Thread: Please help

Ok, I have done my research. I have watched hundreds of youtube videos, and read hundreds of forum posts related to lather making and shaving. Every time I shave the lather dries out on my face almost instantly. No matter how much water I add. I've experimented numerous times, and have added too much water many times and have also not added enough water. I know what others look for in the lather. Peaks, whipping cream, meringue texture etc. I started my sr shaving life with tobs sandalwood. I thought it was a bad batch of cream bc I could never shave more than one cheek before it was dry. So since then I have purchased Mitchells wool fat, proraso, and col conk lime. I have tried each one on their own, I have tried every combination of mixing them together, even adding some drops of pure glycerin. The outcome is sometimes it takes longer to happen, but it inevitably results in dry sticky shaving cream clogging my razor and not producing a slick shave. It is very frustrating bc I know my razors are sharp, and the sections of my face that don't dry before my razor gets there are bbs. But having to re apply cream every 30 seconds or so to make sure it's not drying out seems down right ridiculous and time consuming. Has any one else had this much of an issue? Like I said, I have researched and watched every video out there. I have a badger and boar brush. I have tried bowl and face lathering. I'm at a loss and frustrated is an understatement could it be my water quality?? Thanks to those that input help.

I think you've summed it up in your last sentence. Water for you may be the problem. Hard water makes for rubbish lather. Check with your water company. Try adding a pinch of salt to your shave water.

Maybe buy some bottled water to compare to? I would think bottled would be on the soft side...

Ok so maybe your not a Prodigy? Just kidding. Water is what it sounds like to me also. When I work where the water sucks I use bottled. Fixes it right up. Tc

I'm less inclined to suspect the water - though I'd try it just to have that question answered. TOBS is pretty effective at making suds. But as the honorable Utopian posted when I had the same problem - too much water will make the lather dry out quickly also. 'Not enough soap to keep the bubbles strong. If its drying out in less than 10 min or so - theres' some fine-tuning to be done in making lather. Maybe the best solution would be to get w/ a more experienced member and watch him make lather, duplicate while he watches, etc. I don't know how far you are from Hidestoart, but if its not too far, ping him & see if there's a couple hours he might be able to spare for some face to face tutorial. I think you'll be amazed at the learning value. I'm biased, but I suspect you'll really enjoy talking w/ him. Maybe there are others, maybe some closer by. Bring your blades & have them tested for the edge quality while you're there. It pretty much a 'can't lose' situation.

drying out sticky gooey sounds like not enough water.... what I look for in my lather, to know I've done it right, is two things: it shouldn't be overwatered enough that the cream falls off my blade while I shave, but it also shouldn't be hard to get off the blade under running water which tells me it's too dry.

Super hot water will kill lather too. Dirt in a brush will kill the lather as well.

Try bottled water at room temperature and make sure you brush is rinsed well

I have ridiculously hard water to the point of lime buildup on everything and I don't have this problem. Like others have said, maybe not enough water or maybe to much time per pass. It takes me five min or less to do a WTG pass and about the same or just a bit longer for ATG.

Maybe the water is to hot when you made the lather? I've heard of this causing dry lather

As you said in your post you've tried various amounts of water without success, water containing magnesium and calcites don't make for a good lather. I see your in a hard water area so getting a de ioniser fitted to your water supply is the long term answer, but short term try softening it by adding sodium to your shave water. Hope this helps

Ok in the mean time I think I'll grab one of those free test your water kits from home depot. Our water comes from a well, and if we don't filter it it is hard to drink. This surprised me bc the house I grew up in had delicious water from the well. I will try lathering with bottled water tomorrow. If that does not work then maybe it is my fault, but I really don't think it is. We've lived here for a few months, and our shower head is already full of green/lime/scum build up. Thanks for all the responses, it gives me hope! Maybe there is someone in the Virginia Tech area that sees this! At the least I would drive an hour or two to seek a mentor and learn from a pro.