Thread: How to get Best Lather from a soap.......

so as a newbie i started with the AoS cream and think its great but went out and got some soaps and was wondering what technique ppl use to get the best lather.......when i was in HS using a Mach 3 i used a cheap soap and brush and just left the soap in the bottom of a mug but feel like the lather wasn't very great (although much better than any out of a can product) i have a scuttle on order from Georgetown Pottery and would love to find out what you all do/suggest i try to get a great lather out of the new soaps!!!

Thanks,

JD

Here is a link to a instructional pictorial for making good lather from soap: Making basic soap lather - Straight Razor Place Wiki

While nothing beats actual lathermaking experience there are a few tips you can use to improve your technique:

-Let a couple teaspoons of water sit on top of your soap puck while you shower (assuming you shower before shaving). DON'T dump this water out, save it in another bowl.
-Load the brush really well. Lathering mistake #1 is not loading the brush enough.
-Use the soapy water (from above) as your initial hydration.
-Be sure to hydrate your lather well, albeit slowly. Lathering mistake #2 is under-hydration; most guys assume they will kill it with too much water, but end up with dry lather as a consequence. Slickness and cushion is what you're looking for.

Unfortunately there is no sure-fire recipe when it comes to lathermaking. The best you can do is try all the tricks you can and develop your own routine.

My tip is to go to youtube and look up mantic59 videos. He will answer a lot of your questions.

Originally Posted by deighaingeal

My tip is to go to youtube and look up mantic59 videos. He will answer a lot of your questions.

+1 on that, especially the video where he shows you progression from not enough, through perfect, and onto too much water.
His videos are an inspiration

In theory it's very easy; have a reasonably decent brush, use the right amount of water, use the correct wrist motion to move the brush around. That's it. Of course it's all in the details so the brush you have, your water quality, the characteristics of the soap and your twirling abilities all play a role. it's a matter of getting it all right.

As the saying goes, 'more than one road leads to Rome'. And, as stated above, several things can play a part. In my experience though one of the things that makes a significant difference is face lathering. I find that it gives me a much better, quicker lather with soap (and cream come to think of it) than bowl lathering. I suspect it's because the facial hairs help agitate the soap into a lather - much like the swirls in the bottom of a ceramic lather bowl (only better).