. The softener is a zeolite filter bed that has a charge which removes the calcium carbonate from the water. When the charge in the zeolite is depleted it is regenerated with a brine rinse, rinsed till the bed is clean and then put back into operation.

Not gonna argue with you guys on how a water softener makes for lousy water. Nope. Cause, you know, its not like my business depends on water quality or anything.

mostly I just posted that because I wanted a chance to use that emoticon =P

Thanks you'all. I wasn't sure if it was the lacking lather or that the 'softened' water wouldn't soften my beard or both. Either way..it was fun to visit Lackland AFB again but good to be home.