Thread: Lighten Up

Gentlemen,

I have discovered that my razor glides smoother and easier if I keep my lather a touch thinner and more watery than I am accustomed to. Also, I seem to get a better shave all around, especially going against the grain on the neck.

Using the best soaps and creams within my price range, I whip up a luxurious lather on my face, but then proceed to thin it down a bit. For the final touch up, the lather has been thinned down even more.

Obviously this might not work for everyone. It does for me, since I am plagued by a heavy beard. In the meantime, I continue to experiment with the texture and the density of the lather on my Hollywood face.

Do some of you gentlemen find thinner and more watery lathers preferable? Or am I an oddball?

Regards,

Obie

I'm more of a fan of a thick watery lather, take for instance Mitchell's Wool Fat, it can be start off watery but builds n builds, once its reaches a creamy consistency but still retains its watery base then its perfect for me. Anything dry causes the razor to get stuck or skip due to lack of proper lubrication against my coarse and very thick beard.

So I guess more of a thick creamy kinda guy, throws up in mouth.

Cheers
D

Interesting.


I generally prefer thick mayonaise consistancy tallowy lather on my face, and only on the final touch-up portion of the shave do I go for a thin watery lather.

But perhaps a closer shave would be achieved with thinner lather negating the need for a touch-up pass?

I'll ponder this during the 'morrow's shave....

Originally Posted by Seraphim

Interesting.


I generally prefer thick mayonaise consistancy tallowy lather on my face, and only on the final touch-up portion of the shave do I go for a thin watery lather.

But perhaps a closer shave would be achieved with thinner lather negating the need for a touch-up pass?

I'll ponder this during the 'morrow's shave....

I actually like it, after the first pass, to be a little thinner. I still find myself doing touch up passes though.

Great thread!!! I have been trying to convey the notion of using proper lather consistency to members in this forum for awhile. Although, I do not go as far as using or recommending "watery" lather, I would definitely take a thinner lather over a overly thick and dry one. There are a number of reasons for using lather at the peak of the soap thus avoiding dry lather:

1) Razor glide. I will not elaborate on this because you have noticed the benefits of going a bit down on density on the closeness of your shave. However, I will say that just from the standpoint of pure resistance, it is easier to push an object over oil or ice that it is to do so using glue. Obvious, isn't it.

2) Concentration of chemicals and irritation. The drier the lather, the more concentrated that the chemicals in it are, and as a result, the larger the negative effects on the skin, this is particularly important if your skin is sensitive like mine.

3) Bear preparation. It is no secret that hair hydration is a big component of bear preparation. Obviously stopping this process during the shave by dry lather sucking up all the water on your skin, is not advisable.

My sensitive skin has forced me to work on my lathering skills as I experiments experiment with different soap, it even has made me go as far as making my own soaps and shaving creams (The Bomb). One of the things that I have learned in the process is that lather works best when you achieve a proper consistency. Ok, that is fine, but what do I mean by proper consistency: lather that passes the stretch test. The stretch test, or the inch test is done the following way: take a bit of lather and put it on the tip of your thumb, allow your index finger to touch it and then, separate them slowly. If your lather breaks almost immediately, you lather is too dry. But how much is enough: usually about 1" (and hence the name) of separation is what you need to get the best out of a soap/cream. I find that even products regarded as "bad" pass this test if you have good lathering skills. As I have noticed, the quality of the water could be a problem in some instances for a successful result. Using lather at this point, which should correspond to the peak of the soap, does not have any negative effect on the protection or cushion of the lather. Basically, you get the best of both worlds.

Another thing I discovered is that the density of the lather is determined by the soap/cream (by the choice of ingredients and the process used) and not by the user. Yes, you can make your lather as thick or thin as you want but this is not the best, and therefore, not recommended. It is always best to use the lather close to the peak. As you point out, the result of adjusting the density of the lather is a closer shave, with reduced chances for irritation and added overall comfort.

Al raz.

Originally Posted by Obie

Gentlemen,

I have discovered that my razor glides smoother and easier if I keep my lather a touch thinner and more watery than I am accustomed to. Also, I seem to get a better shave all around, especially going against the grain on the neck.

Using the best soaps and creams within my price range, I whip up a luxurious lather on my face, but then proceed to thin it down a bit. For the final touch up, the lather has been thinned down even more.

Obviously this might not work for everyone. It does for me, since I am plagued by a heavy beard. In the meantime, I continue to experiment with the texture and the density of the lather on my Hollywood face.

Do some of you gentlemen find thinner and more watery lathers preferable? Or am I an oddball?

Regards,

Obie

Great avatar Al raz!

I build lather on my face. My ATG pass lather is very watery and thin compared to my first WTG pass. For touch ups, I use water only.

I find it easer to control the consistency of lather with soaps than with creams.

I use Mitchells Wool Fat. I started using it quite thick. But, lately have moved toward a thinner lather. The thick lather is OK at first. But, after awhile, it starts to get too gummy.

I actually use two bowls. One with the MWF and the other empty. I get the brush full of lather, and scrape it off into the empty bowl. I don't use the MWF bowl any more during the shave.

I continue to use lather out of the formerly empty blow for the remainder of the shave. Occasionally, I dip the brush into hot water and re-lather the brush. This dilutes the soap somewhat. But, the longer I shave, the thinner the lather becomes. I find I like it that way.