South Florida--in fact, much or most of Florida--has very hard water, though evidently the treatment of our public water supply involves some degree of softening. In that context (and mindful that my sole face-shaving brush is an HJM synthetic/black fibre [21mm knot]), I need to load MWF, Pre de Provence, and Edwin Jagger for a full two minutes to obtain yogurt-like lathers, and Mike's Natural for nearly a minute and a half. Do those of you who live in South Florida, or other parts of Florida, have the same problem? On the other hand, I've tried distilled water, but to no avail (which makes me wonder if I should try different brands). Let me not forget to say that some soaps--such as Razorock XXX, Cella, Provence Sante, Haslinger, Dr. Dittmar, Savon du Midi--produce excellent lathers for me after 30-45 seconds of loading. And Arko, it seems, doesn't even need water. In any case, what's your experience? Has distilled water made a difference for you? Or maybe brush type?
To South Florida residents: Does our water supply make soap lathering difficult?
- Thread starter Mandina
- Start date
Nice to see another South Floridian on here...I live in Miami, face lather 99% of the time and use hard soaps such as MWF, D.R.HARRIS, Cade, Klar Seifen, La Toja as well as Mike's and others....I can honestly tell you that I have never really encountered any difficulty lathering the above mentioned. I do tend to load the brush for about 60 seconds, and about an additional 30 seconds when using my Chubby 2 & 3. I'm a Simpson's junkie and love dense, squatty type brushes, I.e. Chubby series, Classic, Duke, etc...also have some Semogues...all lather superbly and pick up the soaps effortlessly. The "croaps" and creams also load and lather effortlessly (depending the quality of the product of course). The only water I use is Miami Dade' Finest Tap water 
. Hope the info helps.
. Hope the info helps.
I'm in Palm Beach county and can honestly say that I have never had a problem lathering any soap except for Williams. I regularly use only two soaps, Mikes UNscented and VDH (for allergic reasons).
I haven't tried distilled water, just hot tap city water. Mind you that some areas in south Florida use well water and is very different when washing clothes ect. Also the water supply here is from big lake "O".
I haven't tried distilled water, just hot tap city water. Mind you that some areas in south Florida use well water and is very different when washing clothes ect. Also the water supply here is from big lake "O".
I have lived in Delray Beech, Boca Raton, and now St. Petersburg, FL. I could always get a decent lather. However, when I moved to St. Pete I had a water softener installed and that made the lather go from decent to great!
Coconut Creek here, using VDH, RR XXX, TOBS and Derby and never had any problem.
If you are using a well, it's going to be anyone's guess. A water softener helps but to me, it often turns the "texture" of the water somewhat too slick, almost slimy.
Many urban and suburban areas have water supplied by the local treatment plants. Some, like central Brevard County where I live, utilize a reverse osmosis procedure. It doesn't get much better than that; you can work up a great lather from just about anything this side of a potato.
Many urban and suburban areas have water supplied by the local treatment plants. Some, like central Brevard County where I live, utilize a reverse osmosis procedure. It doesn't get much better than that; you can work up a great lather from just about anything this side of a potato.
- Thread starter
- #7
Thanks for the helpful responses. It seems, then, that South Florida public water treatment effectively softens the region's hard water, as I've read in the Miami-Dade public service information. Fellow Miami resident GMofMiami provides particular insight into my long loading times for certain (mainly triple milled) soaps: if he extends his loading times by 30 seconds when using certain brushes, then a reasonable hypothesis is that--since I follow the standard recommendations for preparing the pucks and for facial prep--my longer loading times are mainly attributable to the characteristics of the only brush I use, the HJM black fibre. I otherwise really like the brush and am determined to restrict my AD to soaps and blades, so I'll simply live in peace with the longer loading times. Thanks again!
Have to work the lather longer. Takes about 2 minutes to get a decent lather going.
