Soap or Cream

May I hear your guys thoughts on what kind of shaves you are getting with soap or creams. I'm still trying to figure out which will be better for my skin. I've read the wikis and am going to experiment with both. I've noticed you can spend a lot of money on both or go cheap on both. Are the more expensive ones worth it? And what about pre-shave oils? Thanks again for all the knowledge!

Yes, The more expensive ones are usually, usually made with top quality ingredients.
Castle Forbes, Art of shaving, Truefitt and Hill, TOBS to name a few creams. Creams generally provide more proctection, They're thicker and creamier, while soaps will give you more feedback when you shave. For Soaps, I like Mitchell's wool fat, Tabac, Mama Bears, and Vintage Blades LLc triple milled brand. All are top quality, and offer moiture, and good lather. Tabac uses tallow. Mitchells', has Lanolin, while Mama bear's is a Glycerin soap. Many folks here like TGQ, you'll probably get many responses that tell you Colleen's soaps are the best. For pre shaves, I like Proraso, (good shave cream btw) and Castle Forbes. Both are excellent and will give you a better shave. What it comes down to is personal preference. I have some old Williams under the sink, and there it remains. There are too many nice creams and soaps out there to try. If you do a search of Soap Vs Creams, You'll see many opinions. that was a thread that I ran a while ago....Kind Regards,
Rich

+1 on Zib, he hit the nail on the head. Very good answer. I Use Mitchells Wool Fat with just a touch of Truefitt & Hill Cream. Both are scentless and together make a wonderful lather. Some prefer to use creams and soaps with scent to them but I prefer to use aftershaves instead.

Ray

Nothing much to add to zib's post, other than that you may want to check our reviews section (and the corresponding archives), where many soaps and creams have been tested.

i have not tried any of the creams yet, but i have several soaps and enjoy the variety with them. i have van der hagen, williams, several goats milk pucks with great scents. have fun trying all the different scents and most of all enjoy the experience

Do you have particularly sensitive skin, that you are worried about it? My wife is allergic to many liquid soaps, so I haven't even looked into most creams. (I'm not allowed to use anything she can't touch.)

I've gotten hooked on some homemade soaps my sister-in-law makes, but I must use a dollop of vegetable glycerin to help with the lather. I dig the scents, though.

Try lots and find out what you like. Don't be afraid to try shaving with something that isn't recommended or listed here.
J.

To answer your question: yes, high end soap and creams are worthwhile as they typically will give you a better shave and are much better for your skin, here is why:

The performance of a soap or cream include several aspects: 1) it contributes to beard and skin preparation by softening whiskers and lubricating the skin; 2) it provides a well hydrated lather that does not dry out; 3) it allows sufficient cushion and glide during the shave; and 4) it conditions your skin after the shave. In addition, there is the scent of the product.

Obviously, how much of these qualities you get in a product depends not only on the ingredients (which have already been mentioned) but also on the formulation, and the price of the product, as well as its general performance, often reflect these differences. High end soaps and creams also cost more up front because they have better skin conditioners and often contain essential oils, which are more expensive but also could contribute to the performance of the product. However, high end products tend to be more economical in the long run because you use less each time. In the end, as with many other things in life 'you get what you pay for".

Now that I have your attention, this is the best advice I can give you regarding soaps and creams: product quality is no substitute for good lathering and shaving technique. Work on your technique and use good products and you would get amazing shaves. You may want to take a look at my post on this thread:

http://straightrazorpalace.com/newbi...tml#post423559

I forgot about the pre shave oils: I have used them and they work for me. A lot of people do not like them because they find they interfere with the lathering ability of the soap, and some could also make your face so slippery tht may be difficult to stretch. If you decide to use them, try to use those that are absorbed by the skin and eliminate the excess before you shave. There are some pre shaves that are affordable and some that do not contain oils at all.

Al raz.