TGQ Soaps

bbshriver · 07-25-2008, 02:40 PM

Ok, so far I've tried TGQ, MamaBear, and Castle Forbes soaps/creams as well as a few off brand/store bought etc.

CF does seem to be the best for shaving, but I like the interesting scents offered by some of the other ones (TGQ and MB).. I have a couple of Mama Bear soaps (Smokin and Irish Tweed), and get a real nice lather with them. I've had a few of the TGQ small pucks, highland black cavendish and rum and the scents are HEAVENLY.... but try as I might, I can't figure out how to get a good lather. Either I'm too dry and get nothing, or too wet and it just all runs off. I've been str8 shaving for about 5 months, but 3 of those were at college and I only took the Mamabear ones since they were in the plastic tub so are easier to travel with.

The best luck I've had with TGQ was putting the puck into my "victorian" scuttle so excess water drains out the bottom, but still doesn't seemt hat good. Any suggestions from you TGQ-o-philes?

junkinduck · 07-25-2008, 02:54 PM

I like the TGQ soap I use it almost exclusively I will on ocassion use porasso on a hot summer day. I just soak the brush shake three times. splash enough water in the mug to wet the soap and dump it out. Pump and work the brush to load it with soap. I then lather in a different heated bowl whiping vigoursly. This make a nice lather I can do two passes on my head and two on my face.

Don

bbshriver · 07-25-2008, 03:13 PM

Hmm, I'll have to give that a try, I've always whipped the lather right in the soap dish, until I started using the Castle Forbes cream.

cybrok · 07-25-2008, 03:23 PM

I noticed the lather was longer to build, but it can be done. It did take me a few tries. Try to use a little more soap each time.

nun2sharp · 07-25-2008, 04:21 PM

Try this,get the brush soaking wet then flick the brush once maybe twice(maybe) to remove excess water, and then go to building lathe directly on the puckr, this is the method I use and I thoroughly love TGQ soaps.

bbshriver · 07-25-2008, 04:35 PM

This is more or less what I've tried, but it ends up runny. I'm using a shavemac brush (944 I think?) maybe it holds more water or something? I'll keep experimenting. Mostly using the CF right now, as I'm down to just the rum scented TGQ and that is my least favorite of the ones I've tried.

Quote:

Originally Posted by nun2sharp

Try this,get the brush soaking wet then flick the brush once maybe twice(maybe) to remove excess water, and then go to building lathe directly on the puckr, this is the method I use and I thoroughly love TGQ soaps.

sicboater · 07-25-2008, 05:07 PM

Soaking the soap puck longer to soften it up and then concentrate on loading a throughly flicked out brush with soap so that it is loaded and sticky. Then move to another container (mug or dish) and gradually add water and whip until you get your lather building. I use this method for all of my soaps and find that it cuts down on the time needed to get the mix right. Good luck, Colleen's soap is worth the effort as it results in some Heavenly aromas.

Hope this helps,

-rob

nun2sharp · 07-25-2008, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbshriver

This is more or less what I've tried, but it ends up runny. I'm using a shavemac brush (944 I think?) maybe it holds more water or something? I'll keep experimenting. Mostly using the CF right now, as I'm down to just the rum scented TGQ and that is my least favorite of the ones I've tried.

If its too runny, there is too much water involved. Dont be afraid to give the brush a good flick, its all in the snap of the wrist.

bbshriver · 07-25-2008, 07:33 PM

Ok, guess I'll have to order some new pucks from Coleen here soon and see if I can get the tecnique down. I do LOVE the aroma, which is half the joy of shaving to me.

gugi · 07-26-2008, 01:25 AM

ok, I took few pictures of how I make lather from TGQ soaps - may be it'll help a bit.

jscott · 07-26-2008, 01:40 AM

i love TGQ soaps, they are my preferred lather. ofcourse i also have some of the standard greats out there to mix in the rotation such as (tabac, QED wild Rose, Micheals woolfat). but for my TGQ soaps i have her cavendish black, blackberry sage, margaritta, relaxation, and one more i forget the name. the last 3 were some of her trials soaps not yet offered on her site. if you don't have her black cavendish and her blackberry sage they are amazing and unique, definiely must haves.

as for the lather technique which produces very thick and rich lather. i like thick later such as creams give you however i like the water under the facet to be able to rinse it off so i make my lather very thick and creamy but by using a soap it will rinse clean.

1 - hot water on top the soap while in shower.
2 - get your brush wet (soak, rinse either way)
3 - give a few good shakes to remove alot/most of the water. now this removes almost all from the tips but deeper down in there will be water soaked into the brush
4 - put about a teaspon of hot water ontop the soap and start spinning the brush in it. i do alot of spins probably on the 20+ side to really load it up. if the brush sticks to the soap and isn't moving then add another few drops of water ontop the soap and continue spinning.
5 - this doesn't produce lather on top the soap, to say as im not pumping yet more of loading the brush at this stage
6 - apply brush to face, right cheek for me and there upon start spinning and pumping on your face.
7 - this will create very thick lather on the tips and also down inside the brush plenty to do 2 passes. you'll be amazed at how thick and creamy it is.

note: if while creating the lather on your cheek the lather runs down your face then you started with too much water in your bush and you needed to flick more out at the flicking stage. if you start spinning/pumping on your cheek and its not creating enough lather simply put some water in your palm of your hand and slightly dip the tips of the brush into it quickly then lather again. it doesn't take much so don't overdue it at this point with the water.

give the face lathering a try. i used a bowl to lather for over a year till one day i was on a trip and couldn't bring the bowl so i did it on my face and EVERY single one of my soaps to this day produce thicker/creamier and better lather on my face then i ever got from using a bowl. face lathering for the win.

