Ingredients to perfect lather?

[Fabian43]

I'm trying to figure out the best combo to make a great lather. At this point I'm using Taylor of Old lavender soap of which I use to load my brush, then I put an almond size amount of Proraso green shaving cream into my scuttle and mix it all together. Is this sufficient? I have seen people add some liquid glycerin into the lather as well. I have also seen people just only use shaving cream. Am I OK in using soap and cream at the same time?

What do you do?

I'm trying to figure out the best combo to make a great lather. At this point I'm using Taylor of Old lavender soap of which I use to load my brush, then I put an almond size amount of Proraso green shaving cream into my scuttle and mix it all together. Is this sufficient? I have seen people add some liquid glycerin into the lather as well. I have also seen people just only use shaving cream. Am I OK in using soap and cream at the same time?

What do you do?

 

[dpm802]

I usually mix soap and cream, in all sorts of combos.

What you're doing is fine. If it works, don't fix it.

 

[Marco]

I'm trying to figure out the best combo to make a great lather. At this point I'm using Taylor of Old lavender soap of which I use to load my brush, then I put an almond size amount of Proraso green shaving cream into my scuttle and mix it all together. Is this sufficient? I have seen people add some liquid glycerin into the lather as well. I have also seen people just only use shaving cream. Am I OK in using soap and cream at the same time?

What do you do?

There is, in my opinion, no need to mix products together.
When you use a good shaving brush, a quality cream or soap, have a proper lathering technique and, most important, really "know" what you are doing, with a bit of experience you get the perfect lather.

 

[mretzloff]

Whatever works for you is fine. If you get the best results by mixing up some concoction of products, so be it. A good cream or soap should be able to make a good lather without any help, though. I used to superlather with cream and soap, but once my technique got better, I stopped.

 

[mretzloff]

There is, in my opinion, no need to mix products together.
When you use a good shaving brush, a quality cream or soap, have a proper lathering technique and, most important, really "know" what you are doing, with a bit of experience you get the perfect lather.

+1

I posted the same thing in the other thread he started.

 

[TiberiuR]

there is, in my opinion, no need to mix products together.
When you use a good shaving brush, a quality cream or soap, have a proper lathering technique and, most important, really "know" what you are doing, with a bit of experience you get the perfect lather.

+1

 

[michiganlover]

Whatever works for you is fine. If you get the best results by mixing up some concoction of products, so be it. A good cream or soap should be able to make a good lather without any help, though. I used to superlather with cream and soap, but once my technique got better, I stopped.

+1

Both of those products he is using are fully capable of producing a wonderful lather on their own. While it might be fun to experiment, and mix products together, it's not necessary.

I would read through some of the how to lather tutorials, and perhaps post some details of your lathering process. This is a technique issue, and not a problem with the individual soaps/ shaving creams themselves.

 

[Luc]

+1 to the above

1 product is enough. 2 products makes superlather. I never added any glycerin to any soaps or creams as I never needed to.

 

[Drubbing]

A bit of technique and familiarity with your chosen product(s) is all that's needed. Some will perform better than others for different people.

I don't get the love on superlather, but... whatever shaves your face.

 

[ackvil]

I happen to like the superlather technique. I usually start with mama bears unscented glycerin soap and then add one of the creams in my rotations. I then add two or three drops of glycerin. The result for me is the best, irritation-free shave ever. I have a thick beard and sensitive skin and this works for me.

 

[Fabian43]

I appreciate everyone's advice. So the consensus is that a superlather isn't a necessity nor is mixing multiple products to get a nice lather, more preference than anything. I assumed that by mixing a soap and cream I'd get benefits of both products. I thought by adding the cream it would make the lather more 'smooth'. So I'm convinced I don't need to add glycerin or even mixed products. I guess my next question, which I know has probably been asked a thousand times, is which is better soap or cream? Better yet, why would someone use a soap exclusively and why would someone use cream exclusively? I'm sure there are benefits to both. Thanks!

 

[Drubbing]

I appreciate everyone's advice. So the consensus is that a superlather isn't a necessity nor is mixing multiple products to get a nice lather, more preference than anything. I assumed that by mixing a soap and cream I'd get benefits of both products.

You have to know how to make good lather in the first place, before you can tinker with it and make it better with additions, which some people like to do. Personally, I don't.

Soap or cream is entirely preference. Like Pepsi and Coke. I have soaps that are better than some creams, and vice versa. But by having a consistent technique for making good lather, I can evaluate them from the same baseline.