Thread: Ivory bar soap

If you did a forum search for this with my name you'd find that I have mentioned that I did that for years. Ivory, Safeguard and finally Dove soap for 25 or 30 years, along with a brush I bought at Hoffritz for cutlery in '72 or'73. That along with a Gillette "Good News" twin blade disposable was my default shaving method. One ATG pass and called it good.

In '06 I got 'bit by the bug' and started using quality soaps, brushes and razors. Once, just for kicks, after I'd been on the new path for awhile, I grabbed up the old Hoffritz brush and the bar of Dove. All I can say is I hope I never have to do that again.

Lived in a small coastal town (fishing village) in Korea 20-odd years ago. Never found shave soap, cream or canned goop. I recalled my father using hand soap on a hunting trip, when he forgot his shave cream. So, I used hand soap for a year. It "worked" - wouldn't want to do it again. (Locals shaved electrically, or used a disposable and hand soap when at the public bath house).

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

Some bar soaps actually do work like glecerin based pears.
Have always wanted to try Lava on the pretense that I could hone whilst shaving.

Okay, I am off the floor from laughing so hard and wondering what grit Lava really is.

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

Some bar soaps actually do work like glecerin based pears.
Have always wanted to try Lava on the pretense that I could hone whilst shaving.

And get a "finish" sanding on your face too!

Originally Posted by 10Pups

Okay, I am off the floor from laughing so hard and wondering what grit Lava really is.

I think its about 330. Not good for blade maintenance, but you could probably set your bevel.

Originally Posted by gssixgun

In the Bargain Bin I doubt anything beats Williams at .98 per puck in fact Williams and learning to lather with Williams should almost be a "Right of Passage" for any new Wet Shaver

Ivory doesn't have the Glide that actual shave soaps have JMHO

Glen, as you may remember I started a 'war' here at SRP a few years ago when I was a newbie and had simply posted how I had been finding that buying the Williams Shaving Soap that I'd been using for 30 years was getting harder to find! I'd simply posted how I'd found a local grocery store that made a deal with me to buy the Williams for about $0.70 and I'd bought A LOT!

I had no idea that there was such a 'Love/Hate' feeling!

I have other soaps, but to keep all 'tests' consistent, I still use the one that I've now used for about 35 years!

Williams & VDH work great for me after running them through a cheese grater.I've tried hand soap and I'm not that desperate!

Two years ago I didn't see the need to buy a strop either,hell I had a smooth leather belt!The key word being had!lol

There's just too many inexpensive soaps designed for shaving available to bother trying this however if you like it and it works for you then have at it.

I will use the hotel hand/body soap periodically with my Mach 3 when I travel for an overnight and know that I wont have time for a SR shave. It works, but my face is happy to go back to a proper shave soap/foam and my SR.

Originally Posted by rodb

There's a recipe online for combining Ivory, Dove and a few other ingredients to make a shaving soap. It does work pretty well

I used that recipe back in September. It was an Ivory bar, Dove bar, some castor oil, and a bit of olive oil, all melted together. I used the soap the next day and it lathered well like a thick cream. After 2 weeks it began to harden like a soap, but the lather it gave started getting thin. After a month the lather was much thinner, and it reminded me of the lather I get from Williams. I stopped using it after that, and tossed it in the shower.