For a preshave I use a mix of one part baby oil and two parts castor oil, it works great and the price is right. However, when I use a shaving stick it limits the lather. Any ideas how I can improve this without adding a mug?
What shaving stick are you using? I've used a PSO with Arko and I never felt it impaired the lather. How are you using it? When I use it I rub it against the grain so the hairs will pick up the soap better.
Sounds like his skin is so slick after using the PSO that the soap on the stick glides right over the whiskers and the soap isn't getting picked up by the whiskers. If that's the case, you can try using the shave stick first and then the PSO or do away with the PSO altogether.
I had some problem face lathering with a stick until i figured out that I really, really needed to have my face quite wet before applying the stick to it. Try throw some more water on your face
You don't need the pre shave oil. Just wet your beard and add lots of soap from the stick and work the brush. If you want to use the oil, use it between passes.
If it is that you are not getting enough soap on your face, you can also try rubbing the brush on the soap stick in addition to on your face. I agree with those who suggest dropping the pso, try using a hot towel instead.
I usually apply the stick to a wet face, or PSO, but not both. With a stick directly applied I have no need for the oil. On the last pass, when you are just painting lather on with the brush, then using PSO then can be useful, especially if the last pass is when you irritate your fact the most.
First, I say don't give up on your oils. If you like them, then you can probably get your stick to work with them. I am going to guess that if your stick had liberal amounts water you could lather over the oils with no problem. I shoved my Arko into a deororant tube bought just for that purpose (gotta love the dollar store)! I dialed out the deodorant, chucked it, and stuffed in the Arko. When using the Arko, I keep it dialed pretty low in the tube and run it under the hot tap to get it wet. More water means softer Arko. Goes over my PSO just fine. Looks like this (uh... the one on the left, of course!):
After rubbing the stick on your face, you can hold the stick in your hand and rub you brush over it to load the brush. This might help with lathering while using a PSO. Good luck!
Never have I used PSO other than a few times just experimenting. I get amazing shaves with post-shower regular shaves. Drop the PSO, use more H2O, and smile.
I use bluebeards revenge/dreadnoughts revenge PSO cause I'm learning to shave with shavette. I need all the help I can get =P but never had that prob with to little lather. Is it possible u're using to much?
