YLMV (Your lather may vary)?

[kingfisher]

Well, I've been clepping my own shave lather now for over a year, and I'm noticed lately that the quality of my lathers is getting more and more consistent.

When I first started out, some of my lathers were very good, some were good, some were serviceable, and some, quite frankly, were probably not as good as canned goo.

Now, though, if I graded a lather on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being absolutely perfect lather than couldn't be improved in any conceivable way, I'd say I'm getting lathers from 6 to 9 consistently, most days I'm getting about an 8.

What's your range? How consistent are you?

 

[GoldenBacon]

6-8 most days

When I really put effort into it, i'll usually get a 9-10.

 

[kingfisher]

I had a 9 yesterday, but this morning's was about a 6. I knew it wasn't up to snuff and considered fortifying it with some KMF unscented, but went ahead with the shave instead. New blade, too.

Wish I had added the KMF. Made for a slightly harsh shave this morning.

 

[beginish]

I generally get a 7-9, but have been working with one soap for more than a month now. I routinely get 9-10 with it, regardless of how I lather (face or bowl), and it just proves the point that the more familiar you are with the soap/cream, the more reliable the lathers.

 

[BlackBard]

I generally get a 7-9, but have been working with one soap for more than a month now. I routinely get 9-10 with it, regardless of how I lather (face or bowl), and it just proves the point that the more familiar you are with the soap/cream, the more reliable the lathers.

+1. This is a good argument against a frequent soap rotation routine. I have been using the same soap for a week at a time lately, but have been thinking of going even longer - maybe 2 weeks before I change.

As for lather quality, I am always satisfied and would rate the results highly 8-10. If it were less than that, I would discard the lather and start over. Why shave with inferior lather? Isn't that why we switched from canned goo in the first place?

 

[W_B_K]

Well, I have settled in to a cream I like (Omega). It took about a week to figure out the right water ratio and what brush it liked best. Since then it has been consistently excellent. I used to use tallow based soaps, but I get my best shaves with Omega so I have been pretty much just using that.

As far as soaps go, it was pretty much the same thing. Just needed to get the right ratio and what brush it liked best. I'd say it was a little harder to get the right lather with soaps.

 

[SpyvSpy]

6-8 for me. I need to find a nice lather bowl for the cup I have now doesn't allow for much brush swirling.

 

[GLteam]

Consistantly, lather is an 8 or better. Building lather, to me, is the tedious part of my shave routine, and while I still enjoy it, not as much as the other aspects (the shave itself, prep, aftershave, etc...). I have learned not to skimp on lather building, even though it is tedious for me. Tried Williams mixed with KMF last night... boy was it a terrible mix, so I scrapped it all and started over with just KMF, which added even more time for this tedious process. Live and learn... or is it Learn and Live?