Guys, I need some help. I use the lather tutorial for all my other soaps and they all do fine, however I have the col.conk almond and I can not get it to build a good lather. It will take ten minutes to lather with my badger and less with my VDH Boar. I think this is because the bristle are so tough they cut more soap. I have also milled and melted down some vdh with it and it works better, any suggestions besides this that I am missing.
Colonel Conk Lathering issue
- Thread starter rshade98
- Start date
Can you describe, specifically, what your steps are to building your lather?
I dont have too much trouble building lather with Conk's products...but am curious to find out the variables in your process.
More data please!
I dont have too much trouble building lather with Conk's products...but am curious to find out the variables in your process.
More data please!
more water, more soap and keep lathering it for longer, as you lather the foam turns into a very creamy whipped topping 
lol
i love it
loli love it
- Thread starter
- #5
Chris, thanks for the offer of assistance, I use these steps, http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=21136. I tried it straight from its package and milled into a bowl, neither worked very well. I thought about adding glycerine, but I have not had a chance...
I've never tried Conk's Almond but Conk's Amber is my favorite soap in the land, I use it almost everyday. I use the same process you mentioned, and I use the Conks right out of the package it came in. My guess at your issue is you're not getting enough soap in your brush when you load it up. So if I may suggest, next time you give the Conk's go, when you think you've got enough soap in the brush to start whippin up the lather, put some more on there (Conk's is cheap, so you dont have to be conservative)! Then add little drops of water as you go (building your lather in the bowl).
I recommend trying this instead:
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=437
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=439
The tutorial you were using might work, but I too was having trouble with glycerine based soaps until I tried the above tutorials which are specific for glycerine based soaps.
They worked like a champ.
Will's advice above is basically to do what is in these threads...three tenets, more soap, more water, more agitation. When you think you have enough soap on that brush...go back for more.
Lathering glycerine based soaps is definitely different than Tallow or Triple milled soaps.
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=437
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=439
The tutorial you were using might work, but I too was having trouble with glycerine based soaps until I tried the above tutorials which are specific for glycerine based soaps.
They worked like a champ.
Will's advice above is basically to do what is in these threads...three tenets, more soap, more water, more agitation. When you think you have enough soap on that brush...go back for more.
Lathering glycerine based soaps is definitely different than Tallow or Triple milled soaps.
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I finally am getting good lather from conk's almond and I can't pull it off in a bowl alone, I have to employ the aid of my face when lathering it up to really load the brush with soap. Now the biggest problem I have is making sure there is enough water in it. Try looking up directions for face lathering and see if maybe thats the way you should go instead.
+1
That tutorial is awesome for that. I never experienced this myself with Col. Conk but it should get a good result.
I usually build the lather in a bowl... Face lather always works great regarless of the soap!
I have all four varities of Conk soaps and love them all. Bay Rum is my fav and will be for a long time! I bought some nice wooden bowls off ebay and then very carefully melted the soaps into the bowls. Worked very well.
Every morning I usually have a bowl of hot cereal for breakfast, like Oatmeal mixed with Granola, and I use boiling water. So, at the same time I add the boiling water to my cereal I also add a little bit on the top of the soap (water not cereal). The hot water melts a wee bit of the top of the soap
When I am ready to work up the lather I shake my brush out and then simply leave the water on top of the soap before getting the brush loaded with soap. I leave the water on top of the soap because the water is full of soap itself, so if you dump it out you lose all of that nice soap in the water. Since you need lots of water for conkifying your brush you don't really need to dump off any excess.
Works wonders for me and it even works if you work the lather up on your face.
Every morning I usually have a bowl of hot cereal for breakfast, like Oatmeal mixed with Granola, and I use boiling water. So, at the same time I add the boiling water to my cereal I also add a little bit on the top of the soap (water not cereal). The hot water melts a wee bit of the top of the soap
When I am ready to work up the lather I shake my brush out and then simply leave the water on top of the soap before getting the brush loaded with soap. I leave the water on top of the soap because the water is full of soap itself, so if you dump it out you lose all of that nice soap in the water. Since you need lots of water for conkifying your brush you don't really need to dump off any excess.
Works wonders for me and it even works if you work the lather up on your face.
that's odd. i've also tried all 4 col. conk soaps and never had trouble with any of them. I gets gobs of lather from either face lathering or bowl lathering, even when using a cheap brush (EJ Pure).
Could the hardness or softness of water have anything to do with it?
Could the hardness or softness of water have anything to do with it?
I too, prep the soap with hot water, just to cover the soap. I then shower while warming the bowl and brush in the sink full of hot water. After showering, I pour the water on the soap into the bowl. Then I really shake the XS water out of the brush, load the brush with a pumping, swirling motion, then place it in the bowl with the soapy water from the top of the soap. It really doesn't take long to get a good lather after that. I add water a few drops at a time, until the lather is thick and hydrated. I have used the amber and bay rum. Bay rum is a little easier to get going. Just picked up Col Conk on vacation 3 weeks ago. Had used tallow soaps before that. I love them both.
