I think my problems might be my lather

[Kyle Hyde]

Shaving is a drag for me. I do not get consistently get good shaves, and am often left with bad razor burn and redness. I think I have narrowed the reason down to my lather. I've been wet-shaving for over a year now, but I think I still might not be getting the ideal lather.

I mostly use soaps and I have almost always face lathered with them. However, I could never get thick lather that lasted for all my passes-- I always had to go back to the puck. I practiced making lather in a bowl tonight with AOS cream, and I got sooo much lather it was ridiculous. But I can see using a bowl to lather becoming annoying. Plus I wouldn't imagine you would get the benefits of the softening of the hair.

So my question is how can you get the amount of lather you do from bowl lathering with face lathering. I know most people face lather and don't complain about not having enough lather, so what is the secret?

[Sodapopjones]

This is going to sound harsh, but honestly buy a real brush....

[Topgumby]

Try using more soap than you think is reasonable.

I thought I was getting great lather, and it turns out that for me, more product means better shaves.

[Sodapopjones]

Try using more soap than you think is reasonable.

I thought I was getting great lather, and it turns out that for me, more product means better shaves.

True, and you can always "Lean out the mixture" so to speak by adding water to the tips of the brush.

However now that I own a real brush, I feel I have been cheated this whole time.

[Kyle Hyde]

This is going to sound harsh, but honestly buy a real brush....

What do you mean? If you mean a Penworks brush, I've been eyeing one. It's a Penchetta 22mm with 43mm loft in finest two-band with a beautiful wooden burl handle. I want to sell my shavemac so I can get one. I assume you're loving yours?

[mdunn]

This is going to sound harsh, but honestly buy a real brush....

whats wrong with the shavemac?

Try working it on your face for longer

[Kyle Hyde]

whats wrong with the shavemac?

Try working it on your face for longer

I don't think that is the problem, as I've tried short and long amounts of time. Also, my skin is sensitive and I realized I can't handle too much scrubbing.

[Sodapopjones]

whats wrong with the shavemac?

Try working it on your face for longer

I don't touch name brand brushes anymore the quality to price ratio is just not there, any TGN knot based brush is more than ample and a steal of a price.

What do you mean? If you mean a Penworks brush, I've been eyeing one. It's a Penchetta 22mm with 43mm loft in finest two-band with a beautiful wooden burl handle. I want to sell my shavemac so I can get one. I assume you're loving yours?

Well yes I love mine, however if you can't afford one why not just buy the TGN finest knot and place it in that Omega Pro handle you have?

[Topgumby]

Don't listen to SBAD boy. You can get great lather with a Tweezerman or an Omega.

Of course, if you WANT a new brush, by all means....

[Sodapopjones]

Don't listen to SBAD boy. You can get great lather with a Tweezerman or an Omega.

Of course, if you WANT a new brush, by all means....

Meh, my Omega is nothing more than a paper weight now, in the past Omega Face Lathering was my go to.

Sad thing is my PenWorks destroys it, even on a hard soap and its a silvertip....

So I stand by what I said before, buy a real brush

[Kyle Hyde]

Well yes I love mine, however if you can't afford one why not just buy the TGN finest knot and place it in that Omega Pro handle you have?

That's a great idea! Any idea what knot size would fit in that handle? Or a VDH Boar handle. And how do you get the knots with a shorter loft? I want between 43 and 45mm. How did you know I had an Omega Boar? Seen my posts in B/S/T trying to trade it .

[Sodapopjones]

That's a great idea! Any idea what knot size would fit in that handle? Or a VDH Boar handle. And how do you get the knots with a shorter loft? I want between 43 and 45mm.

Its late, but off the top of my head, I believe the Omega has a 25mm knot, TGN has 24/26mm finest knots if I'm not mistaken.

With some work I don't see why it wouldn't fit if you're serious ask Tony, he sells Omega brushes and could probably tell you what would fit.

[Kyle Hyde]

Didn't mean to hijack my own thread...but I guess I'm allowed. Any idea how shorter lofts are achieved? It seems they only come in one loft height. Is it only how deep the knot goes into the handle that determines it's loft?

[machine99703]

Shaving is a drag for me. I do not get consistently get good shaves, and am often left with bad razor burn and redness. I think I have narrowed the reason down to my lather. I've been wet-shaving for over a year now, but I think I still might not be getting the ideal lather.

I mostly use soaps and I have almost always face lathered with them. However, I could never get thick lather that lasted for all my passes-- I always had to go back to the puck. I practiced making lather in a bowl tonight with AOS cream, and I got sooo much lather it was ridiculous. But I can see using a bowl to lather becoming annoying. Plus I wouldn't imagine you would get the benefits of the softening of the hair.

So my question is how can you get the amount of lather you do from bowl lathering with face lathering. I know most people face lather and don't complain about not having enough lather, so what is the secret?

Usually after I build up a lather on my face and I'm ready to shave there is plenty of lather left on my brush, I will make my first pass and then use the remaining lather on the brush for the second pass. If I'm making a third pass there is still enough lather on my brush. Now that is usually with a Rooney 1/1 lately (relatively small brush). Maybe you aren't using enough product? Make sure you load up the brush real well, remember shaving soap is cheap!

usually...

Also, there is nothing wrong with the brush you are using.

[Sodapopjones]

Didn't mean to hijack my own thread...but I guess I'm allowed. Any idea how shorter lofts are achieved? It seems they only come in one loft height. Is it only how deep the knot goes into the handle that determines it's loft?

You can either drill deeper in the handle or give it a haircut...

I would go with option A lol.

I should have mentioned that above

[Sodapopjones]

PenWorks Grade A vs Omega Pro

[Kyle Hyde]

Thanks for that. I'm thinking silvertip might be better at the shorter loft. I would think the combination of a lot of stiffness with a lot of softness would be quite nice. Is the process of removing and replacing the knot difficult? I might just have to buy that Penchetta brush. It's so pretty.

[SRock]

If you are having lather issues it probably has a lot more to do with your lathering techniques and water/soap (or cream) ratio and little to do with the brush. That Shavemac you have is a champ.

This is going to sound harsh, but honestly buy a real brush....

A real brush? He has a Shavemac in Silvertip. That thing should whip lather like a champion!

I don't touch name brand brushes anymore the quality to price ratio is just not there, any TGN knot based brush is more than ample and a steal of a price.

Well yes I love mine, however if you can't afford one why not just buy the TGN finest knot and place it in that Omega Pro handle you have?

TGN knots are a good deal, but they aren't even on the same plane as quality knots from the major manufacturers. If you want a tougher knot more akin to Best Badger then TGN is a good option, but if you like the feel of your Silvertip I wouldn't recommend it.

I've had several silvertip knots from TGN and while they are softer than Best they aren't anywhere as near as soft as a Rooney, Shavemac, Simpsons etc. etc.

Trust me I had a serious bought of SBAD over the last year. I've tried just about everything out there. About the only thing left to try/satisfy my SBAD is a Plisson.

You can either drill deeper in the handle or give it a haircut...

I would go with option A lol.

I should have mentioned that above

Definitely option A. You don't want to cut the tips or you won't be happy with the results.

If you are seriously considering getting a new brush, I'd recommend that you hold off for the 2009 B&B LE. It will be a short loft with a knot far superior to TGN. It will be super soft and have ample backbone to eat up even the hardest soaps. I'd also recommend against selling the Shavemac. It pays dividends to have options (at least a couple).

[Sodapopjones]

TGN knots are a good deal, but they aren't even on the same plane as quality knots from the major manufacturers. If you want a tougher knot more akin to Best Badger then TGN is a good option, but if you like the feel of your Silvertip I wouldn't recommend it.

I've had several silvertip knots from TGN and while they are softer than Best they aren't anywhere as near as soft as a Rooney, Shavemac, Simpsons etc. etc.

Trust me I had a serious bought of SBAD over the last year. I've tried just about everything out there. About the only thing left to try/satisfy my SBAD is a Plisson.

A TGN may not be as soft(Especially the finest) but in some cases they're denser and for around $20 awesome imo.

Have you personally used a Grade A Silvertip TGN?

[Kyle Hyde]

I was looking at the 2009 LE but I know it's going to be out of my limited price range.