Just got my first TSD soaps this week and having trouble making a good lather. Just to give you some background on my skill level... I have been shaving with brush and soap for 1.5 years now. Soaps I have used, Tabac, Irisch Moos, Speick, Palmolive, Mama Bear, Col Conk, C&E, DR Harris, Proraso Tee Tree, MWF, and I am sure something else I can't remember. So I am not quite an expert but not a beginner either. I do soak my brush before I shave and I do put a little water on the soap to soften it up. My lather is too thin to shave with. Today I got more water out of my brush and the lather was a little better but was not what I am used to. Any ideas? BTW the scent of the soap samples I have (Lime, Cedar & lemon, Bay Rum) are incredible! One last thing. I struggled with MWF too and I do have hard water. Could that be the issue here too? Thanks
I've found that I have to use less water, but I haven't yet perfected lathering TSD soaps yet, but am getting better
JoAnna's soaps seem to be a good bit harder than many other Glycerin based soaps. I have to spend some extra time "on the puck" to get the lather I want. I've never had a problem getting a great lather from her soaps, it just takes some extra time. You could try some spring water to see if that is the issue. Hope that helps.
I agree, her soaps are a harder glycerin soap, but lather great. Spend more time on the puck. You can always try using Zach's method. It gives good results on every soap I have tried it with.. and I have hard water as well http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIsj58fqVjY
+1 on that one!! I used it this week for the first time and didn't had any lathering problems. All it took was a little longer on the puck, that's all
My lather is still very thin. However, it is very slick. I will try spring water next. That lime scent is just so good. I really want this to work for me. Thanks again for the help
Try a few drops of Calgon in you shaving water. Even a drop or three in the mug you soak your brush in will work wonders.
This thread really surprises me. I find TSD soaps very easy to lather. Maybe a little more time on the puck, but once loaded the lather just explodes for me. The resulting lather is comparable to milled soaps, something I have found from any other cold pour. I hope you're able to figure out what is going on, the resulting lather is a nice reward.
I have read the sample pucks are a bit difficult. Not sure why. But try face lathering the sample pucks. Rub the soap on your face, rub the brush over the puck a little, and just add water a bit at a time, until you reach the sweet spot.
my 2c worth.......... Sometimes, I believe, soaps have a "protective" layer that you have to get through before the true qualities shine through. MoM's soaps have a good bit of clay in em (correct me if Im wrong) and Ive had the same experience, having to work the puck awhile before her goodness rises to the occasion Ill say this: really work the puck on your brush until you get a paste-like consistency and then add drop(s) of water until the lather is the way you like it. TSD soaps rock.....but I find them to have a certain sweet spot, not unlike MWF, and it takes a little doing before you git it right. Keep at it cause JoAnnas soaps are really great.
The timing on this thread couldn't have been better. I just received five sample pucks of TSD soap (thanks JoAnna). So far I've tried the Wild Rose and Cedar Wood (Bamboo & Teak, Frankincense and Subzero waiting in the wings). I, too, found the lather a bit thin when trying to create it the same way I do other soaps. Yesterday was with my Vulfix "Burlington" badger, today with my Omega 49 boar. I was glad to see others having the same results and it just wasn't my ineptitude! The resulting shave, however, went very smoothly. I'll just experiment to get the water-to-soap ratio right and press on. I'm liking the scents. This is a soap I'll be getting more of!
sweet Im glad I read the thread a bit. The video was great I had not seen that yet, looking forward to putting in an order tonight...im gettin hooked on classic shaving.:happy102
Used a little less water and spent a little more time on the puck this morning - made some great lather! (Omega 49 brush, for those who might be wondering)
