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Well water quality is dependent on many factors. Your local geology, the water table,sources of pollution nearby are just some. Hard water is just one factor. There are many issues you could have. My Uncle used to live on a farm which I used to help out with in the summer and when the spring they got their water from went dry they used an auxiliary well which contained so much hydrogen sulfide you couldn't drink it without a clothespin on your nose.
Since you got plenty of water hardness suggestions, before you spend money on a water softener or anything else, I would suggest you stop looking to build lather in your mug or scuttle that has stiff peaks, looks like meringue on a pie, or has any other "pretty to look at" characteristics. Try just loading your damp/wet (up to you) brush in the soap or cream for 30-45 seconds (depends on the brand), get your face good and wet with your hands and then go straight to your face with the brush. If it seems too dry, wet the tips of the brush some (a few drops)...if it seems too wet, squeeze the brush out some. Experiment by adding literally DROPS of water at a time if it's dry....and squeezing out some more if it still seems to wet. In the meantime WORK it on your face with the brush for a while.
If later it dries out, a few more drops of water on the brush and re-work the dry area. I may be in the minority, but I don't go for a "good-looking" lather in the mug...I go for a lather that is slick and works on my face with my razor.
By the way, this is a change in the last few months for me. I used to do exactly what you're saying you do. Just try it a few times.
By the way, exact proportions depend completely on the soap/cream and amount of water your brush holds....but when I say WORK it, I mean for a few 3-5 minutes...not 1. You'll soon be able to tell by the look and sound of the brush on your face and then shaving when you get it right sooner.
I agree with Haroldg48 try face lathering. I have had some trouble with tobs cream drying out, but never in 30 seconds, it will happily last for 3 minutes or so, I think I just shave too slow. I have never had a problem with Proraso cream drying out its a beauty.
This is my unprofessional routine:
soak the brush in hot water while I strop
shake the brush out three times and put a decent amount of cream on (or twirl in soap for 30 seconds or so)
lather on a cheek, if its feeling a little on the dry side I just dip the tip of the brush in the cup of hot water and work that into the lather. It's really very forgiving stuff that way, you can always work more moisture into it. Can't take it out so easy though.
The lather really should get to an 'explosion' point. That's the point you feel it's been worth getting up that morning :-)
It works best for me applying it thickly. I had a miserly mind set when I started and wanted to only use a little cream, and it just doesn't work for me, it's always too thin or too light or drys to quick. If you apply a thick lather, and don't be afraid to go again with a second layer or third it keeps from drying out a bit better, though you may look like Santa and be rinsing your blade more often.
Anyway hope you get some success with something, let us know what you discover!
I started on the stingy miser side of soap and cream as well. Load the brush and make tons of lather. If you go skimpy adding water will make it runny. If you have enough to too much cream or soap then you can find the right mixture for a super lather that lasts.Quote:
Originally Posted by nonick
I was having this issue with TOBS although it did last a few minutes. I figured it was largely due to the low humidity here in the desert. A couple months ago i decided to do what i have seen Razorfield suggest many times and try cold water shaves. I also decided to try face lathering at the same time. I can now get through a full pass without the lather drying out. The cold water helps a lot and i am thinking it is due to hot/warm water evaporating faster as a method of cooling and therefore drying out your lather.
Also +1 on working it on the face for 3-5 minutes.
I think everyone said one of these:
1- Hard water makes good beer but sure doesn't lather well. Well water is frequently pretty mineral rich (hard). Use distilled water (some bottled water is mineral rich), distilled water is well just water. Manufacturers recommend distilled water for hand steam irons.
2- Amount of water used. Lather in a bowl and after loading the brush, use a small cup and put in measured amounts until you figure out how much you need. I started with an espresso cup and dialed in pretty quick. I still use it with a new soap or cream.
3- Temperature of the water used. Anything above about 145 degrees Fahrenheit makes some soaps break down. Try cooler water.
4- Clean brush, take a pea sized drop of shampoo and clean your brush, rinse really well, add a pea sized drop of conditioner, rinse really well. If it has a serious smell? Wash in borax solution, rinse really well. When you rinse in a bowl of clean water? Is there an slight sheen on the top of the water? Keep cleaning...
Good luck,
Ed
You've got lots of good advice.
Try distilled water or catch some rainwater. If the lather won't rinse off the razor fairly easily, not enough water. If it has large bubbles which collapse and dry out, too much water.
Also, try using the brush for a longer time, the brush mixes the water, soap, and air, and you may not be getting a good mix.
Face lathering would also be good to try.
Cheers, Steve
A gallon of distilled or spring water at the local grocery here runs about 49 cents. That would make a fair amount of lather, I'd think, and it would be my first thought if I'm thinking that hard water/well water might be the culprit.
I live in an area of Michigan known, in fact, for hard well water, and I am thinking maybe I'll give a bottled water shave a try myself, because I have also noticed my own lather (especially with Arko) being insufficient and drying too quickly.
Going to go grab a bottle right now, in fact. May report back if I remember, after the shave. :)
Dude, how is the relative humidity of the air where you live? I live at a pretty dry place in the middle of dry savannahs of South America, where often humidity is not over 15%. I lathe small patches of face when the climate is damned dry.
I don't think hard water makes a large amount of difference. I have very hard water. As mentioned above, some soaps will dry our fast with really hot water. Glycerin can be your best friend. Now to the soaps. I think you need to try some razorock soaps or other soaps that are of a better quality, not necessarily expensive. .
The first thing I would do is experiment. Soaps are cheap. make some lathers for practice and keep trying until you get it. What works for me or others may not for you but when you hit the key, it will be rewarding. Making practice lathers will tell you a lot