Thread: Soap drys out on face

Hi guys,
I have been straight shaving for a year but am still having problems with the soap drying on my face during the shave. I am not the quickest shaver nor the slowest, but by the time I I get to do the second half of my face the soap has dried up. I use tabac soap, also Trumpers shaving cream, both are great products. I use a silver mixing bowl and also a quality badger brush.

Does anyone know of a better soap that stays fluid for a longer period of time, but also stays thick and doesnt turn thin and runny too quickly.

Thanks for any help you can offer.



Regards

London

Have you tried adding glycerin to your lather?

Adding 3 to 5 drops of pure glycerin to your lather seems to keep it hydrated much longer.

If you do a search here you'll find that a lot of us use it.

Two thoughts. First, the soap is too watery to start with. Second, I have to do a quick swipe of the brush on my left side after finishing the right side,too, to re-lather.I don't believe my water is too hard so I don't consider that. I take about 30 minutes to shave. I even take the step of applying a hot towel to my lip and chin area before doing those areas. This is after I have finished my cheeks, jaws and neck.

I agree, Glycerin can help. I have extremely hard water and it lays to waste even great soaps like TGQ. TOBs creams no matter what the ratio of water to cream always dried out so fast that it would start to snow off my face.

A cream and a soap that don't seem to be affected by my hard water, give superlative shaves and stay hydrated just as I need them to are:

Re-labeled Proraso (the C.O. Bigelow stuff) for a cream
Momma Bear's Rosemary Mint with aloe and shea soap. Explodes with lather that lasts.

Chris L

Nothing to worry about. If the soap starts drying out, just grab the brush and slop a little more on. I always like to take the easy way if it gets the job done well.
Ken.
Relax and enjoy the shave.

This only happened to me when I first started straight razor shaving. I was slower then molasses. Not saying that is why it is happening to you. One way or the other watch these videos on lathering and it may help.

Could it be that the air is rather dry as well? I have noticed that since winter hit my lather dries on my face. For me, it's because the winters are very dry here, and my forced air heating does nothing to help. It's so bad that when I take a long, hot shower, it doesn't even fog up the mirrors anymore. Sometimes I close the door to the bathroom, close the heating vent, and then take a long, hot shower in order to make the room more humid.

Besides adding glycerin to build my lather, I never really cover my whole face with lather This way I prevent the lather drying on me.

Al raz.

The twp products you are using are generally considered to be of a high quality.

I have hard water but 30 minutes is asking a lot for any soap not to dry out. Nothing will stay moist for that length of time that is of a lathering type of soap. I would say 10 minutes is doing well.

You must make a heavy marangue type of lather by basically whipping the soap for as long as it takes. Make sure your face is wet when you apply this rich lather.

I have tried some modern non lathering creams that will not dry out, but to be honest, they are not as good. Better to wash off the dry stuff and reapply in my view. You will soon be shaving a layer of lather off in 5 minutes and then you wont have the problem