There is something to be said about over thinking things.
How much soap/cream per shave?
- Thread starter The Blackadder
- Start date
It will all come together for you, trust me. Sorry if it felt like I was attacking you, that wasn't my objective.
Use 4x as much product as you think you'll need when starting out and half as much water as your normally do. Dial it back as you get more experience. But truth be told, the only issue with using too much product is waste.
When I use Proraso Blue (tube), I use about a full sized caterpillars worth of cream for a 2 pass shave. That is after 10+y of lathering for me, since I started wet shaving. The result of that much product, I always have great lather and can't blame that aspect for a bad shave.
With regards to "brush burn" or people saying they can't face lather or it causes irritation. I would bet most "irritation" isn't from face lathering, but a weak lather or poor technique when shaving. It's easier to place the brush than the user, so people say they can't do it. Everyone can do it, it just takes dialing in technique without swapping brushless, soaps, razors and blades every day. No one can perfect a shave if they are changing 6 different aspects of the shave in a daily basis. Excitement gets the best of people and they want to try everything at once and never use the same thing two days in a row. To test it, lather your face (not mash) circle motions to apply initial soap/cream, then painting and slapping (to thicken it up)....don't shave, and see if you still get irritation.
e-Shave probably isn't the best product to begin with. So don't worry if it doesn't work out. But before tossing it or giving up on it, use way more than needed, cut back on the water to start and apply extra water after it's on your face
All in time.
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Jay21
Collecting wife bonus parts
This may be true for most people, but face lathering with my RR and Maggard brushes (which are most likely Yaqi made synthetic knots), which are soft and very nice brushes, still caused me some irritation. I did some experimentation with several consecutive shaves where the only thing I did differently was face later or bowl lather, and I definitely had irritation from face lathering. It was very slight, but noticeable. Perhaps I was doing something wrong, but I prefer the ritual of bowl lathering anyway so it's a moot point.
I can't comment on hard soaps (tripple milled soaps), and creams because I don't use them. All my soaps are of the Mike's, Caties, PAA consistency. And as others have commented, I gave up measuring some time ago, both for soap and water. However, many forum commentators over time have suggested an almond-size amount of soap and that's about what I use, though I'm frequently heavy handed because I find it enjoyable to whip up more lather than I need.
- Thread starter
- #45
No worries my friend, I appreciate the help. I’ll have a few shaves using a trusty soap to let my skin recover and then I might try again with eShave. After two weeks of shaving with subpar lather, my skin needs a break
Yeah, my face is really sensitive. I can feel how it starts itching even if I don’t splay or use force. Even just painting too much causes irritation in my case. I have to use cold water and avoid (if possible) face lathering
A 3.6cm-diameter sample jar doesn't make much of a brush-loading, swirling platform; a visual volume reference seems useful in this circumstance. Not too many almonds in a 7g container, either.
I was too stingy today.
I was too stingy today.
Hi @The Blackadder , On my hard soaps I tend to use around 3/4 to a full gram of product for each shave. Load aggressively with my 26mm synthetic brush for between 45 seconds and a minute. Using my LEA creams as an example I use about 3/4 of an inch from the tube. YMMV applies here regarding preferences. Some like wetter lathers while others like theirs richer and thicker. Play around and see what works best for you. I've found that each product is a bit different and needs to be dialed in.
@The Blackadder I have recently changed how I lather, might be worth a shot for you. I picked up one of those soup bowl/mugs from the dollar store...a fairly large one.
I then scooped out a couple tablespoons worth of soap and pressed it into the bottom.
I have been going to the soap with a pretty wet brush, one flick so not dripping. I swirl/load ontil it looks about halfway to done (20/30ish seconds for Arko) and then finish up facelathering. Another 30ish seconds, maybe a minute.
No irritation, nice slick lather, and my soaps stay fresh and dry.
Sorry if that wasnt clear enough I am tired and need to get to sleep.
Be well
Jay
I then scooped out a couple tablespoons worth of soap and pressed it into the bottom.
I have been going to the soap with a pretty wet brush, one flick so not dripping. I swirl/load ontil it looks about halfway to done (20/30ish seconds for Arko) and then finish up facelathering. Another 30ish seconds, maybe a minute.
No irritation, nice slick lather, and my soaps stay fresh and dry.
Sorry if that wasnt clear enough I am tired and need to get to sleep.
Be well
Jay
I'm relatively new to wet shaving, and I recognize I really can't offer any direct advice that is more valuable than what you have already received from more experienced shavers. It's helpful to have "ball park" amounts like Eben Stone gave - those are great starting points.
My response is just to encourage you to keep at it and find what works for you. I'm learning that there are so many variables that can affect my lather results - from water hardness to brand of soap/creme to amount of water I put in the bowl to other factors, etc.... Try to trust your "feel" rather than a "formula" and make it an enjoyable process rather than work.
I've occasionally had to dump the bowl and start again. And, I've convinced myself that's not wasteful if I'm learning something.
- Thread starter
- #51
Thanks for your responses. I’ve separated my experiments in these categories:
- Hard Soaps: Dr Harris, MWF, SV, Tabac, Arko, Haslinger. I cut small and thin slices and put them in a wooden bowl, mashed them at the bottom. Then I load my brush from there for 30 seconds and take it to my lathering bowl. I’m currently doing that with a DR Harris puck. Second experiment will be to directly rub the puck in my wet face and face lather.
- Croaps: Zingari, Cella, Proraso, Cattie’s Bubbles, PAA, Stirling, Razorock, A&E, B&M: Will scoop 1-2 grams and proceed to bowl lather
I’ve scheduled one to two weeks per brand, starting with hard pucks, so I have a lot of tests ahead. Thanks again
I spent ~2 months of daily shaving to finally got somewhat satisfying lather, so probably I can understand the frustration.
