Making lather with shaving soap and cream

[Medic82]

As you might have figured out I am a n00b and that’s why I will ask a lot of n00b questions.

For the past week I have been using a T&H 1805 shaving cream and been making some decent lather with it and it doesn’t take long either. Now, yesterday I got myself 2 bar of soaps, Fitjar Norwegian Fern and Fitjar Wild Thing, but for me it takes a couple of minutes longer to make the lather.

I have made 4 attempts at making lather from the soaps and all 4 times I have gotten a little different result, it was the 4’th time that was a charm for me. I pushed my best badger brush down on the soap so it fanned out so the soap was absorbed in the center of the brush and not on the tips, the 3 other times I didn’t do it so just the tip of the brush was covered and I got too little soap on the brush. The brush had very little water in it on all 4 attempts since I like to start with a dry brush and water in the bowl as I am making the lather.

Now, how does the way I made the lather sound to you and can you relate to the difference in making lather from soap and cream? Or is it just that the soaps that I got is hard for n00b to make lather out of? Making lather from a soap looks pretty simple on youtube

Cause as of now I am a shaving cream fan and the soaps might end up on the trading marked.

 

[40boy]

More soap on the brush will never hurt the lather making cause.

Start with a dry-ish brush, load tons of soap, and add water sparingly until you get shiny lather that will form stiff peaks.

Soaps are usually a little more work, but I think the quality of lather is better, in most cases. YMMV

I haven't tried the Fitjar products, but THIS method should get you a good lather every time.

 

[Go West Young Man]

You have to really mash the brush into the puck when you're lathering soap. Don't be afraid to overdo it, the brush is designed to take some abuse.

 

[buddydog]

I have better results lathering soaps on my face instead of in a bowl.

 

[ackvil]

You have to really mash the brush into the puck when you're lathering soap. Don't be afraid to overdo it, the brush is designed to take some abuse.

+1. Since soaps are hard and creams are soft there are different techniques needed. The soaps require much more work with the technique above explained. Since the soaps are soft all it takes is a little in a bowl or brush and you are good to go. Just think as hard and soft. Hard requires you to swirl the brush around the soap until the brush is charged.

Then, of course, there are some Italian soaps that are soft to start with. But that's another story.

 

[Medic82]

Gave it a go today with the great tutorial posted above with good results, but I have come to realize that I don’t like shaving soaps, at least the one from Fitjar that I got, and like shaving creams instead. So when I have enough post count be on the lookout in the trade section.

But thanks for the help guys and great tutorial

 

[Kcaps]

Gave it a go today with the great tutorial posted above with good results, but I have come to realize that I don’t like shaving soaps, at least the one from Fitjar that I got, and like shaving creams instead. So when I have enough post count be on the lookout in the trade section.

But thanks for the help guys and great tutorial

I was the exact same way when I started a few months ago. I thought I would be a strictly cream guy, but now I use MORE soaps then creams. Give it some time, keep practicing everything, and come back to the soaps in a few months. You may have learned enough to really appreciate the soaps, I know I have! Ralph Lauren Safari RULES!!

 

[Medic82]

I have been thinking about that and figure that I will try soaps when I feel ready. I have enough with getting used to all of the new stuff that wet shaving offers before I get more advanced.