Thread: Glycerine

I have read somewhere that a couple of drops of glycerine on your shaving soap gives a bit better lather, and a bit extra lube, especially with hard water or not-so-good soap.
Well, you don't see it everyday, but I got some recently and it makes a difference.
Just thought I would share that with you.
AD

+1 it makes for a great addition. I always keep a small bottle handy...it's especially handy for me when I use a straight, and I need my lather to last a half an hour.

Glycerine has no possitive effect on lather; in fact, if used in excess, it will degrade the lather. It does, however, increase the moister holding properties and thus helps to soften your beard.

When i used to buy the el cheapo soap(conks, vdh) i would melt it down and add a bit of glycerin.

I used to use it a lot, I can't remember the last time I did now. It's cheap enough to give it a go.

Originally Posted by fccexpert

Glycerine has no possitive effect on lather; in fact, if used in excess, it will degrade the lather. It does, however, increase the moister holding properties and thus helps to soften your beard.

OK, now I'm confused. Frm past posts, I had thought glycerine would result in a thicker, longer lasting lather. No?

I had thought glycerine would result in a thicker, longer lasting lather

This has been my experience, even with the additional heat of a scuttle. Maybe the hardness/softness of my water helps as well

It depends on how the Glycerin is used...

On certain glycerin soaps it will actually de-grade the lather...

Most of the time we talk about adding Glycerin it is to produce an Uberlather which is a mix of soap and cream with about 5 drops of glycerin...
In comparison to a Superlather which is just soap and cream there most certainly is a difference, however not all mixes work as well as others....

Try 2 drops per ounce in your aftershave splash and feel that difference too.. (try one drop in your hand with the morning's splash before you commit a whole bottle)

There are tons of opinions in this hobby of ours, try things out, if it works for you great if it doesn't try something else...

For proven Uberlather recipes check out the SOTD threads you can glean a ton from there...

Glycerin definitely can produce noticeable effects on the quality of lather but since it is not a soap, it cannot increase the amount of lather. The potential effects really depends on the soap and how much glycerin you add. Glycerin in appropriate concentrations, typically a few drops (like 3) can lead to a much denser and longer lasting lather; by this, I mean that it can reduce the air in your lather. If used in excess, your lather may look like a "slime", basically because there is very little air left. Perhaps the most important reason to avoid using an excess of glycerin in your lather is that it could potentially dry your skin out as it is a highly hygroscopic chemical (absorbs moisture).

In my experience lather produced glycerin-based soap typically does not improve by the addition of glycerin.

Al raz.

Originally Posted by adydye

I have read somewhere that a couple of drops of glycerine on your shaving soap gives a bit better lather, and a bit extra lube, especially with hard water or not-so-good soap.
Well, you don't see it everyday, but I got some recently and it makes a difference.
Just thought I would share that with you.
AD

Glycerin appears in the majority of mixtures to make soap bubbles. It apparently makes bubbles last longer.

So, it could be that as you make your lather, it slows the rate at which you lose the tiny bubbles that form this lather and thus can get more of them. More bubbles, more lather.

It's also supposed to make soap films suppler, so maybe it imparts a creamier feel to the lather.

See here

McKie