Thread: Still struggling with MWF by itself!

Originally Posted by MisterMoo

This, with soft or hard brushes, hot, warm or cold water. Always a great lather using my unsoftened well water.

Yea, the type of brush does not seem to matter. I have used various types of silver tip badger brushes, a couple of boar brushes and a Muhle synthetic silver tip this way with good results. I believe our city water is not hard so that just may be the difference between good and bad results lathering MWF.

Bob

Maybe you guys can help me understand the mystique surrounding MWF soap. I've heard mixed results on the scent that lean toward unpleasant. The posts regarding the lathering challenge are many. People use distilled water and add extra "ingredients" to make it lather. So what's the draw? If it's that difficult to use, are the benefits worth the additional effort? Why not just buy what works?

Originally Posted by Sandycrack

Maybe you guys can help me understand the mystique surrounding MWF soap... Why not just buy what works?

I do- MWF. Lathers easy, smells nice, not crazy expensive and works great. No drama, no mystique. Just great shaving soap.

If you want mystique check out the honing discussions.

Originally Posted by Sandycrack

Maybe you guys can help me understand the mystique surrounding MWF soap. I've heard mixed results on the scent that lean toward unpleasant. The posts regarding the lathering challenge are many. People use distilled water and add extra "ingredients" to make it lather. So what's the draw? If it's that difficult to use, are the benefits worth the additional effort? Why not just buy what works?

No mystique as far as I am concerned, just a good soap that works well and not difficult to use at all. It lathers well without extra ingredients and the use of distilled water likely is because the users normal domestic water is hard. MWF may not like hard water. There are other soaps like that too, it is not alone in that respect. I find the scent mild and non offensive, just clean soap like. The again I don't like the scent of Cella but lots of others do. Some people have had a bad reaction to the lanolin in MWF but then again people have had bad reactions to ingredients in other soaps/creams too. I dunno what else to say.

Bob

Originally Posted by BobH

No mystique as far as I am concerned, just a good soap that works well and not difficult to use at all. It lathers well without extra ingredients and the use of distilled water likely is because the users normal domestic water is hard. MWF may not like hard water. There are other soaps like that too, it is not alone in that respect. I find the scent mild and non offensive, just clean soap like. The again I don't like the scent of Cella but lots of others do. Some people have had a bad reaction to the lanolin in MWF but then again people have had bad reactions to ingredients in other soaps/creams too. I dunno what else to say.

Bob

Agreed - I've had no problem with the MWF either. I will put some hot tap water into the MWF ceramic bowl first, then get my stuff ready, dump the excess water out, and after rinsing my brush, swirl away and lather on the face, no problem. Have enough on the brush enough to do two lathered passes.

I find it no harder to lather than Proraso...wonder what's up, certainly not the first time I've heard about lathering problems with this soap?

Here is an update on what I found by using citric acid to soften my water. This morning, I softened some water and whipped up some MWF. Oh my! I have NEVER been able to get MWF to turn out so creamy and slick. Soft water makes all the difference in the world. It almost seemed like the über lathers I get. Very nice.

Tonight I did a side by side experiment using both soft and hard water. I used the same brush, bowl, and technique. The soft water returned the same result as this morning. The hard water returned the same result as the past...which was an airy, bubbly, un-impressive lather. Soft water is definitely the way to go. It even improved the lather of tabac and ogalalla I tried.

.. I softened some water and whipped up some MWF. Oh my! I have NEVER been able to get MWF to turn out so creamy and slick..

Great! Now you know why (most) people love MWF.. great lather, nice cushion and very slick. I have no idea why some folks have no problem with hard water while others have your experience. I suppose it depends upon the specific minerals in the particular water. Anyway, I'm glad that you found the secret.



rs,
Tack

Onegrecook

Thanks for the update as I was wondering how the citric acid would work out for you. Good for you.

Bob

Originally Posted by Onegrecook

Here is an update on what I found by using citric acid to soften my water. This morning, I softened some water and whipped up some MWF. Oh my! I have NEVER been able to get MWF to turn out so creamy and slick. Soft water makes all the difference in the world. It almost seemed like the über lathers I get. Very nice.

Tonight I did a side by side experiment using both soft and hard water. I used the same brush, bowl, and technique. The soft water returned the same result as this morning. The hard water returned the same result as the past...which was an airy, bubbly, un-impressive lather. Soft water is definitely the way to go. It even improved the lather of tabac and ogalalla I tried.

Good news indeed glad to be of service, enjoy the shaves

MWF works find, you just have to know how to use hard soaps. They all work the same.