Bought a tub of Cella. Love the Almond scent. Tried face to face lather, (BTW using a badger brush it's all I have) didn't work so well. Next tried to bowl lather this looked good nice and thick and shiny. But had no slick to it, blade was dragging. Haven't had AS sting that bad in quite a while. Suggestions? If I had to guess maybe not enough water?

I'd suggest playing with the water to soap ratio a bit more.

I always had a problem with Italian soft soaps until I found this video. He uses a boar, but a badger works just as well, you just need to get little more water out of it. It amazes me how good of a lather the foam makes, I think it is because it can get into the brush a little easier.

Ever since this video, all I have been using are my Italian soaps (Vitos, Cella, P160, I Colonali.) They are all amazing. I think the use of more water makes a big difference.

Lathering Cella Video

Hope this helps.

I face lather it with a badger and have great lather, so like they said it sounds like your skimping on the water a bit.

I never met an Italian that did not like a lot of water. Warm and hot water.

I wish I could find the right proportion of soap/water also. I've tried & tried -- but so far my experience with Cella is basically "meh!". I know there are many fans of this shaving soap -- I'm just not one of them. The soap seems to lather fine, just no staying power & it is not cushioning at all for me. Strange consistency. Like it's missing the tallow ingredient that's clearly marked as an ingredient. Glad there are fans, I'm just not one.

Try some bottled water. That will eliminate at least one of the possible causes.

I may have to try that. The water is very hard here.

Distilled water solves all lather issues.

Funny as I found the same thing!
I gave up after about two weeks and put it in the bin. I got much better results from figaro. I know a lot of people love the stuff but just not for me. But then I'm a big Tabac fan.

You threw away Cella!That is a sin of the highest order. Shame, Shame, Shame on you! Oh well, ymmv and all...

Do you have to soak the brush in distilled water as well? I'll try more water but if I have to start using distilled, there are plenty of creams that will work here.

I wouldn't say resort to distilled just yet. try the more water approach and see how that works for you. I have P.160 that I use with quite hard water. Takes more water of course (Brush JUST shy of dripping) but the lather explodes. Just find the happy medium.

Soft water and cella are best friends. That's the most I can say. If those two are met, the rest takes care of itself.

I will try more water next time.

Yeah but it doesn't take much water at all. I opened a new gallon on Jan. 1, and I'm still using that same gallon, and I shave 6 days a week.

For an example I use an Old Spice Mug, one of the short ones, and I fill it with water up to the top of the vertical ridges inside that hold the soap in place, heat it in the microwave for 30 seconds and I've got nice warm lather.

Tried again last night, kept adding water and checked frequently, went past the point of too much water and never found the slick point! This stuff is frustrating. I might have to give up on Cella. It's starting to make shaving a pain. Too many other good creams that work well without so much work. Beats me.

I too sometimes (rarer now) have too battle with Cella and also have hardwater.But it sure is great soap ,don't give up on it hang in there.
I have more success with a badger brush and load up with lots of soap and go to face lathering,adding water as needed.
Sure love the way my face feels after shaving with Cella !

Had a late Shower and Shave today with Cella and my R41 Grande mmmmmmmmm !

Did you try it with San Pellegrino. It always goes better with 'branch water'.