Mike's hand made soaps from Brooklyn.
- Thread starter cryhavoc
- Start date
You guys are killing my soap AD!
Maybe you will get "lucky" and someone will start a Martin DeCandre lather thread
B&B Essential Boar Brush and Mike's Unscented Soap:
45 seconds loading the brush, and then lots of water added to the bowl.
Now, that's what I call LATHER!
Nick
45 seconds loading the brush, and then lots of water added to the bowl.
Now, that's what I call LATHER!
Nick
Wow! Beautiful lather Nick. 
Wow! Beautiful lather Nick.
Thank you!
Clearly, I've conquered the problems I was having with lathering soaps. More product, more water and a boar brush made all the difference.
Nick
Also, great looking Bill Bowl you have there.
OPs looks too wet.
I've don't splash my face before lathering, squeeze my brush dry, and find one or two tiny dips of the tips is all I need.
I've don't splash my face before lathering, squeeze my brush dry, and find one or two tiny dips of the tips is all I need.
I was going to post my lather today since I just used coconut.
But I tried all 3 of my brushes and bowl lathered. I guess I should try face lathering with Mikes even though I don't like face lathering.
But I tried all 3 of my brushes and bowl lathered. I guess I should try face lathering with Mikes even though I don't like face lathering.
What went wrong when you tried to bowl lather Mike's?
I used to be the poster boy for bad lather. Now, as you can see from my post in this thread, I've got it down to a science. It's definitely possible to get great lather in a a bowl with Mike's.
What kind of brushes were you using? How long did you load them?
Nick
The lather was too thin and runny.
I used a 22 knot silver tip first then used a Semogue 1305 and last I used a Simpsons special best.
I loaded all three brushes for about 45 seconds and then whipped it in the bowl for along time adding water ever few minutes and nothing worked.
I used a 22 knot silver tip first then used a Semogue 1305 and last I used a Simpsons special best.
I loaded all three brushes for about 45 seconds and then whipped it in the bowl for along time adding water ever few minutes and nothing worked.
Sounds exactly like my first lathers with Mike's. They were thin and full of little bubbles.
Here's my suggestions: Use the Semogue 1305 as you're learning instead of the badger brushes. I never found the trick to getting good lather from a soap with my silvertip.
Use Jim's method for lathering soaps - http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/21136-How-to-make-great-lather-from-a-soap-Tutorial - paying particular attention to the way he squeezes most of the water out of the brush, and to how he loads the soap.
Load for twice as long. Try 90 seconds, cutting back later once you get the hang of it. It's always easier to work with too much product rather than too little.
Use cold water. I didn't get great lather when I tried warm or hot water with Mike's.
Don't give up. I had plenty of frustrating attempts at first, and was almost ready to go back to using creams. I'm glad I kept at it, because the lather I get from Mike's now provides some of the best shaves I've ever enjoyed.
Nick
Ahh that's some good tips.
I will keep trying because I have 4 other sample that I haven't tried yet.
I think the full tins will work better anyways since the sample I'm using keeps sliding around in my Anchor hocker cup.
I will keep trying because I have 4 other sample that I haven't tried yet.
I think the full tins will work better anyways since the sample I'm using keeps sliding around in my Anchor hocker cup.
That could be part of the problem. You might not have been getting enough soap in the brush because of the way the sample was sliding around in your cup. Until you get a full tin, you might try holding the sample in your handle and loading the brush that way.
Nick
I will let you know when I start getting better results and I'll post a pic on here.
Mike's Natural Soap (Lemongrass & eucalyptus) & Semogue 610
WARHAWK
WARHAWK
​Thanks for the great pics ya'll ! I really, really like Mike's which has been and is a mainstay in my erratic rotation.
Please feel free to PM me if you want more tips or have questions. I got plenty of support here as I was learning to lather soaps, and I'm happy to do my share to help someone else.
Nick
Here are my results with a sample of Mikes Barbershop scent soap.
I have always hated Chris' lather porn - they made me want to throw my existing DE stuff out of the windows
Similar threads
