kyle3r
Shave Master
Posts: 138
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Post by kyle3r on Mar 1, 2020 21:20:32 GMT -6
So I just tried to lather Geo f Trumper rose soap for the first time. It would not hold a lather with distilled water. I tried adding more water or more soap. It would just almost immediately disapate on my face. I've been wet shaving for 3 years I can lather well. Out of frustration I tried tap water and it made a rich lather that lasted significantly longer. In the past our tap water has killed lather. Has anyone found a soap that likes hard water? Is it a thing to tune a soap for tap water?
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TobyC
Gem Star
Old stick in the mud.
Posts: 2,400
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Post by TobyC on Mar 1, 2020 21:55:45 GMT -6
Hard water kills soap, that's the way it is. I'm lucky to have very soft water here, I can lather anything! Try regular cheap bottled water.
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kyle3r
Shave Master
Posts: 138
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Post by kyle3r on Mar 1, 2020 22:05:31 GMT -6
I was using distilled. The hard water actually gave a better lather. Strange but that's what happened.
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Post by ordinaryshaver on Mar 2, 2020 0:29:33 GMT -6
IMHO I've noticed that either a soap likes more or less water, but not a major difference between hard vs soft. I do think it is important to discuss this point, but how does one rate hard vs soft? I suppose I'm lucky or maybe ignorant but I've never noticed any issues with lathering soaps. I simply use a damp brush, most of the water Fung out, load the soap, and get a decent layer on the face.
I build my lather on my face, as to make it easier to lather and less clean up. I also am not going for a super dense or thick lather, but rather something that will just protect my skin.
When you face lather, you can also control how much soap is put down at the start of the process then add water accordingly.
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Post by IschiaPP on Mar 2, 2020 2:38:35 GMT -6
IMHO I've noticed that either a soap likes more or less water, but not a major difference between hard vs soft. +1 In my area the water is very hard. (33°fH, about 330mg/L) But with the right technique, I have no problems. Soft creams are rich in water, so it takes very little. Semi-hard soaps, a little more. Hard soaps, even more. What I call "water point" depends on the ingredient list. (INCI) The richer a soap, the more it requires water. But above all it requires mechanical work in the lathering. The emulsion of the foam in that case may require several minutes of work, to reach the right soap / water / air ratio.
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kyle3r
Shave Master
Posts: 138
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Post by kyle3r on Mar 2, 2020 6:59:22 GMT -6
I bowl lather most of the time. I wet the brush wrong out excess. Load the soap. Then I use a spray water bottle full of distilled. This allows me to almost exactly control the amount of water I add. I rarely have issues lathering. I did with Williams long ago. But with that soap I found a bit of extra water was key. A thirsty soap if you will. But the Geo f Trumper lathered fine but wouldn't hold it. I tried more and less water. Even tried face lathering it which I do on occasion. I tried working the foamy lather around and it wouldn't thicken. I got frustrated and loaded my brush with tap water and it lathered fine and to my surprise held it. The tap water is hard where I am and usually kills lather. I will say it was a wetter lather. I'm going to experiment with it again today
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kyle3r
Shave Master
Posts: 138
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Post by kyle3r on Mar 2, 2020 7:01:51 GMT -6
I know that there are chelating agents and things that can be added to a soap to deal with hard water. Who knows maybe it is tuned for tap water. Has anyone else used trumpers hard soap? I've seen it has a somewhat bad reputation.
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Post by Electrif on Mar 2, 2020 15:18:00 GMT -6
Has anyone else used trumpers hard soap? I've seen it has a somewhat bad reputation. I was given two pucks as a present and had no luck at all. I have moderately soft water. And I now use them as hand soap. I've never seen a good word on either of the two UK forums I frequent.
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kyle3r
Shave Master
Posts: 138
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Post by kyle3r on Mar 2, 2020 20:37:47 GMT -6
Ok so I experimented with it some more. So I wouldn't say it lathered better now. But it doesn't lather any worse.
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Post by IschiaPP on Mar 3, 2020 2:47:38 GMT -6
So I wouldn't say it lathered better now. If the soap formulation is not performing, just increase the loading phase. An easy way is to use it in stick mode, my fav. Otherwise, use a veil of water on the soap and after a couple of minutes use the brush completely drained of the soaking water to absorb the water on the soap and load with an abundant number of swirls. (10-15 sec) More details on the Italian forum. www.ilrasoio.com/viewtopic.php?p=142992#p142992
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kyle3r
Shave Master
Posts: 138
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Post by kyle3r on Mar 3, 2020 16:59:20 GMT -6
So I wouldn't say it lathered better now. If the soap formulation is not performing, just increase the loading phase. An easy way is to use it in stick mode, my fav. Otherwise, use a veil of water on the soap and after a couple of minutes use the brush completely drained of the soaking water to absorb the water on the soap and load with an abundant number of swirls. (10-15 sec) More details on the Italian forum. www.ilrasoio.com/viewtopic.php?p=142992#p142992Good thought I'll try that soon.
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