Bechet45 said:
I'd look at all three aspects, Chopper - lather too thin and/or too dry and what I call sticky water - which is lather killing water - hardness perhaps, pre-shave oil residue. A few drops of bath bubble or wash your face with soap and rinse - soften the water. Lather and soap bubbles should stay on the surface, not disappear into scum around the edges.
Therein lies the beauty of using a good, softening glycerine soap to was your face before using hot flannels/pre-shave products - it softens the water in the basin and makes it slightly soapy, so, when you add it to the lather, it helps lubricate it.