Thread: Am I not making lather right?

So while I was waiting for my razor to arrive, I read a bunch of stuff and watched a bunch of videos about all of the things necessary to make this thing work.

One of them that I kept hearing about was how much effort and practice it takes to make a good lather just right. And how, some people find it easier with creams than soaps and whether or not to use glycerine, and how some brushes are better for one type, etc, etc....

Well, I have to say, making lather has been such a non-issue for me, I'm starting to wonder if maybe I'm not really making a good lather. How do I know? I mean, it seems nice and fluffy to me and it seems to do what it's supposed to. I guess I'm just wondering if maybe I'm not getting the result that I should.

Explanation of your process and/or pictures?

Good idea. I didn't think to take pictures last time I shaved. I'll have to do that next time.

Basically my process is, to let my brush soak for like 5-10 minutes (while I'm showering or stropping or whatever). If I'm using soap I soak that too. If I'm using cream, just the brush. Then I pull out the brush and shake a bunch of the water out of it.

If I'm using soap I drain the water all off of it and load the brush up and then whip it in a bowl which I usually fill with hot water for a minute or two beforehand and then empty.

If I'm using cream, same thing except I just scoop a small dollop into the bowl with my finger.

My whipping consists of mostly circular motions around the bowl and occasionally if I feel there isn't enough air in the mix I'll do an up and down motion with the bristles sort of like a butter churning kind of action.

Sounds about like I do it. The thing that works for me is adding water until you find the maximum limit the cream will hold while still maintaining cushion and glide. IME the water equals closer smoother shaves.

Some like to make it sound like rocket science, but making good lather is rather easy...

And is your lather wet or dry?
Is it filled with bubbles or is it creamy?

I find if I can hold my bowl upside-down and my lather doesn't move it's thick enough. Or even better if I can stand my brush up straight in my lather it's thick enough. I then will pull my brush out an if the later on te brush looks like whipped cream then I'm ready to go.

However, while shaving, if I have completed 1 half and the other have is dry, then I have not created a good enough lather.

Sorry if these thoughts are a bit scattered... I'm pre-coffee right now

It seems pretty moist to me. I haven't tried but I believe if I tipped the bowl over it would stay put. I can't say about standing the brush up because I don't make enough lather for that, I only shave my neck so I try not to make too much. When I'm done I don't see any real bubbles anymore it turns into a cream.

Originally Posted by HigherFasterNow

And is your lather wet or dry?
Is it filled with bubbles or is it creamy?

I find if I can hold my bowl upside-down and my lather doesn't move it's thick enough. Or even better if I can stand my brush up straight in my lather it's thick enough. I then will pull my brush out an if the later on te brush looks like whipped cream then I'm ready to go.

However, while shaving, if I have completed 1 half and the other have is dry, then I have not created a good enough lather.

Sorry if these thoughts are a bit scattered... I'm pre-coffee right now

Personally I tend to build my lather to how you describe and then add more water, to make it really moist and slick. I find the better soaps and creams are those that can hold the most water without breaking down works best for me.

Originally Posted by Blix

Personally I tend to build my lather to how you describe and then add more water, to make it really moist and slick. I find the better soaps and creams are those that can hold the most water without breaking down works best for me.

I'll have to try that method. I did try to make lather once early on without shaking the brush out first and I had to dump it because I couldn't get it to whip up at all so I've been going light on the water since then.

Originally Posted by Blix

Personally I tend to build my lather to how you describe and then add more water, to make it really moist and slick. I find the better soaps and creams are those that can hold the most water without breaking down works best for me.

I'll try this later today