I've been enjoying lathering up with a tabac stick recently so much so that I think I may have been over doing it. This stuff that I'm generating is so thick and dense that I'm having trouble cleaning my razor between passes. I apply the stick to my face and to the brush. Am I over doing it?
Yeah, I believe you're only supposed to apply the stick to your face. Then use the brush to build the lather right on your face. Adding to the brush is overkill, IMO. You could also mill the stick into a container and use it like a regular soap if you desire.
I apply sticks to face and brush too, but the important thing is to add water as you build the lather. I'll quickly flick the brush through lightly running water to do this. Jordan
If you think you are, then you probably are overdoing it. TABAC generates tons of lather, so try rubbing on the face and skip loading the brush with the soap, and if the lather feels too thick,add more water.
I agree that you probably dont have enough water in the mix. The lather is thick but just dip your brush in water and you will be fine. You want in thick but wet and slick also if that makes since.
I have found for shaving with a straight I prefer it not as thick but more slick then shaving with a DE, this can be accomplished as others mentioned also by just adding more water or sometimes the lather is slick enough it just don't need to be applied on so thick, save some for the next pass.
If you can see your beard, lather is too thin. If you have to use a lot of pressure to cut, lather is too thick. So, the answer is: Yes. It can be.
I would suggest adding water to the breach of the brush as your lather. Just cup your hand and pour it straight in the middle of the hole and than keep going. The lather will explode. Its how I use my MWF.
Well-stated. What I find works best is this: 1. Saturate your brush entirely by submerging it into a sink/bowl filled with hot water. 2. Wet your face. 3. Remove the brush from the water in which it's submerged and, without shaking or doing anything else that would lend to its losing water, go straight to your shave soap with it. Slam it in, pressing down hard so the brush fans open, and swirl it around a bit. 4. Take that brush and go straight to your face it, building up your lather from there. Spend your time here. I like face lathering the best because it's quick, the lather is hot, and you can gauge the quality of your lather very easily. If it's too thin, dip the ends of your brush into your soap, swirl and go back to your face with it - too thick, do the same but with your water basin.
If you are using a good badger brush it will require shakes before lathering, otherwise it will be holding way to much water and be way to wet.
I meant just press down hard enough to open haha. I don't understand Mantic's need to lather upside down...
The directions for a shave stick should say "Apply directly to the face, then just add water." If it's thick, add more water. No need for it to be a drag.
I didn't find out how important the 'wetness' of the lather is until I started using a Rolls Razor regularly. The head/blade of this shaver is held quite close to the face and as it presents a lot of steel next to the skin it can get 'bogged down' in the lather if it is not moist enough. My typical lather (T&H cream) process was leaving it too dry and 'sticky' for the Rolls. So yeah - no need for it to be a 'drag'!
