Thread: cream density preference

Just wondering what the general preference is for shaving cream density.

super dense (Castle Forbes)
light and whipped (Taylors, Body Shop)
or somewhere in the middle

I like a dense cream as I get more shaves from the tub or tube. I don't need as much to build the lather I like.

Yep dense Castle Forbes me!!!!!!!!!

dense, I guess. how does that classicshaving.com cream rank? 'cause that's what i like.

Glad you included names. I love the Castle Forbes cream.. Nice and dense...

I prefer a lighter lather (less dense). That doesn't always relate to what the cream is like in the container. I can make a lighter lather with CF, and I really like T&H cream as well.

Jordan

The more I use it, the more I love CF. Lime and Lavendar...they both rock.
I use them almost like a soap, and they make great latehr and make for great shaves.

Dense usually means quality. It means you need to take just a little to fill you brush with a lather.

But the quality of the lather does vary. A good lather does the following:

Allows the blade to glide comfortably over the skin.
Protects the skin.
Washes easily off the blade.
Nourishes the skin.
Leaves the skin feeling comfortable after the shave.
Smells good.

What it must not do is:

Dry out on the skin before you shave.
Dry the skin.
inflame sensitive skin.
Provide no glide or protection etc.,

Castle Forbes is generally regarded to be the best cream by the majority of straight razor users. But for some the oils added to provide the scent can effect sensitive skin. It is also very expaensive.

So, one mans meat is another mans poison and there are no definative rules I'm afraid.

Sorry, what I mean is the actual cream itself, not lather density. I ask because I've noticed people complain about having to chase the little chunk of Castle Forbes around the lather bowl trying to get it to dissolve due to its density and I wanted to know if its actually a problem or just some good-natured grumbling.

I'm making my second batch of shaving cream and I can control the density of the cream by varying the amount of liquid in the mix and the ratio of NaOH:KOH. I should be able to make it anywhere from a whipped creamy Taylor consistency up to a super-dense Castle Forbes lump.