Soap Problem

I am not sure if it is my technique as I am a noob or if it the soap but I can never make a serviceable lather. I mean I get what I think is the correct lather but never stays lathered on my face. I got a puck of almond scented Marvy shaving soap which sits almost perfectly in the bottom of a conical coffee mug. I load my badger brush with piping hot water and then let the excesses drip off an once it stop dripping I start to stir the brush over the soap. I initially get a lot of wet later that is really only good for pre-shave face prep. I continue past the wet lather but it never gets to, and I can only compare the consistency to whipped cream, a good stiff peak consistency. It seems to go from wet strait to dry lather and it is making it hard(er) for this noob to shave. I am not sure if it is my inexperience or the lather but I have gotten away with only one nick free shave. Can anyone give me some insight why I am not getting a good lather as well as how to get a better lather? Also, will a poor lather/lubrication contribute to getting nicked?

I'm curious - are you continually rubbing the brush over the puck of soap and make lather in the same cup? That could be your problem right there.

Try this, load the brush with some soap then put the soap away. Take the loaded brush and rub it over your wet face until it comes to the right consistency. It will be a little less stiff than whipped cream, but should form peaks. Then smooth it out and shave away. The brush should hold enough lather for another pass or two, which is all I ever need.

As for contributing to getting nicked: Yes. Lather is your skin's protection, so if it's thin or dry you're gonna have a rough shave.

:gl:

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Originally Posted by Zaph

I am not sure if it is my technique as I am a noob or if it the soap but I can never make a serviceable lather. I mean I get what I think is the correct lather but never stays lathered on my face. I got a puck of almond scented Marvy shaving soap which sits almost perfectly in the bottom of a conical coffee mug. I load my badger brush with piping hot water and then let the excesses drip off an once it stop dripping I start to stir the brush over the soap. I initially get a lot of wet later that is really only good for pre-shave face prep. I continue past the wet lather but it never gets to, and I can only compare the consistency to whipped cream, a good stiff peak consistency. It seems to go from wet strait to dry lather and it is making it hard(er) for this noob to shave. I am not sure if it is my inexperience or the lather but I have gotten away with only one nick free shave. Can anyone give me some insight why I am not getting a good lather as well as how to get a better lather? Also, will a poor lather/lubrication contribute to getting nicked?

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Do you build the lather in a separate mug or right on your face? It took me a few tries to get the hang of soaps when I started, and tended to use creams then.

I have pretty hard water where I live and found that the best way for me to use soap is to lather right on my face. I'll lather my face in two parts; first the cheeks and neck, then get a little more soap and lather around my mouth and chin.

I have been trying to build the later in the same cup as the soap. I have been checking out videos on the internet and they all seem to be building in the same cup as the puck.

Wiki to the rescue: This method works. Making basic soap lather - Straight Razor Place Wiki

. To wet and it would vanish into thin air and if too dry, it may feel like concrete. Both excessively wet or dry lather can have a similar appearance though. If you go too far past this point, the lather would vanish into thin air. You can also get a better consistency by adjusting the whipping speed. One thing is for sure, it is better to use a bit past the point lather than dry lather. You also may want to work the lather on your face as well so that it serves one of its intended purposes, prepping your beard but as you said, it should look similar to whipped cream.

It seems that you have too much soap or too little water. You may want to check this video out: vhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dd7Aj9vwrtc&feature=channel

Assuming that you do not have very hard water, it takes about 3 sec to load the brush. You do not really need much, believe me. You should definitely not spend a comparable amount of time loading your brush as building your lather bu there are exceptions. The next step is, as mantic says in the video, adding water as you whip, this should be gradual. Remember that adding water to the lather is easier (at first) than adding more soap. You should also allow some time for the lather to form, at least 1 minute, some time twice as long. The whipping should be also vigorous but without being a workout. You do not need much water. How much water is enough? well, enough to find the peak of the soap, the point where no more lather can be produced for a given amount of soap. After that, add a couple of drops, literally, to hydrate it. Finding the peak is essential to get great lather.

