Thread: report from an experiment

The main shortcoming (imho) of the scientific community is that negative results don't get published. Here's one to save other folks the time...

Tempted mainly by its smell, I tried lathering up with some Burt's Bees bar soap tonight. It did make a decent lather, but not as thick or full as a proper shave soap. Lubricity was good; better, in fact, than some shaving soaps. Dried out my skin a bit, though.

But then, and here's where we veer sharply from the realm of science, the lather gods caught on to me. They angled my blade a little high on a backhand xtg pass across my chin and it dug in hard, angling it up like a bike whose front brake locked up. Deep cut, much blood, and the only styptic pencil is in my dog's first-aid kit in the car. No telling where that last got used.

So, a little direct pressure and a good few washcloth rinses later, everything's cool.

Anyway, that bar soap doesn't shave as well as it smells.

I used Burts Bees many moons ago. It was one of the throw-aways.

Originally Posted by roughkype

The main shortcoming (imho) of the scientific community is that negative results don't get published.

They get published, you just don't always hear about it. Although the scientific community put great value in a "negative" experiement since it proves something, the media doesn't give a hoot. So unless you subscribe to all the scientific publications, you're only going to hear about the ones that the media will let you know about.

On a smaller scale, the SRP members will know about the Burt's Bees lather experiment, but I doubt my neighbour will hear about it in tomorrows paper.

Thanks for sharing you misadventure by the way. I hope all heals well !

Glenn

They have a shave cream at my store, but I have not tried it...

Originally Posted by coachschaller

They have a shave cream at my store, but I have not tried it...

Don't! If you want to waste your time with some just send me a PM, but I swear that it isn't worth it.

Ahhh and here is where the fun comes in.... Bee's wax doesn't lubricate very well.. in fact in order to counteract the hardening properties of Bee's wax you have to use a humectant and conditioner.. the sad fact about soap id when you create a recipe you have sacrifices... If you want to make a hard sudsy bar you sacrifice conditioning and creamy lather.. and the other way around.. If you want to make a highly conditioning bar it will be soft... My dad actually raises Bee's and was constantly pushing Bee's wax on me and so I decided to use it in one of my existing recipes to harden the bar. The properties of the bar didn't change much but people who used the original formula tried this one and noticed the difference... They actually preferred the softer bar... Now honey on the other hand is great....

If you are just looking for a honey scented shaving soap then PM me.. Bee's wax actually has no place in shaving soaps... It's no bueno.. Just take a little bit of Bee's wax in rub it on your finger tips or on your arm and then run water over it.. It is GREAT at water proofing though..