New to DE shaving and small lather question!

**BazC** · 04-22-2012, 06:18 AM

Hi all, my name's Barry and I'm new to the forum and to DE shaving. I used to use cartridge razors, 2, 3, 4 blade monstrosities. I always preferred wet shaving but got sick of poor performance from expensive cartridge and disposable razors and switched to electric. That was OK but never shaved as close as a wet shave so I thought about trying a DE razor.

Well a couple of days ago I took possession of a couple of my dad's old razors. A Wilkinson Sword Empire SE razor - gorgeous old thing still in it's metal box but not really practical - especially as the strop is missing!

I also got a Gillette G1000, nasty plastic thing but I read they're good shavers so I gave it a go. Coupled with a Wikinson Sword blade (black box made in Germany) I had a very nice shave - no nicks or soreness, could have been closer but better than my electric ever managed. Great shave, cheap and I love the ritual so I'm a convert.

So now to my question! I tried two soaps and attempted to whip up a proper lather. First I tried a new Palmolive shave stick and struggled to get enough lather. Then I tried an old (5 years +!) Body Shop shaving cream I've had lying around and that worked a treat! So how do I get a good volume of lather from the stick? I know Palmolive sticks are supposed to be good so I must be doing something wrong. I worked the brush on the stick the transferred the brush to a bowl to whip up the lather, then went back to the stick to get more soap but I just couldn't seem to build up any volume in the bowl. The tube of cream was easy in comparison but there isn't much left of that and I don't want to waste the stick!

Any tips?

**Kairtane** · 04-22-2012, 06:29 AM

Originally Posted by BazC

Hi all, my name's Barry and I'm new to the forum and to DE shaving. I used to use cartridge razors, 2, 3, 4 blade monstrosities. I always preferred wet shaving but got sick of poor performance from expensive cartridge and disposable razors and switched to electric. That was OK but never shaved as close as a wet shave so I thought about trying a DE razor.

Well a couple of days ago I took possession of a couple of my dad's old razors. A Wilkinson Sword Empire SE razor - gorgeous old thing still in it's metal box but not really practical - especially as the strop is missing!

I also got a Gillette G1000, nasty plastic thing but I read they're good shavers so I gave it a go. Coupled with a Wikinson Sword blade (black box made in Germany) I had a very nice shave - no nicks or soreness, could have been closer but better than my electric ever managed. Great shave, cheap and I love the ritual so I'm a convert.

So now to my question! I tried two soaps and attempted to whip up a proper lather. First I tried a new Palmolive shave stick and struggled to get enough lather. Then I tried an old (5 years +!) Body Shop shaving cream I've had lying around and that worked a treat! So how do I get a good volume of lather from the stick? I know Palmolive sticks are supposed to be good so I must be doing something wrong. I worked the brush on the stick the transferred the brush to a bowl to whip up the lather, then went back to the stick to get more soap but I just couldn't seem to build up any volume in the bowl. The tube of cream was easy in comparison but there isn't much left of that and I don't want to waste the stick!

Any tips?

Welcome to B&B!

When I use a stick soap, I wet the soap and my face and then apply the soap directly to my face. I then use a soaked badger brush to build lather. You probably didn't have enough product with your earlier attempt.

**ackvil** · 04-22-2012, 06:56 AM

Originally Posted by Kairtane

Welcome to B&B!

When I use a stick soap, I wet the soap and my face and then apply the soap directly to my face. I then use a soaked badger brush to build lather. You probably didn't have enough product with your earlier attempt.

Good advice. Shaving sticks are best used when face lathering. If you want to bowl lather with it grate it and pack it in a bowl.

**N2theBreech** · 04-22-2012, 10:07 AM

Originally Posted by Kairtane

Welcome to B&B!

When I use a stick soap, I wet the soap and my face and then apply the soap directly to my face. I then use a soaked badger brush to build lather. You probably didn't have enough product with your earlier attempt.

+1

I like to use the stick for travelling.

**BazC** · 04-22-2012, 06:42 AM

Ah OK thanks I'll try that!

**bkfist** · 04-22-2012, 07:28 AM

As ackvill said, if you want to load directly to a brush, it's best to mash or grate a shave stick into a bowl. It has to do with the surface area that you are trying to load from. The bigger the area of the puck of soap you are loading from, the more surface area there is for water to hit and pick up softened soap from.

Personally I like loading any hard soap directly to the face by rubbing it directly on my beard area. (even if it's not a "stick") By rubbing directly on face and face lathering you *always* get plenty of product for a super amount of lather... Sometimes TOO much... but that's easily corrected by adding water to the brush a few times, then remember to not rub on the face quite so long the next time :)

Usually with a shave stick, rubbing on your wet face for 20 or 30 seconds is plenty of time to get plenty of product for a great 3 or 4 pass shave.