Mystic Waters Lathering

[detroitreds]

I've been using the Mystic Waters soap on and off for about a year. When I first got it, it lathered well. I started with little water and added very few drops of water at a time (face lathering) until it produced the desired lather. After a while, the same process wouldn't work. It would go from dry to too wet with almost no water added. I could feel the bubbles popping. So I thought maybe the batch had in some way expired, so I ordered some more. However, I'm getting the same results. How have you been face lathering for proper thickness?

I generally soak the brush for 3 or so minutes, then swirl in the soap for about 20 seconds, then apply to face, adding a few drops of water until the desired thickness.

 

[detroitreds]

I should point out that I'm using the same brush and the water quality hasn't changed. Maybe it's a sign that my brush might be due for replacement.

 

[jazzguy]

What kind of brush is it? Are you getting good results from other soaps?

 

[Foyle]

I tried Mystic Waters about a year ago, and I couldn't make it work either. I had a different problem though. I had no trouble getting tons of lather, but it lacked substance. It had no cushion or glide. A lot of people like this soap, but it didn't work for me.

 

[eyebright]

I don't think that 20 seconds loading is enough, I usually do 40 seconds or until I've got what I know is enough proto-lather in the brush. Do you put water on the puck to soften it up? If you haven't used it in a while it might just have a dry surface and need to be prepped.

 

[volleymh9]

there was a good tutorial a little while back that may help you with lathering MW:

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/354033-Mystic-Waters-Lather-Tutorial

+1 with eyebright, try more load time and soften the puck up with water while you're soaking your brush, this has always allowed me to get great success with MW soap.

 

[Haggises]

Have you ever cleaned your brush? If you're using one brush all the time it might just need a touch up, not a replacement.

 

[detroitreds]

Sorry for late reply. I soaked the soap, then removed excess water. Soaked brush in hot water. Took a shower, gave the brush a good 3 or 4 shakes to remove excess water, loaded the brush for 40 seconds and lathered on face. Although I had more soap, the results were the same after about 45 seconds. I did not add extra water. The soap vanishes after the 1st pass.

I will try cleaning the brush, and bowl lathering to see if that makes a difference. The lather runs down the brush if I let it sit on the counter (although slowly).

The only other soaps that I use is Mike's and Razor Rock. Those lather just fine.

 

[brucered]

don't get hung up on application times. but 20sec is far too little for MW.

lather until it looks ready, it may be 30 sec, it may be 60 sec...for me, MW lathers in about 45sec or so and I have no issues with disappearing lather.

I always face lather it, but I have been able to bowl lather it too. if you are using HOT water to soak you brush, try room temp water as I find MW breaks down in heat.

 

[lt114]

don't get hung up on application times. but 20sec is far too little for MW.

lather until it looks ready, it may be 30 sec, it may be 60 sec...for me, MW lathers in about 45sec or so and I have no issues with disappearing lather.

I always face lather it, but I have been able to bowl lather it too. if you are using HOT water to soak you brush, try room temp water as I find MW breaks down in heat.

This is very good advice.

 

[brucered]

This is very good advice.

it's #8 in My Top Ten General Lathering Tips

8) USE ROOM TEMP WATER - When in doubt, use warm/room temp water. Often soaps will break down in heat and is the cause of "evaporating lather" on your face or in your bowl/brush. Experiment and see if the product is "heat friendly", as some are and some aren't. I prefer warm lather from my bowl or brush scuttle, but some of my favourite product are not "heat friendly", so I just use them with room temp water and they lather up perfectly and do not break down.

 

[shevek]

Don't be afraid to overload this soap. I typically load for 60 seconds or more and get great results. You can always add water later to thin it out if needed. And I agree with brucered regarding avoiding the use of hot water.

 

[detroitreds]

I hate to bump an old thread, but I've found how to lather this soap quite nicely, and if this can help someone else out, then mission complete. I should say that this is for face lathering.

1. I do not wet my face for MW soaps (I think this was one of the issues)

2. After soaking the brush for 2-3 minutes, I remove most of the water. Water temperature doesn't seem to bother in my case. You just need the hair to be damp/wet, and not "holding" water, if that makes any sense.

3. I make pretend that I would be using the soap as a shaving stick. So I swirl a few times in the container, then apply that soap to part of the face. I then swirl a few more times and apply the soap to other parts of the face (you should not have "lather" on the face, but just a coating of "dryish" soap) . When the face is well covered, then I dip the top of the brush in water and then proceed to loading the brush with the soap in the container. Once it has a good coating, then I mix it with the soap on the face and proceed to lathering.

Hopefully that helps out some people.

 

[SIG9]

I'll agree with those above. Load for 40-60 seconds. Also try soaking your brush for less time. Maybe 1min or less. Sounds like maybe there's a bit too much water to start.