Mama Bear's Bay Rhum:

[81FSUnole]

so i'm still learning the art of wet shaving w/ a safety razor. i've tried a couple of soaps: proraso from BBW and TOBS (sandalwood). I like them both a lot.

i ordered mama bears the other nt and tried it today. well, perhaps i didnt create the lather right, but i was very underwhelmed. the proraso and TOBS create a much thicker lather. mama bear's was very thin. i shaved twice.

1st time: brush soaked in hot water while i took a shower. got out, grabbed brush and loaded it in the mama bear's soap, then whipped the brush in a bowl w/ a small amt of H2o=thin lather

2nd time: loaded soap w/ a little more downward force on the brush (seemed to pick up more soap), then whipped it in the bowl w/ less water than the 1st time=slightly thicker lather

my instruments:
1)merkur safety
2) derby blade
3)tweezerman badger brush
4) mama bear's bay rhum

so far my best shave has come w/ a feather blade and hand lather w/ proraso.

i know the tweezerman isnt a good brush so maybe that's the culprit? anyways, thanks for your help. any advice would be really appreciated.

thanks!

 

[mblakele]

Congrats on your progress so far. I think you have already figured out the next step, but maybe you don't realize it yet. Load up that brush.

http://wiki.badgerandblade.com/index.php/How_to_make_great_lather_from_a_soap

 

[CoachClassRow13]

I load my brush from MB soaps with no problem. Wet the soap down for a minute, dump the water out, and load. My brush is near dry when I load, just to preserve the soap when I face lather.

Just remember you can always add more water, and you can't take water away.

 

[Jobie1128]

I load my brush from MB soaps with no problem. Wet the soap down for a minute, dump the water out, and load. My brush is near dry when I load, just to preserve the soap when I face lather.

Just remember you can always add more water, and you can't take water away.

I do pretty much the same thing. When I jump in the shower I get a few drops of warm water on the soap and leave my brush dry. I then load up my brush. I bowl lather so then I just add some warm water to the bowl and start lathering away. I get some of my best lathers with Mama Bears.

 

[silvertipfan]

MB stuff is hit or miss for me. I've tried probably 7 or so and have only had success with a few. I've had issues with lather, irritation, bad shaves with some but at the same time, there are a few of her soaps that give me good to great shaves

 

[81FSUnole]

thanks guys. i will definitely use everyone's suggestions.

 

[solar]

I've had great success so far with MB soaps, and was in fact surprised by how well they lathered. I may be unconventional, but I wet my brush in hot water, then load up the brush, followed by a good face lathering to work the beard and skin.

You may have hit a dud batch, or it may be a technique thing if you've not used glycerin soaps in the past. Anyways, stick with it. I find MB soaps to be such an olfactory pleasure to use that I would hate to think of you being denied their wonderful scent over the lathering issue.

Best,

Chris

 

[Bullwinkle]

I got my first MB this week.. Lime Ice stick and a/s. The lather was great but the smell was weird.

 

[Ruger Packer]

I got a sample of MB's Bay Rum with my last order and have been using it the past couple of days. I couldn't smell much of this one, UNTIL I lathered it up. Its a pleasant scent. I'm thinking it would make a nice every day kind of soap. Definately nice for summer. The scent lingers for awhile but not overbearing at all.

 

[81FSUnole]

i'm gonna give it another go tonight using the suggestions provided. i'll give it another review after. wish me luck. haha.

 

[81FSUnole]

ok, after everyone's suggestions and tips, i decided to give the mama bear's another go. well, it did NOT disappoint. it makes a HUGE difference when you load the brush and lather correctly. the lather it made in the bowl was thick and stuck to my face w/out disappearing. great, great lather. however, i can't say i'm a fan of the derby stainless DE blades. they are not nice to my face. i shave w/ the grain and it leaves my neck w/ an insane amt of nicks. i did not experience thi w/ feather. anyone interested in trading for the derby blades, PM me.

once again, thanks everyone.

 

[jamesdr]

There is also an instructional video on the mama bear website.

 

[Gravy]

Start out as if you are trying to make a lather that is too dry. Then gradually add little bits of water till you get it where you like it.

I'm not sure why but I seem to get the best neck shaves w/ MB's soaps.

 

[81FSUnole]

Start out as if you are trying to make a lather that is too dry. Then gradually add little bits of water till you get it where you like it.

I'm not sure why but I seem to get the best neck shaves w/ MB's soaps.

that's exactly what i did. got an incredible lather. still having problems w/ my neck, though. i think it's cuz my hair grows in a hurricane of directions.

 

[Ruger Packer]

that's exactly what i did. got an incredible lather. still having problems w/ my neck, though. i think it's cuz my hair grows in a hurricane of directions.

Put more lather on your neck. Take it easy. After I lather up and make 1st pass (WTG) I squeeze some lather off the brush onto my hand and use that hand to feel which way the hairs grow, rub some lather on and then immediately touch up with the razor. After about 5-7 shaves, with Mama's soap I no longer have razor burn/irritation.... and I'm getting BBS shaves.

 

[Bit2]

that's exactly what i did. got an incredible lather. still having problems w/ my neck, though. i think it's cuz my hair grows in a hurricane of directions.

Watch Mantic59's videos. It will help you in lathering and shaving techniques. I lather my face three times and only shave with the grain once. Really, watch all of Mantic's videos. It does help.

As far as Derby's. buy a good sample pack of better blades.
Blades are subjective but to me, Derby's are a PIF blade. Something to give away.

I like BullGoose on the B&B vendor Site or his Store.
You could also PM Dr. Idiot on the vendor site and ask for a set up of Feathers/Gillette Green/Kai/Bic/and Super Max.

John

 

[RayH]

My first experience with MB Bay Rhum, I really didn't like it. But only for the aroma. I was expecting something along the lines of Royall Bay Rhum for the fragrance. But I've come to appreciate it since then. Of the 3 of hers I have (Diogenes Club and Dragon's Blood) the Bay Rhum is the one I've used the most. Take your time and you will find the right water ratio for the soap. Everyone is going to be a little different. Proraso being a cream will of course lather quicker than a soap. But don't let that deter you.

 

[81FSUnole]

thanks, guys.

practice makes perfect i hear. i dont mind practicing this the more i shave, the more supplies i get to try. haha.

just ordered some 7 o'clocks and feathers from a vendor on the board. great deal. my buddy has tried the 7 o'clocks and loves them. i've tried the feathers and love them.....especially compared to the derbys. anxious to try the 7s.

once again, gracias.

 

[winston61]

glycerine soaps will always fall short of the performance of real (meaning animal or vegetable oil soap). Anyone with access to a microwave and some scent oils can produce glycerine soap. They are convenient to be sure, but there is no real skill in simply melting something and pouring into a stick holder.
If you have real money invested in your shaving kit, why do want to settle for glycerine soap?