I've been having a hard time builing lather although I'm not ruling out techinque but I have tried several things from this forum and would like to rule out hard water (one less variable). So how do can I find out if the water is hard or not?
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I've been having a hard time builing lather although I'm not ruling out techinque but I have tried several things from this forum and would like to rule out hard water (one less variable). So how do can I find out if the water is hard or not?
So whats happening or not happening? What are you doing and with what?
I soak the brush (the crabtree and evlyn that got high reviews) in the lather bowl (from straight razor designs) which is full of hot water and in a crock pot turned on. put a teaspoon of water on the soap. brush my teeth and take a shower. after the shower I jump out the later bowl, squezze the brush out. pour the water from the soap into th lather bowl. Then take the brush and run it on the soap until it starts getting heavy, and making a sound. I would then move to lather bowl and start building.
The other way
same as above except don't put water on the soap and just shake the brush once. Then go to the soup run the brush squeze it until it starts looking like lather on top of the soup. I then move to lather bowl. This seems to work a little better but still not as good as the descriptions say it should be.
If your water comes from your town (as opposed to well), you can call and find out. Because hard water can ruin appliances etc, many stores sell kits to test for hard water. I do not know if they still sell the kits but sears used to sell them. Unless you are going to install a water purification system, there is not much you can do with the knowledge. Perhaps you may want to focus on how to improve your lather regardless of the water you have. I do not know what soap you are using but perhaps changing to a different brand could make the difference. People say that Proraso foams in slat water (I have not tried this). Also, take a look at your technique, perhaps there is room there for improvements. And finally, you could help yourself by adding glycerin to your lather, or glycerin + shaving cream to create uberlather. I just posted pictures of a good lather so you can get an idea. There are also others in the wiki.
http://straightrazorpalace.com/shavi...-homemade.html
Al raz.
I just seem to get the thick well moisturized lather, it's eather to thin or to wattery
Aren't there cheap test kits you can get from a home supply store?
I have hard water. I always know when I'm staying over somewhere that has soft water because during a shower, the soap film with soft water never........ever.........ever.........and I mean.............EVER rinses off. Sorry soft water proponents, it's like nails on a chalkboard to me. A slippery film that won't rinse off? Mmmmmmm, slippery film.:rant:
"Jeez, Chris, why don't you tell us how you really feel?!"
I think I just did.
Chris L
I agree - there is a time and a place for a slippery film, and that time and place only occasionally includes in the shower!
But I digress. I have a little test strip kit I used for our hot tub that includes a pad for testing the hardness of the water. The test strips are very cheap. Perhaps you could pop by a pool and spa shop and grab some to test your tap water?
James.
Hard water really doesn't matter all that much, honestly.....
We have well water here at the ranch, that we fondly call "Chip a Tooth" hard....
I have found that starting with the hottest water I can possibly stand to use out of the tap, makes quite a difference in the lather...
I also use Uberlather to compensate, but that's just me...
Some soaps alone, just don't seem to want to lather here, I won't mention names because they lather for everyone else and I have used them when traveling in Colorado and they work just fine... In fact they now stay in my travel kit....
So I would say try a little hotter water, and try a different brand of soap.... and see what happens...
I needed this info when I installed my dishwasher, so it knows how much salt to use. I found the information on my city's website! There may also be a phone number or website on your water bill.Quote:
Originally Posted by errnest
If you drop it on your foot and it HURTS:roflmao, sorry I couldn't resist.Quote:
Originally Posted by errnest
After reading this, I think I know how to make it better:Quote:
Originally Posted by errnest
1) Use a separate bowl to build your lather.
2) Soak bowl and brush in hot water.
3) Empty the contents and leave the brush MOIST but not wet.
4) Add a few drops of glycerin to the bowl.
5) Load the brush with soap, that is rub it on the soap until there is clear evidence that there is soap in the bristles.
6) Using a circular motion, rub the loaded brush to the bowl where the glycerin is for a minimum of 5 minutes.
7) Keep rubbing.
8) Keep rubbing.
9) Keep rubbing.
10) If the lather is to thin repeat from step 5. If the lather is too thick, add a drop of water and repeat from step 7.
I would be surprised if you get thin lather again ;-)
Al raz.
Do you recomend soaking the soap as well?Quote:
Originally Posted by Alraz
Quote:
Originally Posted by errnest
No need to soak the soap but some soaps would benefit from adding a bit of hot water to soften them a bit. If I remember correctly, glycerin based soaps do not need added water. It is hard to know whether it would be appropriate for your soap without knowing what soap you are using ;-).
Al raz.
I didn't realize I left the soaps out, sorry about that. right know I'm playing with tabac, colleen's soaps and creams, and the body shop macro root.
So far even with the problems I'm liking colleen's the best.
You could always try a gallon of distilled water, which should let you know what "perfectly" soft water would be like. Alternatively, if you don't mind a long winded sales pitch you could always give one of the companies peddling water softeners a call and they'll test it for you.
If you know anyone with a decent sized fishtank they will probably have a test kit which includes water hardness tests. otherwise the local Home depot or Lowes should have test kits. Don't call a water softener guy he'll torture you to death with his presentation.
I found one at wal mart its not hard so now I know it's only technique and will continue working on it until I get it right.
thebigspendur I noticed your from NM, what part. I grew up in Las Cruces and most of my family is in NM.