Thread: no suds on second pass

I get lots of thick lather on my first pass but when I get to lather for the second pass the lather wont adhere to my face just wondering what could be the problem lather is good in the scuttle and on the badger brush but will not adhere to my face?

Very likely too much water involved. Either that or you're one slick dude.

Your not by chance putting alum on your face after first pass, or using a styptic pencil....Are you? If so, That would be a reason the lather won't adhere. Only use those when your finished shaving. Not in between passes. You say the lather is "good in your scuttle" by the time you get to second pass....If it's thick and rich, it'll stick to almost anything, even smooth skin. If it's very thin and runny, then that could be part of your problem.

I had the same issue when I started.

What I found out was that the first pass removed most all my beard and my skin was smooth. There was not enough hair left to act as an "abrasive" to build up a rich lather.

My solution, build up the lather in your scuttle for the second pass till its the consistency you want and apply to the face.

It works for me.

As above lather will stick to anything.do not confuse lather with suds,work it until the peaks will stand up.

Originally Posted by joebehar

I had the same issue when I started.

What I found out was that the first pass removed most all my beard and my skin was smooth. There was not enough hair left to act as an "abrasive" to build up a rich lather.

My solution, build up the lather in your scuttle for the second pass till its the consistency you want and apply to the face.

It works for me.

been doing that I think it maybe to much water and my skin is smooth from what I have read so far. thanks for the input. I am using a new brush from SRD the knot is twice as big as the one I have been using.

Originally Posted by Jzeph

been doing that I think it maybe to much water and my skin is smooth from what I have read so far. thanks for the input. I am using a new brush from SRD the knot is twice as big as the one I have been using.

if its a realy big knot then you must use a lot of soap , a whole lot . i have a big boar brush ( 24x60 mm.)to use it i must load it and then sqeeze it out in my lather bowl and then do it again and then load it once more and then start whipping up my lather.or load it each time and face lather. it dosnt see much use but i did use it this morning and had the same problem you are having.

A quick addition to last post.

I usually build up a lather that is a bit shy of the consistency I like in the scuttle and then finish making those little micro bubbles on my face for the first pass. The lather in the scuttle is a touch watery and for the second pass I use my brush to make the lather the thickness I want. One of the advantages I've notices doing this is that the pather in the scuttle does not dry out at all between passes.

It might be an unusual way to do it, but, like most things when it comes to shaving, its a personal preference arrived at after experimenting.

Cousin Festus had the same problem.He thought he was one smart hombre and to save money for preshave applied used motor oil to his face as a pre shave. Then the lather would just roll right off but he said he didn't need any soap cause the oil did it all. Unfortunately his face had a gasoline aroma to it and when he was at the barbecue at the church social his face caught fire but that's another story.

the brush is a Straight Razor Designs Finest Over Stuffed Silver Tip Brush #7 which is a 26mm knot