I've been using Van Der Hagen Deluxe (pink soap w/shea butter) since I started using soap and a boar brush last month. I was getting what I thought was pretty good lather. Then, I ran across a thread here on B&B that suggested that adding one teaspoon of glycerin to the Van Der Hagen Deluxe would put it on a par with the best shaving soaps out there.
So, I carefully melted a new cake of Van Der Hagen and carefully stirred in one teaspoon of glycerin and let it stand 'til I shaved the next morning. That was about a week ago. Here are my observations. The soap is now physically harder. Also, the addition of glycerin seems to detract from the lathering capability of the soap. Even after working more soap into the brush, the lather produced seems drier and not as lubricating as before. Adding a little more water to the lather just dissolves it.
Funny thing is that I've been getting some of the closest shaves during the past week. Maybe its due to the extra care I've been taking. One other thing I notice is that if I add a few drops of water to the sticky film the Van Der Hagen and glycerin leaves on my face, I get a very slick film that allows me to shave in any direction without irritation, for a short time.
I see very few posts about adding things to soaps. Perhaps it's not a good practice. Any comments?
-Clarke
So, I carefully melted a new cake of Van Der Hagen and carefully stirred in one teaspoon of glycerin and let it stand 'til I shaved the next morning. That was about a week ago. Here are my observations. The soap is now physically harder. Also, the addition of glycerin seems to detract from the lathering capability of the soap. Even after working more soap into the brush, the lather produced seems drier and not as lubricating as before. Adding a little more water to the lather just dissolves it.
Funny thing is that I've been getting some of the closest shaves during the past week. Maybe its due to the extra care I've been taking. One other thing I notice is that if I add a few drops of water to the sticky film the Van Der Hagen and glycerin leaves on my face, I get a very slick film that allows me to shave in any direction without irritation, for a short time.
I see very few posts about adding things to soaps. Perhaps it's not a good practice. Any comments?
-Clarke