I only have croaps and load directly from tub, with a kitchen scale I found out that I often use ~1.5g of soap to produce way too much lather needed for a 2-pass shave with touchup. I'm trying to use less soap. My measurement was made after the soap "looked" dry, without shiny reflections of water. When loading I determine how much soap is loaded just by looking at the brush.
The most differentiate action for me was loading/start lathering with a squeezed, damp, non-dipping brush, then add little water, blend water with lather well before add more water. Although in the end the lather need lots of water, but it didn't produce good lather for me when I start by loading with a too-wet, almost dipping brush at first.
Lathering bowl do have a difference, I can't produce good lather with a smooth bowl (or I just didn't work hard enough). A bowl with ribs/bumps are better. I'm now using a collapsible silicone slow-feed bowl that cost ~USD 5 here and those nubs really do produces lather super fast. It looks exactly the same as the collapsible shaving bowl sold by Stirling Soaps.
I only have croaps and load directly from tub, with a kitchen scale I found out that I often use ~1.5g of soap to produce way too much lather needed for a 2-pass shave with touchup. I'm trying to use less soap. My measurement was made after the soap "looked" dry, without shiny reflections of water. When loading I determine how much soap is loaded just by looking at the brush.
The most differentiate action for me was loading/start lathering with a squeezed, damp, non-dipping brush, then add little water, blend water with lather well before add more water. Although in the end the lather need lots of water, but it didn't produce good lather for me when I start by loading with a too-wet, almost dipping brush at first.
Lathering bowl do have a difference, I can't produce good lather with a smooth bowl (or I just didn't work hard enough). A bowl with ribs/bumps are better. I'm now using a collapsible silicone slow-feed bowl that cost ~USD 5 here and those nubs really do produces lather super fast. It looks exactly the same as the collapsible shaving bowl sold by Stirling Soaps.
I like your approach here. Divide and test single variables. Test lathers are fun. It took me several months to learn to create good lather. Every time I change soaps, it takes a time or two to dial my technique into the soap. One way I test a new lather is to rub some between my thumb and finger. If the lather is not slick, its not ready. Saves my face the learning curve!
Sending good practice wishes your way. With time and practice, you will be making exceptional, yogurt-like, slick lather by the bowl full.
Well coming to this party late the other thing in how Thick a Layer of Soap or Cream does one need apply face to saturate a Beard of a Days Growth to remove with Razor.
I can not give you volume, but can say I do not do a thick layer like Santa Beard, that too me is overkill, you only need amount to wet, soften, and remove beard growth with ease.
I have old beard, and then to be a guy who does only one or two passes, with minimal about of lather. Now million dollar ? As I bought recently a 150 ML Tube of Green Porous, how many shave should the tube last if I am using minimal amount to creat enought lather for my face, to be lather twice when I shave?
I can not give you volume, but can say I do not do a thick layer like Santa Beard, that too me is overkill, you only need amount to wet, soften, and remove beard growth with ease.
I have old beard, and then to be a guy who does only one or two passes, with minimal about of lather. Now million dollar ? As I bought recently a 150 ML Tube of Green Porous, how many shave should the tube last if I am using minimal amount to creat enought lather for my face, to be lather twice when I shave?
Don't worry about Arko. I have some in my basement to deter ants and spiders and it's been down there for months with a strong odor.
For soap, I'm a swirl guy. Creams - about an almond size amount.
Beyond that, I don't really track amount. Even with the above, I might need to get more product, which can be easily done during the shave.
With respect to mold or scent dissipation on soap pucks, I leave the soap out overnight to dry out before putting it away. I have soaps in my inventory that are 8-9 years old and the scents are just fine.
Beyond that, I don't really track amount. Even with the above, I might need to get more product, which can be easily done during the shave.
With respect to mold or scent dissipation on soap pucks, I leave the soap out overnight to dry out before putting it away. I have soaps in my inventory that are 8-9 years old and the scents are just fine.
This right here. For soaps, about 60 swirls. I go 10 in each direction (so 20) and repeat that 3 times. Then I go the bowl to build the lather. For creams, yeah, about an almond size.
End of the day, I never run out of lather. I'd rather make too much than too little. But cream and soap is cheap. I'm not trying to build exactly however much I need.
Not true. I can load 10 swirls of a soap like Ethos and have enough rich/creamy lather for a 3-4 pass shave in my Cayuen bowl in about 1 minute.
I think a lot depends on how hard the soap is and if you bloom it and how how stiff the brush is.
100 swirls seems reasonable to me if using a hard soap that isn't bloomed.
This morning I used SV. Bloomed. 10 swirls was more than enough for a 3-pass shave. I probably only used half the lather, and dumped the rest. That's without squeezing any lather out of the brush.
Typically I use Boellis Panama (croap). I used to use 30 swirls. But now I bloom it and use 5 swirls. Sounds miniscule, but that's easily enough for a 3-pass shave with a lot left over.
100 swirls seems reasonable to me if using a hard soap that isn't bloomed.
This morning I used SV. Bloomed. 10 swirls was more than enough for a 3-pass shave. I probably only used half the lather, and dumped the rest. That's without squeezing any lather out of the brush.
Typically I use Boellis Panama (croap). I used to use 30 swirls. But now I bloom it and use 5 swirls. Sounds miniscule, but that's easily enough for a 3-pass shave with a lot left over.
I'm sure I saw a sybal on arko indicating shelf life was 7 years. Most products show 6 to 12 months so no need to worry about arko.
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