Sometimes I make a bad inadequate lather, and I'm too lazy to rinse it out and start over. So I shave with it anyway, and I have the nerve to be surprised that I got razor burn. Every time it happens I say, 'never again' but then I do it anyway. Totally defeats the purpose. If the lather's not right, the choice of razor and blade - all the attention and care to proper angle is meaningless. Anybody else find themselves doing this? I guess I just would like to hear I'm not alone. =D Maybe I should tack up a sign at the sink, something like "rinse that brush out and start over" just to remind myself.
Make bad lather and shave with it anyway
- Thread starter tfinch
- Start date
Maybe I'm too simple-minded for this, but it seems to me:
. . . If the lather is too wet, add some soap or cream;
. . . If the lather is too dry, add some water.
Why would you rinse it out and start over?
. Charles
PS -- I have one soap that I'm testing. I haven't gotten a _good_ lather out of it yet. I'm giving it two more chances -- after that, the garbage. I have too many soaps that _work_ to waste time on one that doesn't.
. . . If the lather is too wet, add some soap or cream;
. . . If the lather is too dry, add some water.
Why would you rinse it out and start over?
. Charles
PS -- I have one soap that I'm testing. I haven't gotten a _good_ lather out of it yet. I'm giving it two more chances -- after that, the garbage. I have too many soaps that _work_ to waste time on one that doesn't.
I face lather but there have been times I need to add more produdt to get the proper comsistancy. If I find my lather too runny I will add more product an start again.
Hey Jay,
hear you loud and clear and agree that you should not pursue a shave with bad lather. Based on a lot of posts we've read here it seems that many shavers seek a better razor or blade to overcome irritation when it really is just lazy lather technique that is causing the pain.
Since switching to face lathering though I must admit that I get a lot better lathers and feel that I've got more effective skin prep too. I also use a pre/post every shave and reaplly between passes. Proraso in case you were wondering.
hear you loud and clear and agree that you should not pursue a shave with bad lather. Based on a lot of posts we've read here it seems that many shavers seek a better razor or blade to overcome irritation when it really is just lazy lather technique that is causing the pain.
Since switching to face lathering though I must admit that I get a lot better lathers and feel that I've got more effective skin prep too. I also use a pre/post every shave and reaplly between passes. Proraso in case you were wondering.
- Thread starter
- #5
Thanks for the replies all. I should have clarified, it's watery lather that is the trouble. If it's too dry to start with I can get it just right adding a bit at a time, but those times I had too much water in the brush to start with it seems like the brush won't really pick up any more soap than it has after a point, and can't catch up - those are the times I feel I'd do best to start over from the beginning. This doesn't happen too often anymore, mostly when trying a new soap or a new brush. The problem with runaway ADs (besides spending too much money) is having a lot of brushes and soaps to learn I guess. Definitely agree that a lot of people starting out may blame the blade. Also can add, I too love proraso pre-post, and haven't thought of trying reapplying it between passes. I shall give that a try as well.
+1 on the problem of managing too many variables. I only have two brushes--both synthetic--and now only use one of them, but during the period of change I learned, through considerable experimentation, that while brush #1 did well with the wetter-brush approach, #2 requires (for me, at least) the drier-brush approach. On top of that is the variable of using--and enjoying!--20 different soaps.
Funny you should post this, I did the same thing... 3 times in a row now, trying to nail down a good lather with MWF. I did somewhat learn from the previous 2 tries, and after 1 pass this morning on the bad lather, I added a pump of KMF into the bowl... bingo, instant creamy slick cushion goodness. This is why I love leaving the KMF right there, seems I can always fix a bad lather with a pump of that. I'm giving the MWF on more go tomorrow, then giving up on it. lol
My lather this morning was rather lackluster, but the shave was fine anyway. I think I had enough soap for lubrication but not enough water/whipping to make a really nice foam.
I have had lots of things go wrong with a shave. Lather too wet, lather too dry, dull blade, uneven blade exposure, etc. It didn't take long to realize that it's time to stop and fix the problem. Unless you really enjoy pain and torture. 
Sorry, but nope. My lather technique is stable. Hee hee. No way i could ever shave with bad lather.
I hear what your saying Tfinch, I been at it a few years and now and then I STILL goof the lather, but mainly because I rotate soaps, creams and croaps and so on. I learned making it simple is best, yeah can have a lot of soaps...but make sure you get a handle on lathering each one...I only use my hard soaps like from Mama Bears when I am in the mood to take my long sweet time to make an exceptionally great shaving and fantastic smelling lather. I think cpcohen1945 has a good point though, no sense wasting it can fix it likely, unless you really fubar it lol.
No I just adjust it till it the way I want.
- Thread starter
- #13
With this advice in mind, I stood at the sink today and made a lot of practice lathers, and ordered some more KMF. I used that very same trick of adding it to a stubborn soap at times, til I gave away my bottle to a young co-worker back in the summer who had just started shaving and was having allergy problems with his canned gel =D As for the variables, I guess the upside of having so many is that I won't stress about using up some product to get some practice with each!
What are you guys doing?
If your cream / soap lather is too dry add a few drops of water till it is right. If it is too wet add some more cream / take a few more swirls of soap. Repeat until perfect.
If it is falling flat - use more product.
If your cream / soap lather is too dry add a few drops of water till it is right. If it is too wet add some more cream / take a few more swirls of soap. Repeat until perfect.
If it is falling flat - use more product.
For me...I start it out kinda dry and add water little by little until it gets to be just right...seems to work for me so...I also as I can tell it is getting close get a little lather onto my wet fingers and rub between to test slickness...I dunno mgiht seem stupid or blah but it works for me and I rarely make a bad lather less I just got plain careless.
Hence the pump of KMF always being handy to add more product. It's more of a matter of not being stubborn and trying to shave with the lather not being great, instead of fixing it. lol
+2 That is what happens with me, I forget what one brush likes and make a mess...but it's part of the fun!
It's one of the benefits of face lathering. I start out a moist brush and product on my face and add water until the mix is right. It's really difficult to mess up cause if I see one cheek getting too wet I take the brush and incorporate that moisture to the lather on the rest of my face.
Some days, the lather comes out so bad that it can't be saved. The only merciful thing to do is put it out of it's misery and start fresh.
the only truly bad lather i can recall is a local soap maker that tried some shave soap that the lather just disappears after its made..in seconds. Besides that like its been mentioned if i went a little crazy with water then add a little more cream or soap and vice versa.
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