If the lather vanishes into thin air when you apply to your face, you went too far past the peak. Next time, use the same amount of soap but reduce the water. If your lather is to dry, you need to add a bit more water. How do you know if your lather is dry? put a little bit of lather on your thumb and touch it with your index finger; then separate the thumb and the index finger slowly and see how long you can go before the lather breaks. You should be able to go about 1". I call this the inch test ;-).

Al raz.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Zaph

I am not sure if it is my technique as I am a noob or if it the soap but I can never make a serviceable lather. I mean I get what I think is the correct lather but never stays lathered on my face. I got a puck of almond scented Marvy shaving soap which sits almost perfectly in the bottom of a conical coffee mug. I load my badger brush with piping hot water and then let the excesses drip off an once it stop dripping I start to stir the brush over the soap. I initially get a lot of wet later that is really only good for pre-shave face prep. I continue past the wet lather but it never gets to, and I can only compare the consistency to whipped cream, a good stiff peak consistency. It seems to go from wet strait to dry lather and it is making it hard(er) for this noob to shave. I am not sure if it is my inexperience or the lather but I have gotten away with only one nick free shave. Can anyone give me some insight why I am not getting a good lather as well as how to get a better lather? Also, will a poor lather/lubrication contribute to getting nicked?

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Thanks BeBerlin for the WIKI link...haven't had an lather problems, but, good info that may take okay to great...

There's your problem you're using badger.

YouTube - Quick lather with boar

Resource

About getting nicked: as others have pointed out, yep, the lather is super important here. You want to make sure your water quantity is just right:

- Too much water and the lather becomes, well, watery. This means your skin will absorb the excess water and the lather will dry out on your face. Not good for nicks.

- Too little water and the lather is going to dry out very quickly. Result as above.

It may sound intimidating but it's not too hard to get there. Keep at it and definitely follow the useful videos posted by other fellow-straight shavers here.

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Originally Posted by Zaph

I have been trying to build the later in the same cup as the soap. I have been checking out videos on the internet and they all seem to be building in the same cup as the puck.

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Move the puck to a shallow two dollar plastic storage container.
Then build your lather in the cup after you pick some up from the puck
or build it on your face.

Zaph,

I live where the Marvy Co. is located and like their soap for its fragrance and shavability, but also have not been able to get picture book lather from it. I suspect that, being an un-closeted creamer, my soap lathering skills are poorly lacking. The Marvy soap, however, even when apparently quite thin, still has enabled smooth, close shaves. I''m going to try giving it the hot water soak while showering to see if I can get the whipped cream texture we all think is the cat's PJs.

I have some extra pucks which I got from Mr. Marvy, so if you need some for further experimenting and find yourself lacking in subject material, lemme know and I'll send some your way.

:beer2:

Are you putting hot water on the puck for a while before you try to lather?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Zaph

I have been trying to build the later in the same cup as the soap. I have been checking out videos on the internet and they all seem to be building in the same cup as the puck.

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Can't say I've seen any vids that do this. Mantic certainly doesn't and he the most oft linked.

The bowl/jars soap come in, or a cup you put them in, is only suitable for loading up the damp, not wet, brush. And it's always easier to start with a brush that is a little too dry and add water.

You can't build a proper lather on the puck. If you just stay working it on the puck, it eventually just dries out, as you've found, because the soap eventually takes up all the excess moisture. So take the loaded brush to a bowl or your face, and add a little water at a time, and build from there.

Best thing to do is practice it, and make a few bowls up without shaving, you'll get it quicker that way.

A really easy method for making lather with soap that I use is this one. It really takes the guess work out of the quantities..!

- Fill your mug with hot water and soak your brush. At the same time, put a tablespoon of hot water onto your soap and leave it to soften.

- Strop your razor

- Empty the water from the mug and shake most of the water out of the brush.

- Tip the tablespoon of water from the top of the soap into the mug.

- Load the brush with soap. The softening caused by the water should make this easier, and I find I only need 10 - 15 swirls to load the brush.

- Make your lather in the mug using the soapy water and the loaded brush.

For me, this consistently results in a complete mug full of lather and the right "whipped cream" consistency that you talk of.

Give it a try and see what you think!

Good luck!