Thread: Soaps -- Straights vs DE

New guy here.

I've noticed on a DE forum that the straight shavers may have a bit different requirements for soaps and creams.

What qualities of my soaps for DE shaving do I reach for when straight shaving?

I use any soap or cream that gives a nice decently thick lather that is slick and holds a good amount of water. Residual slickness, slick feeling even after you shaved the lather off, is always welcome too. I make the same type of lather for straight razors or DEs/SEs regardless.

Bob

Aloha!

I shave with Straights, Shavettes and DE razors. I don't have razor specific soaps, and I've been at this for decades. Saying this, I realize that everyone is different, and some guys may think they need different soaps for different razors, and that's fine. Do what you like. Me? I probably have 20 or 30 soaps and 10 creams in my shave den, and I find that I use two soaps and two creams 80 percent of the time - regardless of what razor I'm using.

You have to experiment. You may prefer a Tallow based soap over Glycerin or VS VS. You may prefer a cream like Proraso over a soap like Stirling - or VS VS. As Bob said, any soap or cream that gives you a nice lather and is slick works for most gentlemen.

There are ranges in soaps and creams. I feel a big difference between a soap from Colonel Conk and a soap from Stirling or other artisan soaps. I feel a big difference between a cream from Cremo and a cream from Proraso. I like them both, but they are very different on my skin and perform differently when shaving.

Soaps and creams are fairly inexpensive, so you can get a few and enjoy experimenting. Have fun!

-Zip

Mr. ZipZop... You should run for office...

Originally Posted by FWiedner

Mr. ZipZop... You should run for office...

No sir. I run FROM office.

As I moved towards more aggressive safety razors, my soap selection has gravitated to the slicker soaps, esp. those with residual slickness. I imagine those will be what I use as I venture into straight shaving. Favorites include L&L Grooming, Haslinger, Mystic Water, Stirling and a few creams including Castle Forbes and Simpsons.

What Bob said.

Originally Posted by MrHouston

As I moved towards more aggressive safety razors, my soap selection has gravitated to the slicker soaps, esp. those with residual slickness. I imagine those will be what I use as I venture into straight shaving. Favorites include L&L Grooming, Haslinger, Mystic Water, Stirling and a few creams including Castle Forbes and Simpsons.

I have only used Haslinger and Castle Forbes from that selection and can say they meet my criteria for a good soap/cream for use with a straight razor. I'd say you are well set for using a straight razor.

When you do try shaving with a straight razor you are likely to find that the proper angle on the blade will be a bit different from most all DEs. It is more like the angle used with an old GEM SE razor if you have used one of those. Pressure, little to none, is also critical. Get those two things and the lather right then you will be off to a good start.

Bob

After experimenting with a wide range of soaps and creams over a few years I came to the conclusion, It really doesn't matter very much. Just choose something you like. Edge maintenance and shaving technique matters most and the soap is just about enjoying the ride. Any decent soap will do but skimp on the other and it may not be pleasant.

Originally Posted by ZipZop

I feel a big difference between a soap from Colonel Conk and a soap from Stirling or other artisan soaps.

Sadly, I don't. I've never understood the appeal of Stirling soaps. Maybe the newer stuff got better but the several that I've tried from years ago were not very good, to put it charitably.

Regarding the OP's question, I suspect that a quality soap will be equally interchangeable for both straights and DEs. I cannot say that definitively, as I only very rarely make use of a DE razor and certainly have not attempted to make such a comparison. However, it is an interesting question.