TGQ Soap

Hi All,

I just got some samples from The Gentlemen's Quarter and am having problems with the lather. I have tried using glycerine as I had been using before with Truefitt & Hill, but the lather is evaporating. I tried last night without any glycerine and it seemed to hold up better. This morning I tried again without any added glycerine and it evaporated again, lasted a bit longer, but not for the full 3 pass shave. The difference between last night and this morning was that I used my redneck scuttle this morning.

Any suggestions as to what I can do to make the lather last longer? I do like the warm lather from the redneck scuttle and love the scents from the TGQ soaps.

Thanks

Lu

There are quite a few of us who have trouble with TGQ soaps, But the majority of the members seem to like it. I could never get it to work for me. Exactly what you say, the lather was kind of flat, no matter how much I work it. One thing you said kind of troubled me. You use Glycerin with Truefitt and Hill? Really, that's a top notch shave cream. It really doesn't need any help. It does just fine on it's own. You may want to work on your lather building skill. I've uber'd some soaps before, but never T&H shave cream.

Everything zib said. I don't get good results from TGQ at all, and I generally love glycerine cold pour soaps like QED, SRD, HBS and MB. But many here love it.:shrug:

And I'd stop using extra glycerine with high end products, as he said.

I have no trouble with there soap. For me I load the brush real heavy almost to making a lather. Then I lather on my face and add water as needed. Last night I did whip it up in my scuttle and it seemed like it took a lot of work to build it up but it still lathered good. I got there sampler pack and had no trouble with the small pucks, and after that was gone I was so pleased with it I got a bigger puck. I use both a 20mm best badger and a 28mm silvertip and have no trouble with either.

You may just try loading your brush more and whipping it on your face a little longer. You will have to add water I am sure but just add small amounts. I normally just dip the tip of the brush and whip some more. I don't really know if this will help but I hope it does.:gl:

Thanks guys. I just thought that I lost all ability to make lather that would last for my shave. I just wanted to try a different soap to see how it worked for me.

Rich,

Sorry the T & H is soap, I just was not getting good lather when I started and tried to improve with glycerine, which fixed the issue. I have not gone back to try without it on that soap since it was working so well. I have not yet tried any cream.

Sbrowers,

I have not tried to lather on my face, I whip the lather in the scuttle and then lather up my face. By the time I finish stropping most of my face is clear with the TGQ soap.

Thanks again.
Lu

Could it be the water quality? Hard water? Would that make a difference?

I found it interesting that when I did not use the scuttle it seemed to hold up better. I just let it sit for about the same time that it takes me to strop and shave.

I will try to use it tomorrow without the scuttle to see if that helps. I will have much more time to shave tomorrow.

Thanks All.

Lu

Quote:

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Originally Posted by OLD_SCHOOL

I'm not sure exactly what is going on but, evaporating and flat lather from TGQ soaps, sound like too much water is being used. Their soaps are not thirsty and do not require much water at all.

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Old School has it right. Thats why I suggested loading the brush heavy and add very little water.

I have very hard water at home and when I am there I don't have any trouble with the TGQ soap. All soaps (for me anyways) seem to take a little bit different technique to establish good lather. One example is Tabac, I love this soap but at first I had some trouble with it, but now its great. Just give your self time and don't give up.

TGQ soaps use less water than most soaps to get a good lather. I do have the problems with the soaps for other reasons, it really burns my face especially my nose area, so I stopped using them.
Tabac is my king of soaps right now.

I guess I got lucky with the hard water thing. :shrug: Trust me at home I have really hard water. Like I said earlier just stick with it, don't be afraid to experiment with your water. :gl:

I have been using TGQ soap for three weeks now; I love it. I too had some minor problems with getting it to lather, but, learned that the right amount of water is important, as with any hard soap. I have hard water too, and believe that this effected the lather. The biggest factor is I am putting a lot more strokes on the brush in my bowl before I hit my face; about 30 or more. Now I am getting great lather. I always seem to have to re-lather for the second pass anyway and sometimes three. I do use a preshave oil, and this really helps me get even better glide. Yesterday I skipped it as I was in a rush to get to work and will say that I got a good shave, but, would have liked to had the pre oil. I found the soap does burn a bit, but, that sensation seems to have worn off after a few uses. I really like the sent of "Old Leathernek"...although it pains me to say so since I served 9 years in the US Army. Carlo

I don't actually have trouble getting TGQ soaps to lather, I just don't find they make for a good shave for whatever reason. My skin also doesn't like them, so I'm probably not suited for whatever oils she is using, though I have no problems with FOs from HBS or EOs from QED, HBS, MB and SRD soaps.

I think it's good to experiment with different techniques and water ratios, but at the end of the day if you don't like a particular soap, spend your time with a soap you do like. I think the only point you should take from this is that you aren't alone in getting bad results from TGQ, so don't hesitate to find a soap you like if you get sick of trying to results from TGQ. Don't feel like you are necessarily failing or it's necessarily your technique. I found the soaps I like, I liked immediately, and never had trouble getting them to work. And the soaps I don't like, I had no more luck with them after doing this a few years than I did before.

Lathering isn't rocket science, and which soap you like is just taste.

I also had trouble with it initially so now I just lather right on my face with great results. I have a best badger brush and a self-made silvertip and found that the best badger works much better with soaps at my house. I have pretty hard water at my house.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by loueedacat

I don't actually have trouble getting TGQ soaps to lather, I just don't find they make for a good shave for whatever reason. My skin also doesn't like them, so I'm probably not suited for whatever oils she is using, though I have no problems with FOs from HBS or EOs from QED, HBS, MB and SRD soaps.

I think it's good to experiment with different techniques and water ratios, but at the end of the day if you don't like a particular soap, spend your time with a soap you do like. I think the only point you should take from this is that you aren't alone in getting bad results from TGQ, so don't hesitate to find a soap you like if you get sick of trying to results from TGQ. Don't feel like you are necessarily failing or it's necessarily your technique. I found the soaps I like, I liked immediately, and never had trouble getting them to work. And the soaps I don't like, I had no more luck with them after doing this a few years than I did before.

Lathering isn't rocket science, and which soap you like is just taste.

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+1 Well Said. let me add this,

What got me interested in TGQ. Senior members like O_S. He lives in Japan. I'm sure the shipping is high. I figured, if he's willing to pay that, to get her soap. It must be good. But Gentleman, The best advice I can give you is to try different soaps. What I have learned is, different strokes for different folks. What works for one person, may not work for you. I'm not sure why. Sometimes there's no explanation. I certainly know how to build a good lather. Don't get me wrong, TGQ works, just not that good for me. IMHO.

Update from todays lather making. I took the advise that had been given as of last night and did as suggested, not give up, experiment, keep working on my skills etc...

The results were that I spent the better part of 1 1/2 hours making lather and shaving. I took several bowls and a measuring spoon ( from daughter's play kitchen) and started to work. I know now that I can make fairly good lather with the soap. It was not perfect but I did not have to rework the lather between passes and once my face was lathered it held for the full pass.

What I found was that I had to spend more time loading up the brush on the soap before starting the lather. In addition I needed to spend more time working up the lather. The test lather that I used prior to the shave was still holding up in the test bowl even when I finished cleaning up and putting away my razor.

Thank you all for taking the time to try and help!
:bow
Lu

Lu, I have had problems with her samples when generating lather. I took care of that problem by buying the full size pucks. Her's are the only soaps I buy! :rock: