Experiment #4 with hard water and Mystic Water soap

Very interesting thread, celestino.

I guess I've always used the "Merkur Man" method and never knew it. Somehow that's how I learned to lather and it's how I lather all of my soaps including MW. Maybe I'll try the Marco method tomorrow (with MW) and see what happens.

Thanks for sharing your experience. I really enjoyed the read.

Anyone having difficulty lathering MW or any other soap, I strongly recommend buying a synthetic brush with an Ubersoft or Plisson knot. Also, I would watch that video by Merkur Man that Celestino posted. That is the best lathering video I've ever seen and I credit it for improving my lathers. I believe everyone should at least try a Plisson or Ubersoft brush once, especially if having any issues lathering any soaps or creams whatsoever.

I have two brushes - both synthetic. One is a Whipped Dog 24mm and a Muhle STF v2 23mm. The Muhle is a bit softer and the WD has a bit more backbone. I think i've been pressing two hard into the soap so a lighter touch and the Muhle should be a good place to start?

LegalEagle1, I apologize for the delayed response, but I had a football (soccer) match after work and I just returned home.

Here are some photos of the lather I produced using my well-broken in Semogue 830 and Mystic Water while bowl-lathering, tonight.
Please, understand that I have only bowl-lathered approximately 20-30 times in the five years that have been wet-shaving, so my results might not always be the best.

The first photo is of the brush after loading directly on the soap for 45 seconds, after I did a very quick 10 second rinse of the brush under running water to hydrate it.

The second photo is after 1 minute of generating the lather in the bowl. It was still a bit pasty and I needed to add more water and work it a bit more.

The third photo is after 3 minutes or so of generating the lather and it seemed to be fine for me.

The subsequent photos are of the lather after having been applied to my forearm after 5-7 minutes and then the remaining lather in the brush and bowl, respectively.
I would not usually leave the lather applied to my face for that length of time, but I wanted to highlight that it was not dissipating even after that length of time although it was slowly drying out at the surface, but not near the skin.

I am not sure how you bowl-lather, but I performed more 'paint-brush' or 'back-and-forth' strokes with the brush in the bowl as it seems that is more effective than circular methods, for me anyway, or I just found it more efficient and quicker.
I also have to say that this is a very thirsty soap and I use quite a bit of water, but in small amounts while quickly running my brush under slowly running tap-water.

I hope to be able to post a video, at some point, to illustrate my methods, but for now, photos will have to suffice, unfortunately.

I hope this can be of some kind of assistance to you and if you have any further questions, I can try to assist you, in any way that I able to.



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celestino amazing thread, very informative. I love that you have put so much effort into this. Obviously have a lot of love for MW soap.

I did have a little difficulty at the beginning when I first tried Michelle's soap but over time it has improved greatly and I get fantastic lathers.

I see that you have tested soap from Surrey in the UK where I live I think I know who (David?) you got that from and he lives 30mins from me and has provided me with samples of MW which I have been very greatful for.

I think most people just have to have a little more patience and spend a little more time getting to know the soap then it will work wonders.

I think we can forgive you for the photos

Hi, Oli.
Yes, indeed, I did receive the water from David and he was very grateful after I showed him the results as, now, he has no trouble with the soap.

Anyone having difficulty lathering MW or any other soap, I strongly recommend buying a synthetic brush with an Ubersoft or Plisson knot. Also, I would watch that video by Merkur Man that Celestino posted. That is the best lathering video I've ever seen and I credit it for improving my lathers. I believe everyone should at least try a Plisson or Ubersoft brush once, especially if having any issues lathering any soaps or creams whatsoever.

I followed the Merkur Man method in the video (both the regular video and the one specifically for Mystic Water) and was not able to achieve fully consistent improvements (though it did help occasionally). A synthetic would have been my next step, but I skipped it and went straight for the water softener lol.

For $10 to $12 just go to Italian Barber or Maggard and grab a Plissoft brush and see how you like it. I'm surprised the Merkur Man video didn't work for you.

Anyone having difficulty lathering MW or any other soap, I strongly recommend buying a synthetic brush with an Ubersoft or Plisson knot. Also, I would watch that video by Merkur Man that Celestino posted. That is the best lathering video I've ever seen and I credit it for improving my lathers. I believe everyone should at least try a Plisson or Ubersoft brush once, especially if having any issues lathering any soaps or creams whatsoever.

I have two brushes - both synthetic. One is a Whipped Dog 24mm and a Muhle STF v2 23mm. The Muhle is a bit softer and the WD has a bit more backbone. I think i've been pressing two hard into the soap so a lighter touch and the Muhle should be a good place to start?

I've never used a Muhle but I hear they are good knots. The Whipped Dog is an Unersoft knot and I have two of them from Larry and one Ubersoft II from Wolf Whiskers as well as a Plisson Stirling Kong. I had a real Plisson too but the Kong is way better to me so I sold the Plisson. The WD to me is every bit as soft as the Plisson but it does have more backbone and requires more pressure to splay. I use all of them about the same but I like the Stirling Kong the best, followed by WD Ubersoft which I like better than the new Unersoft II. I can't speak for the Muhle since I haven't used it but I still recommend anyone who hasn't tried a Plisson trying one since they are so affordable to buy now at Italian Barber and Maggard. There is a reason so many companies are selling Plisson type knots nowadays, it's that great of a knot. A lot of people wanted more backbone from them and now there are plenty of options with extra backbone.

Great Post as always Celestino! Very enjoyable to read. When I had MW shaving soap I usually loaded my brush like there's no tomorrow and slowly added water. I usually use this same method with all my ss and it never fails.

Excellent thread and individual posts. Well over a year ago, Celestino was very helpful instructing me in the art of lathering MW. I have since graduated his academy and have zero issues. The one thing that I look for and that dictates the end result of MW, is the "sticky, gooey pre-lather" Without having this at the beginning, I find that the soap is too hydrated. Slowly adding H2O to this "pre-lather" and a willingness to have patience building the lather will reward you with the results that we are all looking for.

Thank you for your kind words, gentlemen! Hopefully, I will be able to offer some videos, at some point.