It's all about the water - too much and you get bubble water, too little and you get dry film and insufficient lather. Generally speaking, it is not a thick interfering foam like what is found in store brand shaving canisters, but rather a layer that allows the razor to slide along the face without too much foam to get in the way of a close shave. You can control the amount of lather created by how much water remains in the brush, how much soap or cream is applied to the bristles and the scrubbing motion used on the shaving area. Experiment and you will find what works best for you.