Tabac vs Proraso: Dryness issue

[Chaotik]

Hi all,

First, let me introduce myself. I'm not a newbie at wet shaving. I have been using a Gillette Fusion along with the Gillette Fusion goo in a can for years.

After reading about the wonders of DE shaving, I recently bought myself the following items :

- Wilkinson Sword boar brush (the drug store one... that's my next ugrade).
- Merkur 23c (classic I believe it's called)
- Merkur blades (waiting for feathers any day now)
- Proraso green tub soap
- Tabac soap

Here's my issue. I have the Proraso stuff all figured out. It works pretty good but I don't like the scent very much.

I use the exact same technique with the Tabac soap but the stuff dries up and starts flaking off on my face within minutes. So quickly in fact that I have to re-lather 3 times in order to keep it wet until I'm all done.

Here's my technique :
- Load up the brush with hot water
- Give it one shake
- Swirl the brush directly in the soap tub until I get a good amount of lather
- Apply

As mentionned, I do the same with Proraso and Tabac but so far, Proraso stays wet but not Tabac.

any ideas on what the problem may be ?

Thanks

Chaotik

 

[michiganlover]

Here's my technique :
- Load up the brush with hot water
- Give it one shake
- Swirl the brush directly in the soap tub until I get a good amount of lather
- Apply

As mentionned, I do the same with Proraso and Tabac but so far, Proraso stays wet but not Tabac.

First off, welcome to B and B.

I wonder if you are actually starting out with a lather that is too wet, and hence getting a very airy bubbly lather that disappears quickly.

Most of us give the brush several good shakes, starting out with a brush that is fairly dry, and we then load the brush.

The other thing, is that very few of us would build the lather directly on top of the puck of Tabac. In fact, I would think building a good quality lather on top of the Tabac would be very difficult considering that the bowl Tabac comes in is so shallow.

Try this instead:

1) Soak the brush.
2) Place a teaspoon of water on top of the Tabac to soak.
2) Give the brush 3-4 very rigorous shakes.
3) Swirl the brush on the Tabac until the bristles of the brush are starting to clump, and very white with soap.
4) Move to a decent sized bowl (like a deep bowl used to hold cereal), and start to work the brush quite vigorously. Add additional water by the teaspoon full, until the lather reaches an acceptable level of wetness.
5) Scoop some lather up with the brush, and proceed to work it into your beard.

It is always easier to compensate for a product that is too dry, rather than starting with a product that is already too wet.

 

[wedwards]

....ooops....my post came straight after michigan's which basically says the same thing....

I was messing with some Tabac the other night that I got for my brother and found it to be a very very dry and hard soap in its unlathered form (as opposed to proraso which is very wet and soft). I always lather in a seperate bowl and my process is;

- soak brush
- shake out until almost completely dry
- swirl brush on puck until bristles clump together with soap
- add a teaspoon of water to my bowl and start lathering
- add tiny amounts of water as needed until you get a good lather

For tabac, I had to change this to include placing some water on top of the soap while the brush soaked, otherwise I just couldnt get the brush to take enough soap and clump together properly.

 

[The National Razor]

After you apply it to your face a bit, add some water to the brush and continue to build. Keep doing this until the lather is creamy and copious. To me it sounds like you're not using enough water. Tabac is thirsty, and can take anything you can dish out, so have at it!

 

[mdunn]

...I use the exact same technique with the Tabac soap...

well theres your problem!

its a different soap. Every product has a different sweetspot, where it comes to water/product ratio. Sounds like you need more water.

 

[mainaman]

assuming you lather on your face, just put some extra water on your brush,. You will figure out exactly how much is enough with time.

 

[Leche]

First off, welcome to B and B.

I wonder if you are actually starting out with a lather that is too wet, and hence getting a very airy bubbly lather that disappears quickly.

Most of us give the brush several good shakes, starting out with a brush that is fairly dry, and we then load the brush.

The other thing, is that very few of us would build the lather directly on top of the puck of Tabac. In fact, I would think building a good quality lather on top of the Tabac would be very difficult considering that the bowl Tabac comes in is so shallow.

Try this instead:

1) Soak the brush.
2) Place a teaspoon of water on top of the Tabac to soak.
2) Give the brush 3-4 very rigorous shakes.
3) Swirl the brush on the Tabac until the bristles of the brush are starting to clump, and very white with soap.
4) Move to a decent sized bowl (like a deep bowl used to hold cereal), and start to work the brush quite vigorously. Add additional water by the teaspoon full, until the lather reaches an acceptable level of wetness.
5) Scoop some lather up with the brush, and proceed to work it into your beard.

It is always easier to compensate for a product that is too dry, rather than starting with a product that is already too wet.

I think you hit the nail on the head here. Too wet lather that has no retention.

 

[SRock]

Welcome to the B&B!

well theres your problem!

its a different soap. Every product has a different sweetspot, where it comes to water/product ratio. Sounds like you need more water.

