Thread: Shseido lather fail... help?

Hey folks, wondering if you can help me out.

I've been experimenting with various soaps and creams, and so far I've been able to get a lather out of all of them... except this one.

It's called Shiseido Men shaving cream. This one.

The instructions say to apply it to the face, but obviously that's not what I'm using it for and I prefer to use a bowl because of how much lather I need for a shave. I haven't had any insurmountable problems with any other soap or cream doing it this way.

I've been lathering with a boar brush in a small bowl. Same brush and bowl I've used for everything else. Same water too. I started with just a tiny bit of water and a dollop of the cream. Nothing. I was whisking away at it for a solid couple minutes or more, and got nothing but suds. Added more water. Nothing. More cream. Nothing.

Eventually I gave up and started over with a cream I knew I could get a lather from.

Anyone got any advice?

I don't know this product, but perhaps it is something like the Lush products?
Lush makes shaving creams, real good one's too, except that they don't make any lather. I actually use them as a pre-shave "oil"
They even think that's a feature, not a bug
On the the box it even says "it doesn't foam, too kind"
Anyway, just a thought.

Originally Posted by Birnando

I don't know this product, but perhaps it is something like the Lush products?
Lush makes shaving creams, real good one's too, except that they don't make any lather. I actually use them as a pre-shave "oil"
They even think that's a feature, not a bug
On the the box it even says "it doesn't foam, too kind"
Anyway, just a thought.

Weird... less (or no) cushion as a feature?

I just tried it again on my arm, applying directly to it as per the instructions. I rubbed it in as per the instructions. Still nothing. Tried the brush, and it actually got even less sudsy with that.

I think you may be right.

Well, I'm not sure about less cushioning.
I think it's more that they think that foam isn't required for cushioning at all
Perhaps it's been developed not to clog up the 7blade multi superduper razors?

Perhaps. But it's *really* thin. Even saying it makes suds is being a bit kind. It doesn't even really do that. It mostly just waters down.

I'd reckon you're right. It might be intended for the 8 billion blade wizzbangers.

What I get from it actually reminds me a lot of the Lady Schick's with the built-in soap. It doesn't really even get suds, it mostly just gets slippery, but it's very watery.

Some shave creams are not formulated to make rich lather. Ingram's "Green" label shave cream won't produce any lather. Perhaps that is how the particular product you're having trouble making lather with is formulated.

Does it say on the tube to use a brush? (The Web site you provided was in German.) I can't remember the brand name, but I tried a "shaving cream" that I found in a drugstore that simply said to apply it to the face with your fingers. I tried whipping up a lather in a bowl using my brush but nothing. Ended up using hand soap to get it all out of my brush.

When I was in my 20s, these products were labeled "brushless shaving cream," but apparently now they just call them "shaving cream."

It's like trying to make whipped cream from skim milk. (smile)
Namsaste,
Morty -_-

Shiseido (and indeed, other Japanese companies) do not make traditional lathering creams. They are like a creamy shave gel--don't expect any lather.

Morty, JimR, I think you're right. I'm not getting any lather out of this no matter what I do.

Is it useable with a straight razor? I'd use it with a cartridge or disposable, but... I don't really think I'd want to with a straight. Any experience here?

It might be...I tried some Japanese creams when I was a DE shaver and they weren't that great, but Shiseido tends to make pretty good products.