~J

bbshriver · 07-26-2008, 05:07 AM

Thanks, a common thread I'm seing from you TGQ lovers is that you "soak" the soap in water for a bit beforehand, which I have not tried. I'm going to give that a try tonight and see what it does for me.

One other question, does it hurt TGQ soaps to be microwaved to shape?

jscott · 07-26-2008, 02:43 PM

i have melted all my TGQ soaps into containers. i prefer to use the "double boiler" method myself. i put a pan of water on the stove with oh 2" of water in it and then i put my soap into a 2cup pyrex glass measuring cup and put that into the pot of water. this way works fantastically and you don't have to worry about burning the soap or over cooking.

you can microwave the soaps ofcourse. but doing it make sure you don't overdue it. i usually do 8 seconds to start, then bursts of 5seconds after that till melted. only will take 8+5+5 usually to be fully done.

pour it into your container, then i put it into the freezer for 30min. then take it out and let it sit room temperature for a day before use.

that being said. i always find that the soap preforms poorly for the first 2'ish times of use after melting it. im not sure why this is but it seems to hold true. so when you do it don't be disheartened if the first or second use after the melting isn't up to par.

~J

ps.. try the face lathering

bbshriver · 07-26-2008, 04:55 PM

Thanks for all the suggestions here... the secret ingredient seems to be the soaking during a shower... I did that last night, and it whipped up a fine lather! Definitely the best I've managed from TGQ soap. Of course, now I'm spoiled by Castle Forbes shaving cream.. just wish I could mix CF shave quality with TGQ scents.

cybrok · 07-26-2008, 05:17 PM

I shaved again with the TGC soaps this morning.

I just build my lather in a latte cup like mantic55 shows in his

video

and have no problem.

But since I'm a noob with a straight, the lather is not quite as good when I want to apply it for the second pass... but I don't think the lather is the problem here...

De Layne · 07-26-2008, 11:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jscott

that being said. i always find that the soap preforms poorly for the first 2'ish times of use after melting it. im not sure why this is but it seems to hold true. so when you do it don't be disheartened if the first or second use after the melting isn't up to par.

~J

ps.. try the face lathering

Hi there,
If I may, let me offer a suggestion regarding the first couple shaves with Colleen's soap after melting em. She's mentioned in the past about her use of certain types of clay to provide more slick for the lather. There's other soap makers who also use similar things (JoAnna at the shave den comes to mind), and the tip is simple. Normally that clay's suspended in the puck when shipped, and melting it causes it to kinda sink to the bottom. Try giving it a good mix after melting to redistribute things, and see if that helps.
Martin

gugi · 07-27-2008, 02:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbshriver

the secret ingredient seems to be the soaking during a shower...

well you want some soap to move from the puck onto the bristles. glycerin soap is very soft so that's not a problem, triple milled soaps are rather hard and colleen's are somewhere in the middle. moistening the surface of the soap softens it so it can easily be picked up by the brush.
in any case i don't have any problems using any soap directly, w/o soaking it, including the hard triple milled english stuff. i may spend extra 20 seconds, but it works just fine.
however the secret ingredient for me has been the brush.

churley · 07-27-2008, 12:27 PM

Good Morning Gentlemen

It's been a bit since I signed in, and saw the mention of TGQ so you know I just came flying over here...lol. I appreciate all the fine comments, and your words of encouragement to bbshriver

Having the right amount of water or lack thereof is very important, and it does take some practice. Of course I only know how to make lather in a bowl, but I've come to the place where I can whip up a bowl full of mounds of velvet lather.

But ya know what......I've also noticed that the lather is buried deep in the brush, and usually towards the end of making my lather I just squeeze the lather out of the brush back into the bowl. But I can see where this would be a problem if you were making the lather on your face.

XXWarm Regards, Colleen

RayG · 07-27-2008, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by churley

But ya know what......I've also noticed that the lather is buried deep in the brush, and usually towards the end of making my lather I just squeeze the lather out of the brush back into the bowl. But I can see where this would be a problem if you were making the lather on your face.

XXWarm Regards, Colleen

Yes, certain brushes tend to do that more, especially those with dense, large knots. One way of minimizing this for face lathering is to grip the brush with the fingertips on the base of the knot, and "palming" the handle.

bbshriver · 07-27-2008, 06:32 PM

Thanks Coleen, I do LOVE the scents you have, any word on when we'll see some of them in aftershave and/or cologne format?

Like I said, I tried soaking the soap in some hot water, and got a pretty good lather, I knew there had to be some trick since so many people here love it, I juts couldn't figure it out, internet forums are wonderous!