Cella .What the hella?

[brucea]

I Have read so much great stuff about Cella on here I decided to take the plunge. I am lucky in that I have a local store that sells Cella. I went and picked some up and now after five days of trying I have had only one good day with this soap/cream.This morning was a horror show. The lather would dissolve as soon as I removed my brush from my face. The day before it was great.My general method is to use a badger brush with a small chunk of Cella . I whip up the lather in a old TOBS tub. I have soft water so that is not the problem and I use more water than I would with other soaps because that is what people say to do.I really do not want to put my brush in the full tub of Cella (like i see on youtube)unless that is the only way that this stuff works. So far not really liking this stuff. I have a easier time with Williams

 

[AABCDS]

...
I use more water than I would with other soaps because that is what people say to do.
...

Try using less water next time. I don't watch shaving videos online. I just experiment to find what works for me because what works for someone else may not work for you. That's all part of the fun!

...
The lather would dissolve as soon as I removed my brush from my face.
...

It definitely sounds like a too much water/not enough product issue.

 

[goatee]

+1

 

[Teddyboy]

I had similar issues with Cella, but here is how I resolved them. It may take time, but it is worth it. I don't know where you heard that Cella needs a lot of water from, but I do not think it is a particularly thirsty soap. Here is what I suggest.

1] Soak the brush with hot water for 30-60 seconds, then shake out the excess-give 3-4 good shakes.
2] Swirl the brush on the soap for about 15 seconds.
3] Without adding water, start lathering your face, and when necessary, simply dip only the tips of the brush into the hot water. Continue lathering your face.
4] If necessary, repeat the dipping.

The continued attempts at this process, i.e., trial and error, is necessary because you can only learn when you've added enough water by trial and error.
It is coincidental that I am having the same problem with Mystic Waters soaps right now. I think I'm getting it, but it is much tougher than Cella.

Cheers,
Ted
Midwood High School, Class of 1969 (Brooklyn Champs in track)

 

[brucea]

First of all Ted I live in Midwood. I see you went to Midwood High School. I taught there for a week back in 1986. Hello from a fellow Brooklynite!! AABCDS I will use less water than today. I got the idea of more water from the youtube tutorials and some reviews here that give that advice.I think experimenting is the way to go from now on. Ted I think I may have no choice but to swirl the brush in the Cella and then face lather like I do with Arko.It just seems that there is a real fine line with this product between to much and too little water. I was surprised considering the ease at which people say they get good lather from Cella.Thank you fellas for your input. I did hit the sweet spot one time with this stuff. trial and error.

 

[jjgold]

You know I really could get this "yogurt" type slick lather that I have read so much about with my badger brushes. I put a Might Midget to it yesterday and understood what all the hoopla was. That little boar brush tore through it and produced a nirvana of slick thick lather my skin loved!!

 

[mhdena]

.I really do not want to put my brush in the full tub of Cella

Why not? This is the best way, try it

 

[Mandina]

I don't have soft water, but--using a Muhle HJM black fibre brush--I unfailingly get rich, yogurty Cella (face) lather using either the wetter-brush approach ("Marco's method") or the drier brush approach. I currently use the latter approach, which, for me takes less time loading (45 seconds or so, producing enough lather for 4 passes, which is much more than I need) than does the wetter brush way. +1, though, on experimenting to find what works for you.

 

[Tulsa77]

I don't have soft water, but--using a Muhle HJM black fibre brush--I unfailingly get rich, yogurty Cella (face) lather using either the wetter-brush approach ("Marco's method") or the drier brush approach. I currently use the latter approach, which, for me takes less time loading (45 seconds or so, producing enough lather for 4 passes, which is much more than I need) than does the wetter brush way. +1, though, on experimenting to find what works for you.

+ 1 to Marco's method w/ a boar. Badgers seem to like a bit more soap... 1 minute + "on the puck" to achieve yogurty goodness.

 

[raccoonandbrush]

I have to say, reading your title really gave me a good laugh. As to your situation. It sounds like you are using too much water. What I started doing lately is soaking my brush under the faucet, then shake it out good. Then I use the tips of the brush and start swirling it on the soap using very little pressure. As I'm swirling, I'm adding a little bit of water to the brush, then continue swirling and so on. Then I either face lather or bowl lather. It's safer to start out with less water and gradually add water, then to potentially start off with too much water and have to start again.

 

[brucea]

Thank you guys!racoonand brush glad I can give you a laugh. Tomorrow I will use my tweezerman and less water IN the tub and then the face. I am keeping my fingers crossed. I really want to like this stuff!!

 

[5Cantonas]

Marco's method.

 

[raccoonandbrush]

Thank you guys!racoonand brush glad I can give you a laugh. Tomorrow I will use my tweezerman and less water IN the tub and then the face. I am keeping my fingers crossed. I really want to like this stuff!!

Good luck. Let us know how it goes.

 

[SkipH]

When you get it dialed in, it is a marvelous soap. One of my top 5.

 

[drawonme]

I get amazing lather from Cella. I cover the soap with warm (never hot) water while I soak my brush (badger, boar and synthetic) for at least a couple of minutes. Then I shake the brush and squeeze out most of the water, dump the water from the soap then load the brush for at least 100 - 125 swirls. When well loaded, I usually bowl lather for about 30 seconds before adding water a few drops at a time. One of the very easiest soaps to lather!

 

[BallisticBurrito]

Ease up on the water and load like mad..I friggin love my Cella and wouldn't trade it for anything else.

 

[Predict]

Never cared for cella. But I do like Marcos method for other soft soaps. I suggest you try that.

 

[brucea]

Ok I did what you guys said and it worked !! I used a Gillette Red Tip and a late 60's Gillette Platimum blade that was sent to me in a pack of 5.I used the method you guys suggested and I got great results . I used the Tweezerman because it has the hardest bristles and it seemed to work well.My other brushes are higher end softer bristles from TGN.I will give them a shot next. I didn't want to put my brush in the Cella container because I thought it might make the Cella mushy and or runny but that was not the case. So I thank you guys again!

 

[raccoonandbrush]

Ok I did what you guys said and it worked !! I used a Gillette Red Tip and a late 60's Gillette Platimum blade that was sent to me in a pack of 5.I used the method you guys suggested and I got great results . I used the Tweezerman because it has the hardest bristles and it seemed to work well.My other brushes are higher end softer bristles from TGN.I will give them a shot next. I didn't want to put my brush in the Cella container because I thought it might make the Cella mushy and or runny but that was not the case. So I thank you guys again!

Great to hear!

 

[sychodelix]

Marco's method definitely works well for me with any of the Italian soaps, and most of the others too. It also works wonders with MWF.