Still learning and trying stuff

Keep in mind that I'm still new to SR shaving. I've been doing okay, using both hands, occasional nicks, nothing major.

I've been using AoS creme, tonight I tried van der Hagen soap (cheap stuff). I haven't touched a shaving soap since I was a kid. I think I might like the soap better, though I'll reserve my opinion to more than one shaving. It cleaned off the razor easier and I think I might have a slightly closer shave.

Experts, can you chime in? Soap vs. creme. Does one perform better than the other? I know some brands are preferred over others.

Oh, and here's a gasser - besides the Hagen soap, I have a new in the box bar of Colgate soap. Do they still make that stuff?

I have used Van De Hagen for years. Try the one with glycerine. Great soap at a small price.

A great soap or shaving cream both do the same thing -- give a great shave. The only difference really is preference to one or the other form. Personally, I lean toward laziness and slightly prefer creams to soaps as they are easier to lather. So, I was a little bit disappointed that XPEC is now a croap (soap-like cream) instead of the shaving cream it used to be before they removed all of the paraben-based preservatives.

There are soaps/creams that will out perform others, but as far as soap vs cream it's like Speedster said "Personal" thing.

For a good reference on quality soaps and creams and a good read check out the "First Tier Soaps and Creams" in the Soap and Cream section.

Finding what works for you and is your Personal FAV is part of the fun, but it can suck to spend $35 or up for something you don't like. The "First tier..." thread gives you a good starting point. You can also grab the sample that a lot of online suppliers offer.

Most important HAVE FUN!

Yupper, soaps or creams as well as croaps will all lather well enough to give you a decent shave. Some are better than others and which you chose to use is a personal thing. The thing with all of them is that you have to get the water to soap ratio right and that is a little different between each individual product. I'd say stick to one product and learn to lather it well before going on to the next one. Stay with the next one till you can lather it well and so on.

If you have trouble cleaning the lather off the razor it could be that you don't have enough water in the lather.

No, I don't think they make Colgate shave soap anymore. It may be one of those long discontinued shave soap that are very good. You just have to try it out to see.

Bob

IMO it personal preference, another inexpensive cream to give a try is CO Bigelow. You can find it at bath and body works $5 small tube $10 large tube. Really good cream for not alot, menthol scent :) I feel creams lather easier than soap but either way lather is the end result.

The difference between a shaving cream, soap, or croap is primarily the amount of water contained in the formula. Since you can add water with your brush, either can work effectively as long as the other ingredients are suitable.

There are some non-lathering, or low-lathering creams that come in tubes that you may or may not like, depending upon your preferences. But even some of these can be lathered with the addition of water and vigorous action with a brush.

If the ingredient list contains multiple ingredients that you have no hope of pronouncing, it you may want to avoid those products. For example, pick up a can of shaving foam or gel and read the ingredient list. Many of the supermarket/drugstore shave creams have a list of ingredients similar to the canned goo and should be avoided as well.

What you want to look for are products containing tallow, stearic acid, myristic acid, oleic acid, palmitic acid, linoleic acid, glycerin, coconut oil, palm kernel oil, olive oil, sunflower oil, grapeseed oil, cocoa butter, shea butter, vitamin E, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide and the like. Most will list either fragrance or parfum, but some even list the specific essential oils or fragrance oils used. The specific listing can be useful if you have a sensitivity to any of the ingredients.

Most products produced for international markets will also contain some type of preservative. Many artisan soaps do not contain preservatives and can go rancid if not used within a reasonable period of time. The rate at which fats will go rancid depends on the types of fatty acids used (saturated, monounsaturated, or polyunsaturated) with polyunsaturated fats like the linoleic acid found in grapeseed oil oxidizing more quickly. If you have a large collection of soaps that may take a few years to consume, you might want to avoid products with polyunsaturated fats.

Hard soaps containing primarily saturated acids like tallow, stearic acid, and myristic acid can last for many years. I recently found a bar of soap stored away for over 20 years old; it is still usable, but may have lost some of its fragrance.

I started with Proraso cream. IMO creams are more user friendly for a novice. Once I got started with soaps, I never looked back.

I'm still rather new to straight shaving though I am getting quite comfortable. I use both creams and soaps and find that either produce a great lather. The hard pucks needing a little more work to produce the same thickness and quality of lather.