Hello from another South Floridian! I live in Boca Raton. Keeping in mind I've only been at DE shaving for 3 months or so, I haven't had too many problems loading the hard soaps. I also treat most of my soaps - hard or soft - the same. I generally drop some warm water on the puck/tub before I get into the shower. My brushes are on the low end scale and I can load the MWF in about a 75 seconds give or take and get all the lather I need for plenty of passes. I even drop some water on the Proraso and that loads up in about 15 or 20 seconds. I really don't go by time but rather feel and appearance. I generally hold my brushes by the knot/bristles while loading so whatever brush I'm using it has plenty of forced backbone whether it has it naturally or "knot" lol 
By the way - we should have a South Florida get together sometime! Maybe pick a pub and catch a football game or something. Just an idea.
I am in North Florida, not South Florida but we have harder water up here. I am firmly of the opinion that water hardness, while having an effect on lather, is vastly overblown. I travel a lot for work (and enjoyment) and have used all sorts of water. I have used distilled water at home. I have used water that came through a softener. I have used all sorts of soaps and creams with the various water types. The difference I notice is in the making, not the final product. It takes more product, more work, and often times more water but the lather is not better or worse at the end of the day.
P
pdillon
Some time ago, I posted a very similar thread wondering if I was having trouble lathering because of water hardness in Saint Louis. If you're having trouble with both tap water and distilled water on several different soaps, the problem is on this side of the handle, as they say.
You need try a new approach to your lathering. A member here just posted a fantastic lathering tutorial in this post:
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showth...-with-Proraso-some-help?p=4407293#post4407293
Follow that step by step and then see where you are. If you still have problems, start a thread with pictures and descriptions of your lather.
You need try a new approach to your lathering. A member here just posted a fantastic lathering tutorial in this post:
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showth...-with-Proraso-some-help?p=4407293#post4407293
Follow that step by step and then see where you are. If you still have problems, start a thread with pictures and descriptions of your lather.
Though not in southern Florida, I recently spent 3 weeks on the Panhandle in Navarre. I live in northeast Tennessee. I face lather 99.9% of the time and I found I was able to achieve a good quality lather a little quicker while in Florida compared to home. I can achieve the same quality lather either place- just quicker in Florida. I do not have a water softener at my home. We rent the same home in Navarre each year but I am not sure if it has a water softener or not.
I'm way up here in Jacksonville...the part of Florida that could be Georgia. While I don't get yogurt dense lather from my MWF, I get a good enough consistency to reap the benefits.
I'm in Boynton Beach and I don't have a problem lathering, even Williams. Of course I have nothing to compare it to, but it doesn't seem that long to me.
I know the water is a little hard as getting rid of deposits is an ongoing concern.
I know the water is a little hard as getting rid of deposits is an ongoing concern.
For me, I doubt it is the water regarding the Williams (it is me). I have found success with VDH, which is a better soap imo. Mikes Natural soap is a good alternative and works great even for ther novice. I have very bad allergies regarding soap and I use Mike's unscented quite often.
Looks like we have a few Palm Beach County residents on the site. I thought I was the only one until today.
For all you Palm Beach county residents check out some storm pics from earlier this week.
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/308011-TS-Isaac
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/308011-TS-Isaac
I'm in Boynton and I don't have any trouble getting a good lather. I face lather and consistently load my brushes for about 60 seconds with all of the soaps I have.
Like Vickers though, I don't have anything to compare it to really. I haven't given much thought to my water.
Like Vickers though, I don't have anything to compare it to really. I haven't given much thought to my water.
If that's the case then hardness isn't your problem. Technique is likely the problem. Have you tried the lathering guide in the sticky at the top of this subforum?
Different soaps can perform differently and it can certainly take longer to load one soap versus another.
I always travel with the same gear I use at home and I've never had problems building lather while in southern Florida.
That's possible. I'm not familiar with it and can't really comment on that point. It is a synthetic from what I can tell. Switching from one type of bristle to another will certainly impact how you need to use the brush to build lather.
IIRC that's usually what people say. It's a bit more difficult with hard water and easier with soft water. Where have you read otherwise?
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