MdC Question

**lt114** · 07-03-2012, 09:03 AM

Is there a consensus about how to best lather MdC?

I face lathered with it this morning and did not get the rich billowy lather that I've heard so much about. I used my normal technique for face lathering (Marco's method) with a Semogue 620.

The lather I got was plenty slick, but it was a bit thin. The shave was not bad, but it was not outstanding.
Where did I go wrong? I don't like bowl lathering, but I will if I have to in order to get the ideal MdC lather, if that's what it takes.

Thanks in advance, Lucas

**Catalin** · 07-03-2012, 09:18 AM

Sounds like not enough product. Try loading more. MdC should explode in rich, thick lather without much effort.

**Krona Kruiser** · 07-03-2012, 09:23 AM

Originally Posted by Catalin

Sounds like not enough product. Try loading more. MdC should explode in rich, thick lather without much effort.

+1

**lt114** · 07-03-2012, 10:15 AM

More product shouldn't be the issue. I loaded for about 45 seconds.
From the stories I've heard, half that amount of loading isn't required with this soap.
I'll try again tomorrow and see what happens. The funny thing is: I never have problems like this with soaps that are supposedly far inferior to MdC.

**7 O Menthol** · 07-03-2012, 10:15 AM

+2 I've only ever face lathered mine and I most definitely got the characteristic lather as well.

**joglander** · 07-03-2012, 10:44 AM

My experience with MDC is that it lathers pretty easily. But if my lather was thin, I would use less water and or more product.

**lt114** · 07-03-2012, 10:53 AM

My intuition told me the problem could be too much water; however, by the time I starting shaving my neck the lather had caked up and become dry.
That doesn't happen when you use too much water in my experience.

**Vlad** · 07-03-2012, 10:54 AM

More product is always the issue. Never skimp on the soap. Once you get to the point where it's to much, then dial it back.

**lt114** · 07-03-2012, 10:56 AM

Originally Posted by Vlad

More product is always the issue. Never skimp on the soap. Once you get to the point where it's to much, then dial it back.

I'm going to load the brush for a solid minute tomorrow to see if this is the issue. If I get the same lather I got today, I'll at least know that something else is causing the problem.

**Cochese2323** · 07-03-2012, 11:01 AM

Vlad and the others speak the truth! More product will solve all problems.

**lt114** · 07-03-2012, 11:10 AM

I thought this stuff was supposed to explode with lather after about 3-5 swirls on the puck.
I thought for certain 30-45 seconds of loading with the 620 would do it.

**Optometrist** · 07-03-2012, 11:16 AM

Originally Posted by lt114

I thought this stuff was supposed to explode with lather after about 3-5 swirls on the puck.
I thought for certain 30-45 seconds of loading with the 620 would do it.

I load for a full minute irrespective of the soap used. MdC is an easy to lather soap but when using a wet brush as I do, you need that time. And 3-5 swirls is optimistic for anyone I would say!

**insomniac** · 07-03-2012, 11:39 AM

Originally Posted by lt114

I'm going to load the brush for a solid minute tomorrow to see if this is the issue. If I get the same lather I got today, I'll at least know that something else is causing the problem.

You do not need to lather MdC for a full minute. If you are using "Marco's method", your brush is probably too wet. His technique works for Italian croaps; MdC is not one.

**craig87c** · 07-03-2012, 11:49 AM

I've been having the same experience. Great shaves, but I'm not getting a lot of lather with a few seconds of loading. I also used the same method and same knot.

Good amount of lather, great shave, but I'm wondering if we believed the hype a bit too much!

**Kramerica** · 07-03-2012, 12:00 PM

My .02:

Always start with a DAMP brush, not wet. Soak your brush, then fling it nearly dry. Load the soap or begin lathering the cream. You can load a lot of soap onto a DAMP brush. Add water a few drops at a time. This only works with bowl latering, but it is foolproof. When you hit the consistency you like, stop adding water, lather a few more swirls, then shave away. I add a drop of two between passes just to keep up with evaporation.

This approach has worked with every soap and cream I have tried.

**lt114** · 07-03-2012, 12:31 PM

Originally Posted by craig87c

I've been having the same experience. Great shaves, but I'm not getting a lot of lather with a few seconds of loading. I also used the same method and same knot.

Good amount of lather, great shave, but I'm wondering if we believed the hype a bit too much!

Good to know I'm not the only one.

**whavens** · 07-03-2012, 12:42 PM

This is one soap I don't use the Marco method on. 15-20 seconds on a damp brush should give you tons of lather. Of course depending on water quality and other variables YMMV.

**Marco** · 07-03-2012, 01:08 PM

With Martin de Candre I use about 30/40 seconds on the puck with my usual wet brush approach. For me it does work. Marvellously.

**lt114** · 07-03-2012, 01:20 PM

I am going to try again tomorrow using the same approach but a different brush. I really want to like this soap.

On a positive note, I enjoy the most controversial aspect of this soap: the scent.

**shave~extacy** · 07-03-2012, 01:21 PM

My approach would be a dryer brush to start applying to face evenly dipping the tips 3-4 times in water throughout the next minuete or so incorperating moisture into the soap slowly until u reach your desired lather. Starting dryer ime lets you pick up more soap