Tip for newbies, given for anybody else

This is a a duh for anyone who's shaved for more than a month to from one new shaver to a next here it is. I found out today that a thick lather is much better at shaving than a thin watery one.
The first few times I've shaved I've dunked my whole brush in water and moved it straight into the soap dish putting a ton of water in it. When I worked up a lather I got a lot of bubbles and the lather would drip off my face since it had a similar consistency to a bubble beard.
Today I decided to squeeze my brush to get rid of a lot of the water and when I lathered up I got a lot less lather but it stayed on my face and was very thick. When I shaved it was much more comfortable and I got way less razor burn. As an added bonus the lather didn't drip anywhere.

Yup, that's the way. A nice, rich lather. If soapy, watery drool is dripping from your face and brush, it's too wet. Instead of squeezing your brush, try giving a flick of the wrist. After trial and error, you'll get a sense for how much water you want to remain in your brush.

Congrats!

Dave

Congratulations on learning the difference between lather and suds.

Its all about the quality of rather rather than quantity.

Congrats on your discovery. If you would like to get an even better lather check these videos out. :tu

i like real thick later on my first pass but my xtg and atg seems to work better with watered down lather but thats just me :D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jszabo

i like real thick later on my first pass but my xtg and atg seems to work better with watered down lather but thats just me :D

---

Maybe you should try that last pass with just hot water and see what happens, you might be pleasantly surprised!

That's how we all learn, by trial and error. With most soaps and creams you want to get your brush wet and then shake it a couple of times to get the bulk of the water out.

The videos mentioned in this thread really helped me out. I have since changed my technique and am way better off now! Thanks guys.

I have found that starting thick and adding water to obtain the consistency that I like is the best way. Also, good lather takes some time to form, which is something that I did not know. The time is worth spending. Adding a bit of glycerin makes the lather even richer than using soap alone.

Al raz.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Alraz

I have found that starting thick and adding water to obtain the consistency that I like is the best way. Also, good lather takes some time to form. The time is worth spending. Al raz.

---

Good advice above.

It took a while, but I got to the point where I could consistently produce lather that I called cake frosting. Not really that thick, but you get the drift. I thought I had “arrived”, seemed like I got better shaves with it. However, as I get better at this whole business, I am finding that a little wetter lather actually shaves better. If it’s flying all over the bathroom and running down my chest it’s too thin. But just a little thicker than runny seems to be the best. At least this week…..

The single item that has made the greatest difference for me is the brush. I had a cheap boar bristle brush to start with and always got a sloppy wet lather. My sister-in-law got me a nice badger bristle brush and it's all the difference in the world! The brush appears to not be holding any water at all, but the creamy lather that it produces is amazing.

What I really want to know is, who the hell went out and collected various animal hair 400 years ago to discover that badger hair was the one that works for this purpose?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by biffdebris

What I really want to know is, who the hell went out and collected various animal hair 400 years ago to discover that badger hair was the one that works for this purpose?

---

You and me both. Here badger,badger, nice kitty!:rofl2:

Badgers were the only animals left after prcupine, sheep, llama and horse were tried ;-). But seriously, I am sure that it was trial and error.

Al raz.

Mantic59 is a wetshaving guru :bow . I love his "superlather." Its the same concept as the "uberlather" but instead of liquid glycerine I just saturate the soap with glycerine suds from a bar of pure glycerine soap, then go and mix my lather as usual. It works like a charm, and I get the most lubricated, richest lather I've ever gotten. Its like the lather is wet, and yet still rich and thick at the same time. Awesome :rock:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by biffdebris

The single item that has made the greatest difference for me is the brush.

---

Same here, I could only get a decent lather from the bristle brush by building it on the soap. My first try with a badger brush and I thought I was a pro, it was amazingly different.

I just assumed it was common practice back then to cuddle with wild animals and someone eventually made the mistake of cuddling with a badger. Bad for him but good for the future of wet shaving.

::ouch, ouch, ouch, but soooo soft, ouch, ouch, ouch::

My 2 tips that are a given for anyone who has shaved with a straight for a while but may not be for a newb,

1. no matter how tight pins appear and no matter stiff the blade is opening and closing never put your finger or fingers anywher on the scale where it could close on them, that is when it will slam shut :chop:

2. when closing your straight good idea to follow the blade into the scale slowly and paying attention while doing so, your scales may have expanded or warped ever so slightly from the last time you used it and if you close it in a hurry or not paying attention it may catch the blade and damage it :mad:

cranky,

Been there, done #2. Ain't done #1... yet. ;)

Yup, and I don't walk near holes of any size. :w