Problem with re-lathering for 2nd and 3rd passes

[kosta777]

Hi. I am new to traditional shaving style. I was looking for some pre shave staff to make my shaving process less irritating and I found out about shaving creams and soaps. I was using electric shaver before.

I ordered Taconic pre shave oil, taconic shaving cream (eucalyptus & Mint) and tweezerman shaving brush. I do not use DE razor yet, I decided to try it a little later, right now I have Gillette Pro Glide Pro Power.

I lather in a bowl. I soak my brush in warm water, than shake it up 3 times to get rid of excess water and start lathering. In one minute I have a good quality, thick lather. I lather my face and put the brush in the bowl. However, when I finish my first pass the lather is not so thick any more. When I lather my face for second time, the lather is thinner and kind of runny.

Any ideas, what the problem might be???

 

[BC1]

Try using less water. If you rinse your face between lathers, try patting your face almost dry before applying lather for the second and subsequent passes.

 

[musicman1951]

I'm not familiar with that cream, but it seems counterintuitive: I would think it would dry out a bit with time. Less water sounds like a good suggestion, but if the lather is the correct consistency for the first pass that would, of course, make it a bit too dry. Can you re-whip the lather into the correct consistency with your brush?

 

[Jussi]

Maybe there's excess moisture in the brush that seeps into the lather during shaving?

 

[Jawaburger]

Can you re-whip the lather into the correct consistency with your brush?

I always give my bowl lather a little bit of whipping before I start my successive passes. I only go for about 5-10 seconds for these subsequent passes.

 

[5savages]

I used to have that problem when I was starting out. I solved it by using more product and by using my hand to squeegee the water off my face after I rinsed off between passes. If you're getting great lather on your first pass, I wouldn't suggest using less water, then your initial lather would be to dry. It sounds to me like you're adding water between passes, and I'm wondering if it's from the water left over after rinsing your face.

 

[dannymayo]

After you do your first pass squeeze the lather from the base of the knot and see if it comes out runny and watery. You probably just need to adjust the ratio of cream to water.

 

[Mick]

I only rinse my face if my lather appears to need a little more water, otherwise I just re-lather and keep shaving

Your problem sounds like not enough product and too much water.

Load your brush, when you think you have enough, load it again, then if it looks like it is enough, load it once more. Oh did I say, load your brush with more product

 

[kosta777]

Its definitely not too much water, I tried with less water it was too dry for the first pass. I also tried more cream, actually I tried much more once, the lather was good but still runny for second pass. I also dry my face a little after rinsing.

I will try to re-whip it before second pass, that might help. I also agree with an idea that it might be water coming out of the brush, when I put it in the bowl with hairs down. I will try not to. However, I am using another bowl with hot water underneath, so that the lather is warm for second pass. That's why I put the brush in the bowl.

 

[Rockminer]

A good test to see if it's water coming from your brush;

After you whip up a good lather, to start, sqeeze out the lather in the brush into the bowl. If water comes with it then it may be leaking into the bowl while you shave.

 

[Useless shaver]

Excellent avice above. Try more product (it works) and perhaps do control the amount of water.

 

[gegarrenton]

I only rinse my face if my lather appears to need a little more water, otherwise I just re-lather and keep shaving

I agree. I had to learn this early on.

 

[Attila]

I only rinse my face if my lather appears to need a little more water, otherwise I just re-lather and keep shaving

Your problem sounds like not enough product and too much water.

Load your brush, when you think you have enough, load it again, then if it looks like it is enough, load it once more. Oh did I say, load your brush with more product

+5. Great advice from the turtle, as always.

 

[JaggerDragger]

I used to have your same problem. Whip the lather again before applying it for the second and third pass.

I find that my lather fizzles down a bit while shaving, a good strong whipping will make it much thicker again.

For me I find that I cannot have too much product or too much water. I use Marco's method for Italian soft soaps and load the soap puck with a totally soaked brush; excess water spills out while loading and the right amount mixes with the soap. It is so easy and I never have to add more water while lathering.

OP you can also try reloading the brush with a touch more product between passes.

 

[kosta777]

Yesterday I tried with little more product and even less water. It was better but still not perfect. I made some more whipping before second pass and it did the job. I did it again for 3rd pass, it seemed a little dried out, so I added few drops of water and after re-whipping it was great again. It seems that re-whipping really helps.

Thanks everyone!

 

[JaggerDragger]

That's good to hear Kosta777; keep at it, it just gets better as you acquire experience!

 

[celestino]

I have to agree sounds like too much water, not enough soap or both.

+1 Good luck.

 

[kosta777]

Wow, Wow, Wow

The last few shaves were amazing. I started with almost dry brush and added just a teaspoon of water later and I ended up with thick and slickly lather, which made my shave much better, with much less irritation.

My problem was that when I was applying lather on my face with circular motions, it was to thin and my circular motion was actually taking away the layer. With the lather so thick, I felt like I applied several layers on my face and it provided much better protection.

However, when I watch videos of mantic and some other tutorials, I notice that they usually put thinner lather and use more water, but when I add more water the lather is ok with no bubbles, but the protection is not so good for me. Maybe because I use Gillette fusion, I need thicker/drier lather?? or maybe my Taconic cream needs less water than other creams or soaps?

After watching all those videos I am a little worried if my lather is too dry, but since I am happy with the shave, I guess it should be just right.

 

[BC1]

I'm not familiar with the soap you are using, but bear in mind that some soaps will do exactly as you describe when used with a scuttle or warm bowl of water underneath. They seem to be unable to tolerate the heat and tend to thin out.