Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 23
Like Tree4Likes

Thread: Lather goes on strong but then wimps out

  1. #1
    Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2012
    Location
    South Williamsport, PA
    Posts
    53
    Thanked: 2

    Default Lather goes on strong but then wimps out

    I have been using a DE for about 6 weeks and a shavette for about 3 and I think I got the lather building down fairly quickly and have been experimenting with different soaps and creams. The problem with that is that you don't get to know any one of them real well and that may be my problem but I have been experimenting with Mama Bear's Canadian Spruce Needle soap and it lathers so well I can stand my brush up in the bowl but it doesn't hold up well. When I lather for the second pass there are more visible bubbles in the lather and it doesn't cover my face as well. By the third pass it is about useless! I also use Omega, Proraso, and Taylor of Old Bond Street and don't have much problem with these. Is the Mama Bear soap more difficult to deal with or is there something different you must do to get a better lathe with it? Anyone have experience with the Mama Bear soaps that can set me straight?

    Jim
    Last edited by jgthomas11; 08-05-2012 at 06:47 PM.

  2. #2
    Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2012
    Location
    South Williamsport, PA
    Posts
    53
    Thanked: 2

    Default Am I having problems with Mama Bear Soap or am I the problem?

    I have been using a DE for about 6 weeks and a shavette for about 3 and I think I got the lather building down fairly quickly and have been experimenting with different soaps and creams. The problem with that is that you don't get to know any one of them real well and that may be my problem but I have been experimenting with Mama Bear's Canadian Spruce Needle soap and it lathers so well I can stand my brush up in the bowl but it doesn't hold up well. When I lather for the second pass there are more visible bubbles in the lather and it doesn't cover my face as well. By the third pass it is about useless! I also use Omega, Proraso, and Taylor of Old Bond Street and don't have much problem with these. Is the Mama Bear soap more difficult to deal with or is there something different you must do to get a better lathe with it? Anyone have experience with the Mama Bear soaps that can set me straight?

    Jim

  3. #3
    The Electrochemist PhatMan's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Hastings, UK
    Posts
    1,714
    Thanked: 527

    Default

    jgthomas11,

    Not a solution, but when this sort of thing happens to me, I add a small pea-sized dollop (US - snurdle) of a neutral aroma'd shaving cream ( I use Palmolive ) to the mix. This seems to stabilize the lather, whilst not over-powering your main soap.

    Good luck !

    Have fun !

    Best regards

    Russ

  4. The Following User Says Thank You to PhatMan For This Useful Post:

    jgthomas11 (08-07-2012)

  5. #4
    Eagle-eyed Zephyr's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2011
    Location
    Slemmestad, Norway
    Posts
    1,535
    Thanked: 418

    Default

    My initial though would be that you don't get the brush loaded enough.

    I leave about a teaspoon of warm water on top of the soap while in the shower to soften it, makes is much easier to load, then I load the brush for ~30 sec. I have found this to be more crucial with MB than any of my other soaps.
    Need help or tutoring? Check out the  .

    Rune

  6. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Zephyr For This Useful Post:

    djlewis (08-07-2012), ZeroCool (08-05-2012)

  7. #5
    Senior Member ZeroCool's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Location
    PA
    Posts
    650
    Thanked: 81

    Default

    I do the same as zephyr. I usually run the hot tap for my brush bowl and put some in the mama bear container and let that sit with the lid on it while showering. Drain and load the brush until lather is coming out of the mamma bear tub (30-40 seconds). After that it's ready for either face lathering on a wet face or into the empty brush bowl to be worked up.

    I generally make my lather in bowls thick until thick like whipped cream, perhaps almost dry. Then when I apply to a wet face (hot water), the little bit of water on my face and the almost dry lather combine to perfection well, at least I think so lol.

    I've got about 7 mamma bear soaps, love them all.

  8. #6
    The Assyrian Obie's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    Milwaukee, WI
    Posts
    11,145
    Thanked: 2755

    Default

    Jim,

    Spend a little more time loading your brush with Mama Bear. The large bubbles indicate you have not whipped the lather enough. Spend more time creating that lather. Watch your water ratio and try not to make the water too hot. Properly whipped and with the right amount of water you'll have plenty of lather, because Mama Bear is a quality soap.
    JoeSomebody likes this.

  9. #7
    ace
    ace is offline
    Senior Member blabbermouth ace's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Location
    Virginia
    Posts
    3,362
    Thanked: 581

    Default

    Larger bubbles can be a sign that the brush requires more soap. Try just adding some soap for the second and third pass.
    parkerskouson likes this.

  10. #8
    Predictably Unpredictiable Mvcrash's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    Northern NJ
    Posts
    3,588
    Thanked: 1487

    Default

    Like has been said, I find very, very hot water in the soap/creams is counter productive. I use very warm water now, not hot water and things work fine.
    “Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe.”
    Albert Einstein

  11. #9
    Pasted Man Castel33's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Posts
    1,283
    Thanked: 269

    Default

    Are you wetting your face inbetween passes

  12. #10
    Indisposed
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Posts
    6,038
    Thanked: 1195

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Castel33 View Post
    Are you wetting your face inbetween passes
    Big +1.

    I learned early on that when you bowl lather you already have a good water to soap ratio, so if you wet your face between passes you end up diluting your lather over and over causing weak lather near the end. Something else you can try is giving your brush a few swirls on the puck (literally only 3-4) which will give you plenty more soap to finish the shave. Remember, there's no rule that says you can only use the initial lather made in the bowl; if you find you need a bit more lather just make a little more.

Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •