Little Lather Help Please

**danparker77** · 03-13-2010, 05:19 AM

'sup guys, Been at this DE stuff for a few months, and was wondering about my lather. I think I am getting a pretty decent lather, but I just can't get the lather like in the pics in the sticky's here or mantics videos. Soap, cream, soap/cream, load for a minute on soap and I get lather that covers my face but can still see pinkish color of skin, no "explosion" of lather in my bowl. Also, I am using a vulfix pure badger brush and have to keep "charging" it from the bowl, every time I re-lather for another pass, sometimes to finish the initial lather. I start out with a dry brush and add drops of water at a time from my fingers, I get to the point I am talking about and if I add just a few more drops I get soup! Is it my soap/cream, brush, water, technique? I am using VDH soap and c.o. bigelow cream. Any help is appreciated, Thanks.

**swinchen** · 03-13-2010, 05:27 AM

I was in a similar situation... what worked for me hand lathering, and make sure you really aggressively mash/twist/whip the brush in your hand. For soaps especially I actually prefer starting out with a slightly wetter brush than what I have seen recommended here. NOT dripping, but enough water so that you start to form a slippery soap paste (as opposed to a dry, waxy soap paste with the dry brush technique). From there transfer to your hand, and don't add much water until your start to form a lather and then add several drops at a time, whipping aggressively between additions. The result should a dense, almost chunky, stiff, opaque lather that is almost mold-able.

That worked for me, YMMV.

Hope it helps,
Sam

**Pumpkin** · 03-13-2010, 05:31 AM

Originally Posted by danparker77

I start out with a dry brush and add drops of water at a time from my fingers

How dry is your brush at the start? Bone dry or have you soaked it, then squeezed it dry?

**danparker77** · 03-13-2010, 05:39 AM

Thanks swinchen, will have to try that. I bought a scuttle though so really don't want to waste that money (I know I know B/S/T) but I wanna use it. But if I have to hand lather, I Have to hand lather I guess.

Pumpkin, I soak the brush while I am in the shower then squeeze and shake.

**Pumpkin** · 03-13-2010, 05:44 AM

It could be a water issue...hard water does make it much harder to get great lather.

**swinchen** · 03-13-2010, 06:22 AM

I am not saying that either you or I have to hand lather for the rest of our lives. IMHO it is an easy place to start to ensure that you are getting a proper lather. Also, you can still use the scuttle... just scrape the lather off your hand into the scuttle after lathering, and then give in a few more seconds of whipping for a nice warm lather.

**danparker77** · 03-13-2010, 06:27 AM

good point, thanks!

**swinchen** · 03-13-2010, 06:28 AM

Originally Posted by Pumpkin

It could be a water issue...hard water does make it much harder to get great lather.

That is a good point. You could always try a bottle of spring water (or better yet distilled) to see if water is your culprit.

**sodajerk** · 03-13-2010, 07:28 AM

Good tips/points already and you are using good products. All I'll say is experiment.

I'll give you one to start - start with a wetter brush. As a control, I suggest using a cereal bowl for consistancy and visiblity. Let the brush soak while showering and then shake it ONE time only - no squeezing. Then, load the brush with more soap than you really need. It'll be messy do hold the soap over the bowl. Build your lather. It may take a little longer whipping time because of the additional water but you will get a thick lather. Sprinkle a little more water in and whip again and you should have a ton of lather in the bowl.

If you still had little lather, try the above using bottled or distilled water instead of tap water. Big difference? Most likely hard water, then. According to this map, you do have pretty hard water.

**SUMMERSRL** · 03-13-2010, 11:02 AM

Originally Posted by Pumpkin

It could be a water issue...hard water does make it much harder to get great lather.

Agreed. I discovered this quite by accident on a trip. I couldn't believe how easy my soaps and creams lathered when using soft water. It was startling.

**wilsondude** · 03-13-2010, 11:37 AM

I agree with the "more water to start" idea; we have hard water in Salt Lake City, and I get great lather by adding a teaspoonful to my soap dish and one quick squeeze of the soaked brush before starting. It was pretty moist, but works awesome for me with a little added cream. Just a thought.

**danparker77** · 03-18-2010, 08:54 PM

Thank you gentlemen! Why starting with more water works better I dont know. Maybe I was working the lather too long before adding more water then working a little too long again....... Anyway I start with more water and the lather is great! Thanks