Exactly

 

[RBE17]

For using Tabac I soak my brush in hot water. I then let the water drain from my brush and give a couple of small shakes. I then go to my puck of Tabac a proceed to load the brush a lot. Tabac takes quite a bit of water to get lather. Add a couple of drops at a time. It will eventually explode. NOTE: Many here agree, you do not need to soap any water on top of your puck of Tabac.

 

[Fish Slayer]

I am hearing the same things that I found to work with Tabac. 1st load the brush and lather in a separate bowl. Second, I found that Tabac will take a lot more water than other soaps and creams and seems to benefit from more water.

Since you are complaining about your later drying too quickly adding more water sounds like the way to go. I suggest you make a batch by using a separate lather bowl (find a small bowl or large latte cup in your kitchen) and add a couple of drops of water and work it in. keep adding more water and working it in until the lather turns soupy. Throw that lather away, it is too soupy, but you will have an idea of how much water this soap will take and you can nail it on your next mix. I would even suggest doing the trial run when you are not waiting to shave so you will not feel rushed while your prepped face is drying out.

 

[Kazeryu]

Everyone here is talking about bowl lathering, so I feel the need to speak up about face lathering.

The nice part about face lathering is that your beard starts softening while you take your time building the lather. The other nice part is you can 'feel' the consistency of lather without getting fingers gooey since the lather is already on your face. Lastly, you don't have an extra bowl cluttering up your counter!

On youtube, Mantic has a video about face lathering in case you're curious.

 

[nrvstorm]

Everyone here is talking about bowl lathering, so I feel the need to speak up about face lathering.

The nice part about face lathering is that your beard starts softening while you take your time building the lather. The other nice part is you can 'feel' the consistency of lather without getting fingers gooey since the lather is already on your face.

Newb here who just got a tub of Tabac in the mail yesterday. Glad to see the info on it, esp. the post on face lathering (which I like because if feels good and seems to work well for me). Worked OK today first time but tomorrow I'm going to try a bit more water.

Once again it's my benefit from another's question and the many experienced users' responses.

Thanks!

 

[jpkunst]

I advise against putting water on top of Tabac to soak it. And try building the lather on your face instead of in the soap bowl.

 

[Chaotik]

Thanks for all those tips.. I will try a few of them.
On thing is certain though... in order to build lather on my face, I need a new brush. This cheap boar brush I have is harsh

 

[SilkySmooth]

I advise against putting water on top of Tabac to soak it. And try building the lather on your face instead of in the soap bowl.

+1 It turns your puck into putty.

 

[blade08]

Wet shaving is about water. I've never really understood this concept of shaking excess water out of the brush before attacking the soap. In my experience, a much better lather is obtained by attacking the soap with a soaked brush. I do agree that it can be a bit more messy if you're not careful (lather flying around the bathroom ) but the lather is of superb quality. I can lather up for a few minutes (face lathering) with any soap and create a great lather without the lather going dry in the process or during the actual shave.

 

[Daliz]

in order to build lather on my face, I need a new brush. This cheap boar brush I have is harsh

Wow, Is that so? I don't have experience about different brushes, I just have one cheap brush which is boar I think, it's a bit "stiff" yes but not too harsh.
But anyway, I just get much better results with face lathering myself.. Also with Proraso and Tabac

 

[cymric]

Wet shaving is about water. I've never really understood this concept of shaking excess water out of the brush before attacking the soap. In my experience, a much better lather is obtained by attacking the soap with a soaked brush. I do agree that it can be a bit more messy if you're not careful (lather flying around the bathroom ) but the lather is of superb quality. I can lather up for a few minutes (face lathering) with any soap and create a great lather without the lather going dry in the process or during the actual shave.

It's a matter of preference. I saturate my brush with soap because I need a good amount for my passes. If I were to attack the puck with a brush as wet as yours, I'd get an insane amount of soap in the brush, or lather which is simply too wet and thus lacking in cushion, stability and glide. Wet shaving is not just about water, it's about forming a stable and moist (for keeping things soft) matrix of air bubbles (which provide glide and cushion). Otherwise you can easily and far more cheaply shave with water with a bit of almond or jojoba oil.

Since it is a lot easier to add water than to add soap (cream is different here, though), I start out with a moist brush rather than a dripping wet one. It keeps the soap jar clean, it prevents suds from messing up my hands, and it helps me considerably in achieving consistent lather quality and consistently good shaves.

 

[menemsha43]

Thanks for all those tips.. I will try a few of them.
On thing is certain though... in order to build lather on my face, I need a new brush. This cheap boar brush I have is harsh

I just got an Omega boar brush in the mail today and I agree it is a little bit harsh. But stick with it and I think it will soften significantly. I have a Crabtree & Evelyn Boar brush that is 20 years old and it is really, really soft and great for face lathering