Thread: Soap or Cream???

I've used more creams then soaps, but I think I am partial to them. By far though, my favorite is a mix of the two. Put a little cream in the mug. Then load up the brush with some soap and go to town. I get a wonderfully rich lather.

You didn't mention anything about the method you're using to make your lather. Are you lathering on your face or in a mug? I tried to make lather on my face, and, IMHO, it sucks I just use one of those big coffee mugs to make my lather, but we recently bought a crock pot that came with a little mini one that I may put into shaving duty.

I use soaps exclusively now.

If you are having a hard time getting quality lather, you can't beat Kell's Originals. It might not be the best soap on the market but it lathers like nothing else I have used and smells incredible.

Actually, if your new, it's gonna take you a while to get the hang of making a good lather. SRD has amazingly good soaps. MWF and Tabac are good too. For Shave Cream, I like Castle Forbes and Truefitt and Hill. TOBS is good too. Mama Bears shave soap performs well. Contrary to other members, I do not like or endorse TGQ, or Colleen's soap. After 3 purchases, I could not get a good lather IMO. I have 60 other creams and soaps that do fine.

You should listen to zib, with 60+ soaps and creams he must be SRP's official lather guy!

Seriously though, you got a lot of great advice so far. All I can add is that you shouldn't be scared off from soaps because their harder to lather than creams. With practice, once you get the technique down, you'll find there are soaps that can't be beat. You may even switch to soaps exclusively....

Originally Posted by Ryan82

You should listen to zib, with 60+ soaps and creams he must be SRP's official lather guy!

Seriously though, you got a lot of great advice so far. All I can add is that you shouldn't be scared off from soaps because their harder to lather than creams. With practice, once you get the technique down, you'll find there are soaps that can't be beat. You may even switch to soaps exclusively....

+1 on the soaps. What Ryan say's is correct. With a soap, you get better feedback from your razor, and once mastered, you can really whip up some nice lather...Shave creams tend to be heavier. Both have their benefits.

i vote for soaps also. yes it did take some practice until i got the lather to work well.. along with the other suggestions, i might offer that you make some of your own soaps. i make mine(not for sale). i enjoy making numerous scents and types of soaps...good luck

Originally Posted by Hayduke

I've used more creams then soaps, but I think I am partial to them. By far though, my favorite is a mix of the two. Put a little cream in the mug. Then load up the brush with some soap and go to town. I get a wonderfully rich lather.

You didn't mention anything about the method you're using to make your lather. Are you lathering on your face or in a mug? I tried to make lather on my face, and, IMHO, it sucks I just use one of those big coffee mugs to make my lather, but we recently bought a crock pot that came with a little mini one that I may put into shaving duty.

I do use a mug and use a badger brush. I think my problem was that the 2 that I tried were home made by the guys wife that I bought my first 2 razors from. I would work the soap cake in a mug and the cream I would work up in a scuttle. Neither freebies would work up enough lather to load the brush no matter how long I would work them or how much water was used. Of course the more water the more bubbles and less lather.
Thanks for your suggestions!

Originally Posted by rllucas9

I do use a mug and use a badger brush. I think my problem was that the 2 that I tried were home made by the guys wife that I bought my first 2 razors from. I would work the soap cake in a mug and the cream I would work up in a scuttle. Neither freebies would work up enough lather to load the brush no matter how long I would work them or how much water was used. Of course the more water the more bubbles and less lather.
Thanks for your suggestions!

fyi, creams will hold more water then soaps, so take that into account when building the lather. When I use just a cream, I don't have to shake the brush out as much. When I use soap only, I make sure to shake the brush out quite a bit. It's easier to add water than to remove it

I haven't tried 60+ soaps or creams, but I'm up to ~25 or so. So far, my favorites have been Truefit & Hill creams. My absolute favorite is the T&F 1805. All the T&H creams seem to make the same lather, but I love the smell of 1805.

Originally Posted by Hayduke

I've used more creams then soaps, but I think I am partial to them. By far though, my favorite is a mix of the two. Put a little cream in the mug. Then load up the brush with some soap and go to town. I get a wonderfully rich lather.

You didn't mention anything about the method you're using to make your lather. Are you lathering on your face or in a mug? I tried to make lather on my face, and, IMHO, it sucks I just use one of those big coffee mugs to make my lather, but we recently bought a crock pot that came with a little mini one that I may put into shaving duty.

I tried your suggestion this morning and it worked!!!! I use a mug for the soap and a skuttle for the cream and mixing the 2 and they finally lathered up nicely. Thanls for the suggestion!