Mystic Water soaps

[azshooter40]

USPS delivered some samples last night and looking forward to trying one today. Well, I am very disappointed right now as I had a horrible shave. I could not get a nice thick protective lather. Was able to whip up some merenge type lather but once I put it on my face it disappeared in no time. I only managed 2 passes and on the neck there is some irritation. I figured I was doing something wrong so I practiced 3 more times post shave. Loaded the brush for almost 2 minutes the last time and added a drop of water at a time.
Routine:
Vulfix 2234 brush
Soak brush while showering
usual prep with warm water and Floids oil
load brush for 30+ seconds
add water as I go while latheringin a mug
Good amount of lather but light merenge type that seemed to have no protective quality to it.

The only other soap I have tried that I can compare it too is the DR Harris almond. That produces a mountain of slick lather.
I hope I am just doing something wrong as I love the scent of every sample I have and the Bay rum I tried today is amazing.
Any pointers?

 

[Haggises]

Try an initially-drier brush and a longer load. And try not to use hot water.

When you get it, you'll know it, and you're gonna love it.

 

[Haggises]

I should read posts better.....missed your post-sahve longer load bit....

Did you start off wet brush or drier?

 

[azshooter40]

I give the brush a ligth squeeze and shake after the soak. The brush is usually pretty dry. I also tried with a really wet brush and that was even worse. I can try with a really dry brush and see if that helps.
Thanks

 

[brucered]

keep at it, when you get it to work it's amazing.

There are a few lathering tutorials for Mystic Water Soaps (there are many, but mine are below) and they may help.

You are not alone, many find it tricky to lather. But once you crack the code (if you can call it that), it's truly a wonderful soap that produces amazing scent and lather.

Not sure if this will help or hurt, but here is how I bowl lather MW. I try to Face Lather it, as it's less finicky this way, but anyway. Here is my 1st attempt at a pictoral step-by-step.

Soak Brush in hot water:


Drain water and let brush drip dry, then give a few "shakes":


Lather on puck:


It will start to thicken:


Start to lather in bowl:


When it looks like this, you are done!

And a link to the Lather Video thread for face lathering it: Mystic Water Face Lathering

 

[Haggises]

How hard is your water? Some people have problems with lathering up MW in hard water areas. If hard, you could try using bottled water...

There's also this vid by some guy called brucered........

 

[brucered]

There's also this vid by some guy called brucered........

I don't trust that guy, he's from Canada

 

[jasonb8736]

azshooter40...I have a tub and a few samples of MW. I call it my "recreational soap" because it is the only soap I own (and I own a few...) that challenges me. I only take it out when I know I have plenty of time for a leisurely shave. It's a great product from a quality vendor but you will find many who cannot dial it in regularly, including myself.

I used brucered's video and some other advice and occasionally nail it. It's not the only product that I'll put away for a while and revisit so I don't get too emotional when it doesn't work out.

I'm going to have to film myself on a day when I dial it in so I can remember how I did it.

 

[Jerry4roo]

It's essential for me to mash the sample in a bowl or even use it as a shave stick. The use a shaken out brush to load or lather.

 

[Novacula]

I discovered that if I get it too wet I simply apply the wet lather with the brush then reload the brush and thicken the lather in the face. Great shaves and a wonderful face feel. It's all I'm using this month. t

 

[azshooter40]

Thanks Brucered! The video and pics help.
I went back and tried again and it did get better. I was able to priduce some slick lather but just not as much as what you get on the video. Tried some on my face and it stayed longer. Will try again tomorrow.
Thanks!

 

[brucered]

Thanks Brucered! The video and pics help.
I went back and tried again and it did get better. I was able to priduce some slick lather but just not as much as what you get on the video. Tried some on my face and it stayed longer. Will try again tomorrow.
Thanks!

Glad I could help. I never know if those lather videos help or I am just doing them for my own enjoyment.

Keep at it, once it clicks.....it clicks and becomes a no brainier to lather. I find it works best FACE lathering it as well.

The only think MW has issues with in my lathering is, it does NOT like heat and would break down almost instantly if I used a scuttle.

 

[JCinPA]

I don't trust that guy, he's from Canada

Wow! I never noticed he was Canuckistanian! Makes great lather vids, though, with awesome music.

Hang in there with that soap. I don't care what the MW acolytes say, I think it the most finicky soap on the planet. But ... it is worth the effort. When you nail that stuff the lather is heavenly. It really is. Keep at it.

 

[rxonmymind]

I don't trust that guy, he's from Canada

 

[tinashubby]

Mystic samples have a tendency to create a challenge for me, I actually think it is the size/shape. Try to grate it up and squish it into the bottom of a decent size bowl, I'll bet that will help alot. I have all of my Mystic grated into sticks and face lather only. They can be slightly more work than say Arko, but well worth it. Her soaps are very slick and when you get the water/soap ratio right it kinda explodes. I often wind up with lather on my shoulders, chest, mirror and walls. I can't get any soap to lather great with a boar brush, no more than two passes and then back to the puck.
The best unmodified sample size that I have from Mystic is her Lavender, it seems to lather easier than her other scents for me and I love it.
I am very happy with Michelles soaps!

 

[azshooter40]

Did another practice lather today and it is getting better each time. I decided not to shave with it today as I was trying new razors and went with something I had more confidence in the lather. Plan on using it tomorrow since I have no where to be and can take some extra time.
The scent of the Bay Rum is amazing. My hand towel smells like it now!!!

 

[maxpower]

MW is one of the few soaps I struggle with as well. I'm glad I am not the only one. The scent of the soap I had was amazing. I wish there was a soap that smelled like it but worked better for me. I can get a great lather to start with but it breaks down and needs to be re-lathered. I guess this is OK but many other soaps I have just work.

 

[Pacesetter]

I too have had a hard time figuring out my lather technique (using a puck of her cedar and sage right now), but am sticking with it on account of how great the scent is and how my face feels. I can report that I am having success with experimentation. Another interesting observation: I live in co, at a high elevation. When I travel back to md to visit family, I can produce a much more abundant lather with much less effort. Not sure if this is due to the elevation change, or differences in our water.