I'm having trouble getting a thick lather on my face.

Hi, everybody. As the title of my thread says, I'm having trouble getting a thick lather on my face. I know this this probably make more than a few of you chuckle, but it's probably because I'm using a cheap soap. (I'd prefer not to mention the brand because some of you might actually like it, and if the company reads this, they might not be happy being mentioned in this context—I'm not here to speak ill of anyone's preferences or products.)

What I do is before I get in the shower, I fill my soap bowl with hot water and let the brush soak in it while I take my shower. I also pour a little bit of the hot water on top of the soap and let it soften the top layer of the soap while I shower.

Once I start the process of building up a good later in the soap bowl, things seem to go well. It builds up quickly, and get's nice and thick in the bowl. However, once I start applying it to my face, I can never get a thick application, and it doesn't seem to matter how much of it I apply.

The other thing I was thinking is that maybe it's the brush I'm using. I have a boar's hair brush. I know this is the sub forum for soaps, but I thought I'd mention that. Maybe I need to make a switch to badger hair?

Any advice or tips you ca offer will be very much appreciated. Thanks!

 

dip the tips of your brush in a little water, then back to your face. add just a little water at a time until desired results are achieved.

 

Load it like it owes you money. What soap is it? That actually makes a huge difference you may need to adjust water ratio.

 

How mich time do you spend loading this mystery soap and how long do you build up in the bowl?

what water temp?.. hot or cold

Most people underestimate how long it sometimes takes to build a good lather.

 

That.

There's no reason to avoid naming names. We need to know. Many soaps are notoriously mediocre latherin'.
As far as a "thick" layer on the face, your expectations may be high. I face lather and when I am ready for the blade, there's a layer about 1/8" or so of fluffy greatness. . It's not like a can of Foamy where you can mound it up like a merengue.

There are few soaps I don't "bloom" by allowing the entire container in the sink filled with water as hot as I can get it. I just submerge the container and brush in hot water while showering. Works well for me, it may for you as well.

 

I agree, especially with boar brushes, ya gotta circle and swirl that brush until it looks like it's coated with spackle! Then start on your face and hand drizzle (that sounds dirty) little bits of water onto the brush as you go. This will help you control the water/soap ratio and get ya started on a good lather. Also, it's okay if you mention the soap as others may have faced a challenge with the same product. You aren't bashing it as every soap has it's own unique personality.
Lastly, how long are you whipping up the lather on your face?

Here is a video of Lynn Abrams doing a face lather, as you'll see, he takes quite a while "loading" up the brush, and he's using a pretty expensive badger brush. He mentions dipping the brush in water to pick up more moisture, I prefer to drizzle it on. To each his own.

 

Try using cold water straight from the tap. I just fill the sink about half way. I don't even soak my brush any more. I just swish it in the water and give it a gentle squeeze. Load your brush at least 30 seconds. I use my neck and cheeks to build the lather and then paint it up the sideburns and on my upper lip. I like what @RaZorBurn123 says, "Load it like it owes you money." I do two passes, but I could do three. I generally end up with plenty of lather. My really hard soaps I will load for 40 seconds.

 

+ 1. Load the brush like there is no tomorrow. Perhaps you should consider face lathering. I did not face lather for a couple of years but, once tried, I have not looked back. I face lather and then go to the scuttle to keep the lather warm. I use this technique for boars/hard and soft soaps. For cream it is a badger straight to the scuttle.

Good question on the soap type. My technique varies depending on hard/soft/cream soaps.

Hope this helps.

 

I agree with the others in knowing what the the mystery soap is because one's beginning soap is important as not all soaps will lather equally well. The easiest soaps to start with I think are soft soaps also known as croaps..a cross between a cream and a soap. These products lather up really quickly and have sound properties. Two croaps are Proraso and Cella, http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00837YY18/?tag=thshde-20 http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_fb_0_10/187-4476384-9467146?url=search-alias=hpc&field-keywords=cella soap&sprefix=cella soap,luxury-beauty,231 Both of these products are proven performers in our community and can help instill needed lathering confidence ...

 

Crud...I apologize to the OP...when I saw trouble getting lather on face, I glazed over where you said you were bowl lathering and THEN going to your face. Well enjoy the above face lathering video anyhow!

 

Sounds like Williams

 

I'm not going to lie, this made me laugh pretty hard!

This seems to be a recurring theme in the responses here. I hesitated to mention the brand because I didn't want to appear like I was here to trash anyone's preferences or any company's products. But now I see that it's kind of important information in order for me to get the help I need. The brand is Van Der Hagen (VDH) Deluxe Shave Soap.

I like the soap, but I'd really like to try some other brands—namely, I'd like to try some Proraso shaving cream in a tube. I'd like to try the one in the green and white tube with menthol. I've read nothing but good reviews about it. Anyway, for now, all I have is this VDH soap, and I'm hoping I can figure out what I can do to make it thicker (on my face).

You guys have provided some really good responses, and I really appreciate that, but I'm curious to see if knowing which brand it is changes any of the advice I've been given here before I follow any of it.

Thanks, you guys.

 

Thanks for letting us know what the soap is. VDH is not a bad soap and you might try to go with a bit less water to thicken things up. If you still don't get results..don't get mad..get even and drawer the stuff for a possible later go. Proraso is practically fool proof and once you get to see the great lather, you can always 'revisit' the VDH with a sense of renewed inspiration...

 

Thanks for the advice here, Slippery. I appreciate your insight and advice. It's going to be a while until I can get my hands on some of the Proraso, but it's good to know that all hope is not lost with the VDH product. I'll definitely try it with less water next time. Thanks again!

 

Or if you REALLY want fool proof lathering, get yourself some Body Shop Maca Root Shave Cream. It jumps out of the tub and onto your face as a thick foam!

 

Thanks for the recommendation, TheFiveO!

 

Good luck and do let us know how it turns out...

 

VDH is a decent soap (its serviceable but meh) IMHO you will never get the lather out of it that you can out of the Proraso green (or any color for that matter)...Bath and Bodyworks often has buy two get one free on C. O. Bigelow (Proraso green cream in different packaging) so when you can you should go get some....

 

Thanks, and I'll definitely keep you posted.