Anything I should know? Lathering techniques? Tips and tricks? Thanks for any information.
Derrick
Derrick
I have some Cella in the red tub heading my way.....
- Thread starter OmegaEdge
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It's Italian so I like to use my Italian boar brush with it. But that's just for fun. Any brush you've used with soaps is OK.
It has a shelf life of 12 months so keep it closed tightly when not in use.
Get ready to BST all your other soaps and creams! (just kidding!)
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- #3
So a boar is not nessasary? I have been using a Vulfix 2234 that I have been using with soaps (DR harris and Tabac) without any problems.
1. Stiff Boar. Silvertip was too wimpy.
2. Requires much water. Cella is finicky but after some initial frustration determined its best to fill the container with water and remove remaining water. Wet your brush and shake out some water.
3. Lather improves as you load the brush with more passes.
4. Nice clean and creamy lather. may not be as thick as creams but provides nice closeness and skincare.
5. Leave the lid open if you plan to use continually. Suggest a minimum of one month use to learn the proper lathering. Cella also improves with usage.
6. Agreed when not using to close the lid and store in a cool place.
Cella has provided me the closest and best skincare from either soaps and creams. As a bonus the soap easily lasts one year.
Unsure about the shelf life but imo if your bathroom is not too hot and has good ventilation Cella should last for years.
2. Requires much water. Cella is finicky but after some initial frustration determined its best to fill the container with water and remove remaining water. Wet your brush and shake out some water.
3. Lather improves as you load the brush with more passes.
4. Nice clean and creamy lather. may not be as thick as creams but provides nice closeness and skincare.
5. Leave the lid open if you plan to use continually. Suggest a minimum of one month use to learn the proper lathering. Cella also improves with usage.
6. Agreed when not using to close the lid and store in a cool place.
Cella has provided me the closest and best skincare from either soaps and creams. As a bonus the soap easily lasts one year.
Unsure about the shelf life but imo if your bathroom is not too hot and has good ventilation Cella should last for years.
- Thread starter
- #5
Well my brush is a Best Badger brush. I will give it a try with the Cella, if its a no go I will get a Omega boar brush.
Most products have a shelf life. A cream could always be re-hydrated, from what I heard. You need to look for the sign on the package.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/12M
This is probably a stupid question, but I'm assuming mixing should be done in a seperate bowl? I recently acquired some Cella myself and I'm finding it a little finicky as far as mixing goes...
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I don't mix, just face lather. After soaking my Omega 10065 brush, I give it a shake and proceed to load the brush with Cella. I then start working the brush/soap on the face. If the lather appears weak or watery, I just keep working it on my face till I get the consistency I want. If it appears to dry, just dip the tips of the brush in hot water and go back to face lathering. This works for me every time.
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- #10
Looks like I will be needing a boar brush after all based on what I am reading.
If you have a fairly firm badger like a Rooney it will work fine. Does for me.
I do not use a separate bowl. Swirl directly from the red bowl and apply directly to the face. Although maybe a separate bowl works better.
Its not the end of the world. Purchased the Omega 49 Professional Boar for $11 including shipping from west coast shaving specifically for cella. Works fine.
Although Cella is considered a soft soap imo its still functions more like a hard soap although not like the triple milled.
Prepare yourself for some experimentation with Cella. Curious on your feedback.
Get ready to enjoy some great shaves. It consistently gives me some of my best shaves. BTW, you don't need a boar brush. Totally unnecessary. I use a silvertip brush and it lathers just the same as any of my other soaps. Just make sure you get enough soap on the brush which is a little challenge since the jar is somewhat narrow. With enough soap and plenty of water you'll get great lather and shaves. Enjoy.
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- #15
Well I certianly will be experimenting with it when it comes.
While most products do indeed have a listed shelf life, from what I gather it's mostly phooey so long as you store them properly. Cool, dry places. Add dark to that list if the product is in glass/clear container. I've got a few products that are definitely past their 12M mark (based on when the seller said they bought it, and how long I've had it) and you see years-gone discontinued creams on the BST from time to time. Rehydrating is definitely feasible, I've done it myself to a jar of TOBS Almond, as well as T&H Almond, coincidentally.
Fear not the expired shave gear!
While most products do indeed have a listed shelf life, from what I gather it's mostly phooey so long as you store them properly. Cool, dry places. Add dark to that list if the product is in glass/clear container. I've got a few products that are definitely past their 12M mark (based on when the seller said they bought it, and how long I've had it) and you see years-gone discontinued creams on the BST from time to time. Rehydrating is definitely feasible, I've done it myself to a jar of TOBS Almond, as well as T&H Almond, coincidentally.
Yes, sir. There are some exceptions, like superfatted soap where the extra fat can go and does go rancid after awhile. However, it is mostly bureaucratic BS.
Tip #1 It's a soft soap, so don't treat it like a cream, i.e., don't scoop it out of the tub, don't press the brush into the tub, and so forth. Instead, go at it with a slightly moist brush (silvertip will truly just do fine---it's the only one I have and it worked like a charm), load until the 'lather' on the soap is thick and pasty, then build as usual.
Tip #2 Cella produces a very 'fat' and dense lather. Don't dilute it too far to get to a more normal state; this product simply wants to be as thick as it is.
Tip #3 Your skin will feel very smooth and soft at the end of a shave, undoubtedly caused by the sodium carbonate in its formulation. This swells up the skin a little, giving it a smooth feel. But unfortunately this also meant that in my case, once I gave my face a good rinse with fresh water, I would have more stubble than I'd like---the slight swelling would hide the hairs from the blade. Therefore, for that truly BBS result, keep a bit of lather closeby after you've fully rinsed, shave off the remaining stubble, and rinse again.
Tip #4 Enjoy! Soft soaps are a pleasure to work with---it's too bad I can't handle P.160's fragrance (it causes irritation) and that Cella is pushing what I deem to be a comfortable lather, but other than that it's surprising that with so little ingredients you get such a good shave.
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- #19
Shaved with it today and wow, what a comfortable shave! I lathered it with the following steps:
1. I scooped a small amount into my lathering bowl and added a tsp or so of water
2. I used my finger and mushed the soft soap and water together to form a softer paste
3. I used my damp badger hair brush and lathered up like I normally do a cream
BAM! it exploded with rich creamy lather! Worked like a charm! I am really like the cream and the scent. I used a Gillette Aristocrat, Gillette Sharp Edge blades and a Vulfix best badger brush.
1. I scooped a small amount into my lathering bowl and added a tsp or so of water
2. I used my finger and mushed the soft soap and water together to form a softer paste
3. I used my damp badger hair brush and lathered up like I normally do a cream
BAM! it exploded with rich creamy lather! Worked like a charm! I am really like the cream and the scent. I used a Gillette Aristocrat, Gillette Sharp Edge blades and a Vulfix best badger brush.
Why all the gymnastics? Did you try simply loading the soap onto the brush directly from the bowl and working up a lather with that? That's all I do.
