Thread: Lather Help - Tabac

Okay, so I just started using Tabac cream within the past few weeks, and I'm having some trouble with the lather. I'm sure it's my fault, just not sure what I'm doing wrong.

I'm using about a dime-size dollop with a moderately wet brush and get a good amount of lather. It goes on full and smooth, but if I let it set on my face for more than a minute, it's like pulling my razor through concrete. I figured this means not enough water, but no matter how much water I use, it's the same.

If I use too much water, then the lather isn't thick enough and just fades before I get to shaving. Again, I'm sure this is my fault, just not sure where to make the corrections.

What other beard prep are you doing, and has your blade been honed properly before shaving? It may be one of those two rather than the lather. I have no experience with Tabac, so can't help you there sorry, but I'm sure someone else will be able to.

I shower before I shave to open up the pores. I also work the brush good over my face to lift the stubble. The blade's been properly honed. This happens with both blades I use.

Do you use any sort of pre-shave beard treatment (e.g hair conditioner or olive oil) to soften it up, or just the hot shower? If you have a coarser beard the hair conditioner may help you achieve a softer beard and thus a smoother shave. Also, do you experience the pulling with other soaps/creams, or is it just Tabac that has this effect?

Try building lather in a bowl instead, while you are getting the hang of it.

Start out by squeezing out most of the water from the brush, then gradually adding water.

Some good info here:

Making basic cream lather in three different ways - Straight Razor Place Wiki

Mantic also has some good videos.

YouTube - mantic59's Channel

i know someone put up video about leathering check it out. what you saying you may have water problems. try to boil you water and then use it . See it does changes anything.
hope helps.

Originally Posted by mosley59

Do you use any sort of pre-shave beard treatment (e.g hair conditioner or olive oil) to soften it up, or just the hot shower? If you have a coarser beard the hair conditioner may help you achieve a softer beard and thus a smoother shave. Also, do you experience the pulling with other soaps/creams, or is it just Tabac that has this effect?

No. I tried the hair conditioner when shaving with other soap and it didn't really help that I could tell. I've only experienced this with the Tabac.

Originally Posted by Slartibartfast

Try building lather in a bowl instead, while you are getting the hang of it.

Start out by squeezing out most of the water from the brush, then gradually adding water.

Some good info here:

Making basic cream lather in three different ways - Straight Razor Place Wiki

Mantic also has some good videos.

YouTube - mantic59's Channel

I'd watched all the videos before I got started shaving and again and again. I do make the lather in the bowl, so it's not that. It must just be that I'm adding too much water when I do add that I go from not enough to too much.

This seems to me like an acute case of notfindingthepeakitis, a very common and serious syndrome among wet shavers. It would be nearly impossible for anybody to tell you exactly how much water you need to add to get perfect lather. However, with a bit of experimentation and patience, I am sure that you would find your answer. I have seen this happen with every soap/cream I use: if you add too little water, the lather is like a rock; if you add too much water, it vanishes. It only takes a couple of drops literally to go from the peak to a well hydrated lather. In some cases one drop beyond that makes it fade away, there is not a lot of playing room in between. You may find post 29 on this thread useful:

http://straightrazorpalace.com/newbi...nt-lather.html

When you first start face lathering, it seems harder to find the peak. This is not a reason to stop, it is a great method, only that you need to be extra patient. I just started myself a couple of weeks ago and I will never go back (well, for now). At first, it is challenging to control the amount of water that you add. You either soak, or add water to the brush or face. When you soak, some of the lather goes away, which may take the balance right out, and you do not know exactly how much water you added; when you add water to the brush or face, the position is not optimal and you seem to add less that you intended, until you go over ;-). The good news is that you learn this quickly with some practice, it has been so for me, believe me. The important thing here is that you are on the right track: 1) you have identified the problem; 2) you acknowledge that the problem is yours; and 3) you are taking a step by step (scientific) approach to solve it. If you have any additional question, just ask.

Al raz.

Al raz, thanks! That's kinda what I figured. I'll just keep practicing.

Preshave oil sounds beneficial to you before lathering. Building good later takes 60 - 70 seconds. I do 30 sec. in the soap holder, then 30 sec. on me face.

Badger Brush, before swirling the soap or cream, it gets a little shake out of excess water. This work well in that if I need a more water, I add a little more to the brush and swirl some more. Sometimes, I add a little more soap or cream when I feel I had too much water in the brush.

I saw a good video on You Tube on lathering when starting out and all of my lathering sessions are either very good or excellent.

I hope this ads value to your quest for getting a decent lathering.

Pabster