saponificio varesino Tips

[ibandrews]

Hey everyone! I am having trouble getting a slick lather out of SV soap. I use synthetic brush exclusively and brush load by slightly wetting the tip and then loading for about 30-45 seconds from the tub. Then I move it to a cheap plastic bowl.

I find it gets way too airy. I try as much as possible not to add air into the mix by pushing the brush into the bowl. I do almost all circular motions.

I find it is still more foamy than slick. Same thing happens when I use panacrema and wholly kaw.

Any tips?? Thanks!

 

[Eben Stone]

My guess is you're not loading nearly enough soap. Don't be afraid to waste some soap a few times while you dial it in. SV is very inexpensive per shave.

Bloom the soap for 2-3 minutes.

Soak up the soapy water in the brush so it's soaking wet then squeeze it out. Pour the soapy water out into a cup for use later.

Load 100 swirls. If you feel like the brush is getting sticky and gooey then it's probably safe to stop early.

When you move to the bowl, if the bowl has any kind of ridges, then churn slowly so you don't introduce lots of air.

Slowly add the soapy water you saved from blooming about 10-15 drops at a time. You should stop adding water when the consistency is like Yoplait yogurt and/or the surface of the lather starts to look shiny.

If you did it right you should have enough for 2-3 shaves and the lather should be super slick. Next time simply don't load so much. After a few attempts you should have it dialed in.

 

[Darth Scandalous]

I suspect @Eben Stone is correct. "Airy" with this soap especially suggests not enough product.

30 seconds of loading is usually plenty for me, but then I re-read this:

I use synthetic brush exclusively and brush load by slightly wetting the tip and then loading for about 30-45 seconds from the tub.

You need to start with a wetter brush: dunk it, and shake off some of the excess. And yes, bloom the soap (the manufacturer recommends it) and save the bloom water for your lather. I just dump it into my bowl or into the brush depending on how I'm lathering. You can load without blooming but it takes longer and you'll definitely need to start with a wetter brush.

 

[Mike M]

I use synthetic brushes only and I never have a problem getting an incredibly slick lather. I suspect @Eben Stone has hit the nail on the head that you are not loading enough product. Don't worry about using too much product SV soaps last a long time. As already mentioned load your brush until it is gooey and then create your lather in a bowl by adding water a few drops at a time

 

[ibandrews]

Awesome incredible advice thanks.

 

[Rico Suave]

Let me tell you my rather different lathering approach when using a synthetic brush. Start with a dry brush, add 1 teaspoon water to the tub, load for about 20 to 30 seconds. Add another tsp water, repeat the loading. Depending on the size of the brush you may want to repeat a third time, perhaps even a 4th time. Measure the water, don't just guestimate. I use a 1/4 tsp measuring spoon to add the water. Allows for sufficiently precise measurement. For instance, I may want to add only 1/2 tsp in a 3rd loading pass.

This approach leads to very consistent results because you control exactly how much water is used. This will vary from brush to brush, and some soaps will require more water than others. Don't worry about overloading. The amount of soap that can dissolve is bounded by the amount of water. Once the water is totally saturated with soap you could load all day, the water won't take up any more soap. Dialing in the right amount of water is a trial and error thing dependent on your brush and soap combo. Once you sort that out you are good to go.

After you have loaded the brush (as much lather as it will hold) apply to face. At that point if the lather is too thick/dry then dribble say half a tsp water onto the brush and paint the water into the lather on your face. Repeat till you get the wetness you prefer.

This method is extremely simple and has worked like a champ for me. I don't use it with animal hair brushes because I worry that starting dry might not be good for the bristles. But no such problem with a synth.

 

[The Blackadder]

I grate exactly 0.8 grams and put it in a bowl, then start working it adding water little by little. It never fails

 

[SRLNY]

What they said. Definitely bloom SV. And like @RicoSuave I don't soak my brush -- and I use synthetics, too. I begin with a dampened brush, definitely not soaked, load about 15 circles worth, apply to face, possibly reload another 10 with a touch more water. Too much water at any point leads to a mess. Then after the initial load, I face lather, adding more light additional amounts of water until the soaps expands on my face into a good lather. Takes al of maybe 30 seconds. Result is thick, slick SV lather.

