What am I doing wrong?

[shave/brush]

I have been at this shaving as a hobby for 12 years and I have a newbe question. When I use a cream, lately it seems the lather evaporates before I am done. The lather for the second pass is okay.
What am I doing wrong? Is it too much water?

 

[silverlifter]

More product and more water is the rule of thumb if you don't have enough lather for three passes.

 

[shave/brush]

More product and more water is the rule of thumb if you don't have enough lather for three passes.

For some reason the second pass is fine, it's just the first pass that it dries out.

 

[silverlifter]

That suggests that you need more water, especially if you rinse between passes.

 

[shave/brush]

That suggests that you need more water, especially if you rinse between passes.

The lather just evaporates.

 

[spacemonkey42]

The lather just evaporates.

If that is the case, you likely need more soap.

 

[Fordfather]

The lather just evaporates.

When lather is dehydrated it starts to get light, airy, and fluffy. Is this what you are experiencing?

 

[horizon]

The drying of the lather on the face most often happens because of too much air and secondarily because of not enough water.
When the lather is too airy with lots of microbubbles, it simply loses its qualities. Interestingly, I often see a picture of this kind of lather on forums and FB groups, which makes me think that the people who make it believe that this is the right consistency, otherwise, they wouldn't be boasting.

An example of a cream that does not absorb much water is TOBS. When we overdo it with water, the foam becomes exactly as I described it above and dries up. But with less water, it becomes thick and dense, no bubbles and most importantly, contrary to the expectations of a less hydrated lather, it does not dry out!

 

[Halfbeard]

I have experienced that some soaps lather want some time to mature. Maybe it is the reason that for first pass lather dissipates and for second pass is OK ?

 

[taiga]

I've had this happen many times as a newbie. The two factors that I find are consistent are too little cream, and not soaking the brush long enough. In my case I need to soak my boar brush for at least 10 min in hot water. I recently received a synthetic, and I haven't had this problem happen. I wonder is this may be a possible issue related to dry non-synthetic brushes?

 

[Coler]

The solution is always more product and add water.

 

[shave/brush]

If that is the case, you likely need more soap.

I think you might be right. I will try more soap less water.
This is the soap I use, Speick cream.

 

[NorthernSoul]

Try to make sure you use enough water when you initially make your lather, but careful you don't want to whip a lot of air into it. The fact your second pass is fine to me sounds like you have enough cream, maybe too much air whipped in, though.

 

[Frito Ray]

Have you started using a lotion or cream on your face that might dissipate the lather during the first pass? If so perhaps washing your face a bit longer prior to lathering up could do the trick.

 

[shave/brush]

Try to make sure you use enough water when you initially make your lather, but careful you don't want to whip a lot of air into it. The fact your second pass is fine to me sounds like you have enough cream, maybe too much air whipped in, though.

That's a good point. Maybe I'll cut back on the whipping.

 

[Goblin]

I usually find it helps to start with very small amounts of water, create the volume of lather you want, then paint in extra water to avoid whipping in any more air. This produces lather that is both dense and sloppy.

 

[shave/brush]

Try to make sure you use enough water when you initially make your lather, but careful you don't want to whip a lot of air into it. The fact your second pass is fine to me sounds like you have enough cream, maybe too much air whipped in, though.

You always come up with a good suggestion. I noticed in a lot of threads that you comment on. You're a real thinker. Thanks for the tip on the cream, I think you may be right.

 

[spacemonkey42]

Try to make sure you use enough water when you initially make your lather, but careful you don't want to whip a lot of air into it. The fact your second pass is fine to me sounds like you have enough cream, maybe too much air whipped in, though.

That's a good point too. That is why I stopped using a ridged shaving bowl, they can whip in too much air which makes for high volume, but airy and not slick soap. Face lathering is a good option as well.

 

[Stikeyoda]

Another thought, if your preshave face wash soap or gel has glycerin in it, that will suck the water out of the lather. I tried Glyce as a preshave soap (theory being create an Uber lather on the face) and the lather for the first pass would disappear.

 

[Dodger59]

I use Speick Cream as well quite often. Probably my favorite. I get more consistent results if I hand lather it. Not the most popular method around here and perhaps it covers up my poor brush technique.