Printable View
I have a Maggard 24mm synthetic shaving brush. I wet it about 2, 3 seconds under the faucet, then I squeeze the hairs to eliminate the excess water. I also give the brush a couple of shakes to also eliminate the excess water. After this I face lather a shaving cream, but I don't have enough lather for 3 passes. I'm using this cream: https://depotmaletools.com/en/prodot...oap_cream.html. What am I doing wrong?
Never heard of that shaving cream so I can't say it is the cream or not. I'd suggest using more shave cream to begin with as a starting point.
Bob
Really it’s up to what u use. How you build it, and how much you load.
I’m curious how you are loading the brush. With a tube of cream, even if I don’t build my lather in a cup, I will often use a cup or a bowl to distribute the soap in the brush. You could also use your palm. The water, cream ration will also effect how much lather you can build. I often load my brush, build my lather, dip my brush to add water as needed, and lather more. If you are happy with your water to cream ration, you will need to add more cream and water to build enough lather.
Synthetic brushes don't hold water. A couple gentle shakes should eliminate any excess water. You might be using too little water.
Buy better soaps…
I refer you to the Soaps and Creams forum, specifically to the first thread (First Tier Soaps and Creams),
Yes, some are pricy, but worth every penny. A tub of MDC will easily last more than a year of daily use.
There is a reason they are on the top ten list.
As suggested try loading more cream. All creams are not made equal, some creams an almond size amount is easily enough for a 3 pass shave, some others need more or less.
And, as you reduce the hair that is being cut, you need less cream/soap.
My first pass is heavy lather, second medium lather, third pass, ATG very lite lather and water cleanup.
But better soaps and creams will make more & richer lather. As said, if needed dip in for more soap or cream, there are no rules…
As said, different brushes act differently. Not just size but hair types and how much lather they hold. So.e dont hold much so you habe to make more lather. And the other point of trying better soap. I soak my brush for 5 minutes, not seconds.
You just need to try other stuff. But, thefe is nothing wrong with making or adding more lather.
It always takes me awhile to get used to different brushes (and there seems to be a breaking in period). I've only used a synthetic once and they do hold water differently than a natural.
If you wipe the lather from your blade with the brush no lather gets lost. If your blade is really scary sharp you don't need 3 passes.
A single pass is usually shave enough for me. But my 30mm Whipped Dog silvertip is up to a 3 pass shave with pretty much any soap or cream.
I know my straight razor edges are not scary sharp but even with a Feather blade in a DE I do 4 passes.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kees
Bob
I bowl lather rather than face lather. I generally whip up enough lather for a four pass shave, a bonus poss for face conditioning and still have lather left in the bowl and brush for a sixth pass if i wished. I do this using about 1/4 teaspoon (1 1/2 grams) of product and about 1 Tablespoon (15 ml) of water.
Either you are not adding enough soap to your brush or you are not adding enough water as you lather.
4 passes would ruin my skin.Quote:
Originally Posted by BobH
4 passes would ruin my skin but not all skin is made equal. My best mate has a five O clock shadow 5 mins after a barber shave.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kees
Everyone is different and so is their skin in what it will tolerate.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kees
Bob
I have very sensitive skin, but with good beard prep, a great lather with the right soap, the right razor and blade, the right shave angle, and minimal pressure, I can easily do a four-pass shave with zero irritation. However, it took a while to figure it all out.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kees
Just whip up more lather for the third pass if you need it. I face lather and make new lather or better yet top up my brush for every successive pass.
You probably aren’t doing anything wrong. The brush can only hold so much lather.
You will get through this :rofl2:
Little late to respond but i remember a member post somewhat similar to this.. Dont recall the member who responded with.. Soap is cheap (for the most part) so go big.. And he was right..
Scott
Gentlemen,
For me, the trick is to load the brush well, whether using soap or cream, and then control the water ratio. The sweetest part of shaving, for me, is the lathering. I find it relaxing, as well sensual. So I take my time lathering with all three passes and cleanup.
One of the primary ways I judge a soap is to shave with three passes from one lathering session. If I have to relather mid shave...well...that soap already has one leg in the trash.
I'll agree with Obie here. Lathering and applying lather is a very sensuous action.
With Poraso, I soak a boar brush in the mug filled with water while I am showering. Then when I'm ready to shave I pour out the water in the mug, but don't shake the brush at all. I put about 1" of the Poraso in the bottom of the mug. I'd say that the unshaken brush imparts a little less than 1 TBSP water to the mixture. I swirl the water/Poraso around in the mug, bearing down slightly, for 80 quick circles or so (sounds like a lot but it's really quick). I always have too much lather for a three pass, every time. Pre-shave prep is throwing a little hair conditioner on the whiskers while showering. Post-shave is a cold rinse with the little white aseptic block; rinse again after a minute, then , a dollop of Walmart pure aloe vera gel - instantly soothing, cheap, quick and no stink. Works great. Also, a two-pass is just about as good as a three pass if you're in a hurry. My two cents.
While I shower, I soak the brush in hot tap water in my mug and put enough hot tap water to cover the surface of my soap/cream in its container.
Shake out the brush and replace the water in the mug/bowl with the soapy water from the container and use it to raise a lather. 10-15 swirls of the brush are usually enough to pick up what I need to make more than enough for shaving.
I usually have enough lather left in the bowl after 3 passes to add a nice scent to the bathroom if I leave it to dry.