Hard water - soap lather trouble

Prenderb

I've tried about 3 different soaps and as the title suggests, have been thoroughly disappointed with the lather I can make from them. We have hard water here, but I've not had trouble with creams (E.J., Bodyshop, Palmolive etc).

I know they're totally different, but is there anything I can do to try a soap or 2? I've left the soap soak in hot water for a while before hand, too.

This latest one is one I was bought as a present and I'd like to get more out of it than one or two test shaves that don't work.

Is bottled water an option? I was reading that elsewhere, just wondered if any of you wise shavers had any experience.

Cheers.

lizzyman

What soaps did you try, and are you bowl or face lathering?

Prenderb

Bowl lathering (And face lathering too, which similarly doesn't work).

Most recently, a Dalkey Handmade Soaps. Before that, the Monsavon bol a raser.

nc6000

I get around thus by using distilled water from Halfords. I just microwave a small amount to use for soaking the brush and I get a decent enough lather.

Orion

I switched to cream and now get a great lather.

Prenderb

Cream works fine, I probably use a little more (body shop maca root ftw), but just fear that the world of soaps is beyond me!

lizzyman

I get on better with creams too. I'm not sure but I reckon my water is hard, the limescale certainly kills kettles pretty fast. I find creams clog the razor a bit less also.

uncle_sam_ie

Stirling soap is meant to be formulated with hard water in mind, http://www.stirlingsoap.com/ But, is your water very hard? We had very hard water where I live and ending having to get a water softener installed. You could try spiking your soap with a bit of glycerin or just get some cheap bottled water.