 

[Chumango]

I have found with SV if I start with too much water in the brush I get froth. If that happens I have to continue loading until I get enough soap to deal with all the water. So I start with a damp brush but not overly wet and load soap and then start lathering from there. It is easy to have more water than you think in a synthetic knot. For reference I face lather.

 

[Ckmaui]

ditto others of course
do think this is one of those just takes a bit of time and try various methods to find "your best way"
the blooming method does work though so maybe a good way to start with SV (as they say to do)

a great older thread

Lathering Saponificio Varesino

Gents, I recently tried SV, and the fragrance and performance was amazing! Now I have three pucks that I will be working my way through over time. At any rate, my first attempt at lathering the puck produce a good lather, but I was not happy with it, and knew that I did not maximize its...

www.badgerandblade.com

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SV has their instructions on each soap page under how to use:

How To Use Our Shaving Soaps
Saponificio Varesino Shaving Soap formulations contain soluble ingredients that need to be activated with water. For best results use the following steps to prepare your soap:
* Wet the soap: cover the surface with a thin veil of hot water for 2-3 minutes. We recommend preparing your soap in one of our hand-carved wood shaving soap bowls.
* Wet the brush: Run the brush under warm water to saturate the bristles. This will prime it to accept the shaving cream or soap. Shake off any excess water.
* Add shaving soap: Run the bristles over the shaving soap. Because you’re dealing with a quality soap, you actually don’t need to use much to create an amazing lather.
* Work into a lather: Using circular motions, work the brush around your beard and enjoy the scent of your shaving soap. The circular motions will also raise hairs from the skin’s surface for easier removal with the razor.
* Rinse the brush: Once you’re done, run the brush under some cold water. Use your fingers to separate the bristles to get all of the soap out of the hair. Squeeze the excess water from the brush and set it back in its stand.



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I have my own way
I use a Muhle STF (synthetic) I live in Arizona so insane hard water
but I run the brush under water and just point the brush down and give it a light stop to kinda shake or flip out the water then go to the soap

I do not bloom so I start with a sleight wet brush I start to swirl the brush and maybe 10 seconds in I then tilt the tub 45 degrees over the bowl so the rest of the wet soapy lather runs into the bowl as (my brush is not dry like if you shook it out hard and not dripping as if you just soaked it and ran it on the soap
(agree with other that for me to wet a brush to start does not work as well and ends up to frothy) I like to get a first thick base then add the water to bring it up

I keep loading the brush then one last kinda swirl around the edges to get the soap that is on top of the puck inside into the bowl and start to then mix in the bowl. I do this for maybe 30 seconds tops its very thick at this point and then I start to add water (I find it can take way more water than other soaps I have used) and I am pretty good at getting how much I need first time and I just know the feel of it after using it so long but build up to a nice shiny wet insane slick lather that is NOT runny and NOT thick foamy peaky either
like the 3 bears story I choose the JUST RIGHT

 

[AceyMan]

the directions they include with the soap worked great for me — I've used the "SV Method" on other hard soaps to good effect.

(but others are right: you're likely shy of the amount of soap you need to get loaded, irrespective of any technique)

/Acey

 

[Ravenonrock]

I have found with SV if I start with too much water in the brush I get froth. If that happens I have to continue loading until I get enough soap to deal with all the water. So I start with a damp brush but not overly wet and load soap and then start lathering from there. It is easy to have more water than you think in a synthetic knot. For reference I face lather.

I find this with most soaps/creams, it’s more challenging to come back from too much water. Damp seems to work well, although I mostly use boar. Regardless, I load the heck out of it, then load some more, straight to the face, add water as necessary.

 

[apollo11]

I am a strictly face lather guy with SV. Bloom the soap with hot water, soak the brush for a few minutes in hot water. Shake it out a tiny bit, pour out the bloom water.

Swirl the brush on the puck and load it up. Apply to face. If it’s not slick, dip the brush into the bowl you soaked with. Take your time in the face—paint and swirl. The later will build. My ideal consistency is in the pictures here.

Through the shave, I dip the brush a bit into the water bowl—and use the soap I’ve loaded for multiple passes. If needed I reload—but I usually don’t for a three pass shave with a clean up.

Super slick and protective. Best soap IMO.