i've been reluctant to use my MB soap, mainly because on every occasion i've gotten nothing but a crappy shave. and let me be clear, this isn't a slam against the quality of the soap, rather, it's an observation of my less than stellar lathering technique. I usually start each shave by letting hot water sit in the tub of soap. I then thoroughly wet my badger brush, give it a good shake or two, empty the excess water from the tub and start working the brush into the soap. I then start lathering in my bowl for a good 30 seconds or so. i'm adding small amounts of water in intervals, mainly because the lather feels dry at first. it gets creamy enough but it just doesn't have the slip I want. what the heck am I doing wrong?
getting crappy shaves from Mama Bears
- Thread starter gaseousclay
- Start date
I haven't yet used Mama Bear, but you may want to check this out.
[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDsptQLRA00&feature=PlayList&p=67B992BD56B06E19&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=1[/YOUTUBE]
[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDsptQLRA00&feature=PlayList&p=67B992BD56B06E19&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=1[/YOUTUBE]
I don't know what brush you are using but I guarantee you don't need water on the soap. MB being a glycerin base is more than soft enough. Also try giving your brush a gentle squeeze starting with a drier brush. Work the soap and you should have a nice tacky/creamy clumping of soap on the tips. Then go to your bowl.
I have about 5 different Mama Bear soaps, and they all work great. Skip the water in the tub trick and shake a little more water out of your brush. Add the water as needed in your lather bowl. Also, make sure to let your brush really suck up some soap before lathering. I hope it gets better because this is really good glycerin soap.
I find that if you take add water to the point just before you think you added to much, you get the best use out of Mama Bear's soaps. In comparison to other soaps I've used Mama Bear's requires a lot more water. Also, when I pour the water off (before I get ready to load my brush) I put the pour off in my lathering bowl and that seems to help get better lather. I hope that helps.
Agree with the above. Mama Bear's soaps take much more water than you think they should - add a little at a time, and keep going until it's right.
Really great soaps, and they last a ludicrously long time. Which is bad, because I'm really looking for an excuse to buy some more.
Really great soaps, and they last a ludicrously long time. Which is bad, because I'm really looking for an excuse to buy some more.
- Thread starter
- #8
i'm using a Rooney badger brush. after watching the youtube vid that mk-ultra posted I think I've been using too much water. when I started the lathering process it was tacky, but I thought this was a sign of dryness. i'll give it a go next time with less water and see how that works.
I use a kettle pot to heat the water that I use to soak any puck of shaving soap that I use. With water that hot, I soak my Mama Bear soaps for a short time- like a minute or less. I pour some of this soapy water into my shaving bowl to use for lather building and the rest into a bathroom cup. I shake the water off my Omega boar hair brush and begin to charge the brush. I begin loading the brush almost immediately after pouring the water off the soap. I generally notice a small pool of thick clear liquid on the top of the soap just before applying the brush directly to it. This is glycerin and this technique gives me a lather that has the best slip of soap I have ever tried, so don't give up yet.
Yes, you are transferring soap to the brush so you can build it. Start building and add small amounts of water as you go. This is another great reason to face lather because you will feel as you build if its too dry or too wet.
i would avoid getting the puck too wet (by soaking it) as the glycerine etc can seep out of the puck.
a couple of drops on it will soften it up all you need to
a couple of drops on it will soften it up all you need to
I usually don't have to work it that long. Of course I didn't have the sound on so maybe the fellow stated he was purposely dragging it out. Anyhoo, that's a sweet looking brush, does anyone know what brush that is?
I've never poured water on any shaving soap I've ever used. I just soak my brush, shake it out and have at it. How much I shake out my brush depends on the soap. In my experience, tallow based soaps need more water in the brush and glycerin soaps need less, a lot less. Then I start with about a tablespoon of hot water in my lather bowl and add a little at a time as needed. This technique always works well for me with any shaving soap. As always, YMMV.
After you remove the water sitting on top, swirl for 30 seconds in the tub of soap. dip the brush slightly in the hot water, just the tip and swirl a few seconds more. Then go right to your slightly wet face and lather away there. You dont need to go to the bowl.
Start with a drier brush and load more soap into it. You can always improve from there. There's no recovering It's much harder to recover from too little soap with too much water.
- Chris
- Chris
Last edited:
Gaseousclay,
I had exactly the same when I started out with Mama Bear (Awakenings): no good lather, no good shave
But I've learned: I bring a warm, dripping wet brush to the -still dry- puck and start working it like an i...t
till the lather will be crawling over the sides of the plastic container... Way to go! Work it a bit more till your brush is loaded to the max, then start lathering on the face.
This method should result in a foamy, crystal-white lather that cushions like a pro! Moreover, this lather will STAY for a long time
Glycerine-based soap takes some time to get around with, once mastered it's as good as all others!
I had exactly the same when I started out with Mama Bear (Awakenings): no good lather, no good shave
But I've learned: I bring a warm, dripping wet brush to the -still dry- puck and start working it like an i...t
till the lather will be crawling over the sides of the plastic container... Way to go! Work it a bit more till your brush is loaded to the max, then start lathering on the face.This method should result in a foamy, crystal-white lather that cushions like a pro! Moreover, this lather will STAY for a long time
Glycerine-based soap takes some time to get around with, once mastered it's as good as all others!
- Thread starter
- #17
when I worked the soap I had no problems building a thick, creamy lather. I wasn't getting that glycerin slip which is what was frustrating
I'm learning my way around MB soaps too. Just have to practice and remember what went right and what didn't.
I don't think you are spending enough time building your lather. It takes me at least a few minutes or more to build my lather up. If I speed it up and build lather for just a minute or so, my lather goes on my face rather dry. Take the time to build up a nice lather by adding the small amounts of water. Keep working the brush. Just when you think that you have added too much water, add just a little more. I think the problem comes down to your lather not being wet enough.
DL
Nothing but great shaves from MB soap here.
I use a boar brush. I don't soak or put water on the soap. I shake AND squeeze the brush before going to the soap, and I load the brush up good.
Then I work the lather in a bowl, adding a little bit of water at a time, mixing it, then adding a bit more until the lather is shiny and creamy, then I apply it to my face.
Never fails.
I use a boar brush. I don't soak or put water on the soap. I shake AND squeeze the brush before going to the soap, and I load the brush up good.
Then I work the lather in a bowl, adding a little bit of water at a time, mixing it, then adding a bit more until the lather is shiny and creamy, then I apply it to my face.
Never fails.
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