Thread: Soap Problem

I have only been shaving with a straight razor for 4 days now and I am having problems with my soaps. My lather dries and turns to a chalk on my face before I am done with one cheek.

am I not putting enough water into my later when I wip it up? what is the problem?

Maybe a bit here and a bit there.
Lather one cheek and then the other.
First shaves are slow.

Olivia is right.....When you first start do 1/2 or 1/4 of yer face at a time...

Also remember it is called wet shaving for a reason, right before you lather be sure to splash yer face with hot water...

Your lather should really look like "Cool Whip" that is when you know it is as good as it gets...

One hint about adding water should it come to that.... Mash the brush, and add water from your fingertips to the base of the bristles, I don't know why it works better, but it does....


Welcome to SRP

I was wondering about making lather when I first started, too, until I read Glen's wiki entry:

Making Überlather - Straight Razor Place Wiki

It includes the link to his original post.

It's simple and it's the only method I use now.

I can manage getting lather on a cake of soap, but this method is superior. The lather is also far superior to anything you'll ever get in a can from the grocery store.

Glycerin is pretty cheap and available at any drug store (maybe even the grocery store). The shaving cream, however, is a different story. I only have a tube of Proraso, but there's about 100 different creams I'd like to try. They get pricey, but they last a long time. My wife is starting to get a little leery about the amount of money I've spent this year on shaving *cough* needs *cough*, but she loves to rub my face!

You didn't say what soap you use and some are known for less than stellar performance and you didn't say if you had hard water which can also affect the lather however either way you should be able to get a serviceable lather no matter the soap or water quality. You just need to experiment with the amount of water you are using and the amount of soap you load up on your brush.

I always rub a bit of lather between thumb and index finger to see how slippery it is. Running a finger over your lathered face works, too. It should be, of course, very slippery. Try running your finger through the lather after it has sat on your face for a few minutes. If it gives kind of a skipping or other non-slippery feel, it's definitely time to add some more water.

If you live in a very dry climate like I do, adding a few drops of glycerin to your lather bowl can give your cream more "hang time" before it dries out.

Developing a proper lather is just about as much of a skill as learning to use a straight. And it's great fun when it all comes together.

Hello, Kaspar. Making lather is a skill in itself. Tell us what soap and brush you are using, and also make sure that your water is not hard. Unless you are taking really long on one cheek, the lather should not be drying to a cake. Sounds like you need to add more water.

It was a dovo rooney gift set that I bought. I thought it would be a good starter set for me. the soap is the classic brand shave. Here is the link that I bought it from.

Gift Sets & Gift Ideas

I mix a little of Lea shaving cream with the soap, it makes the lather more creamy and prevents drying.

I'm guessing that your face is not wet enough when you apply the lather. The best approach is to wash your face well with soap and water before starting to shave. Failing this, apply a hot towel for seveal minutes and then wet your face with warm water.

What soap are you using?