Kittys Soap Shop Shaving Soap useability

[DanNatural]

I tried using Kitty's Soap Shop Gentlemen's barber shaving soap and it just does not work. It seems to resist any amount of water and when i try to tip my badger brush into water to lather, the lather just turns into bubbles. okay. So I let it sit for a couple of minutes hoping for the lather to get thicker but when I put it on my face, it dries out as one person on this forum.

I love the scent, classic barber shop, but can't use it. Real bummer since the soap was only $5. Can't lather can't use.

 

[John Von Wuggz]

Try using some MWF lathering tips for it.

 

[DanNatural]

Try using some MWF lathering tips for it.

I have never used Mitchel's Wool Fat soap so you are going to have to enlighten me.

 

[jazzguy]

Have you had success with other shaving soaps?

 

[Galengwath]

Have you had success with any other shaving soaps, or is this your first outing? First things first, lather will not spontaneously thicken on its own, as you seem to be hoping. It needs to be worked with your brush to build lather, either in a bowl or on your face. I suggest you go here to read some of the tutorials on lathering and see if you can get it to work from there:

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showth...TICKY-quot-post-for-soaps-Need-HELP-read-this!

I would hazard to guess that you're using too much water initially and not loading your brush enough before lather. Of course, having never heard of the soap you're using, and knowing next to nothing about your lathering technique, it's possible that the soap you picked is no good. We'll be able to help you a lot more if you pick a reputable soap that manyof us have tried, and give us a lot more information about how you're attempting to build a lather.

 

[DanNatural]

Have you had success with any other shaving soaps, or is this your first outing? First things first, lather will not spontaneously thicken on its own, as you seem to be hoping. It needs to be worked with your brush to build lather, either in a bowl or on your face. I suggest you go here to read some of the tutorials on lathering and see if you can get it to work from there:

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showth...TICKY-quot-post-for-soaps-Need-HELP-read-this!

For me, lathering shaving cream is much easier. I will look at the tutorials that you sent me. Hopefully that will help. I have used tabac soap but not for a long time. I will have to revisit it to see about lathering technique. I am more a cream than a soap guy if you have to ask. Soap is harder to lather for me because it is difficult to adjust the water ratio.

 

[jazzguy]

I suspect that you'll never get the Kitty's to lather.

 

[DanNatural]

I suspect that you'll never get the Kitty's to lather.

The other problem is with Kitty's soap is that the lather feels right when I get it to my face but it dries out quickly. I am not putting on soupy lather or toothpaste textured lather. The lather being the ideal consistency that you find in a shaving soap but dries out still. Bummer.

 

[sharpen]

Soaps need a lot more brush loading time than creams - in my experience, at least.

For most creams, an almond sized dollop is enough and with quality creams, even a pea size does the job.

But for soaps, I find I have to swirl my brush for at least 45 seconds / 1 minute on the soap in order to get enough product for a proper lather (even with premium soaps such as my MdC). For entry level soaps maybe the brush loading time couldbe extended to 2 or 3 minutes...
Also, try to start with minimal amounts of water and add some progressively.

But YMMV, as you may prefer a lighter lather or a heavier, thicker one.