Thread: First time using mug soap.

Welp, just did my first "wet shave" in about 15 years.

Picked up a boars hair brush, and some william's mug soap from the pharmacy.

First time I have ever tried a mug soap and brush myself. Took a bit to figure out how to get the lather, and then how to apply it. Once that was figured out, I just used my normal disposable razor. Don't have a safety razor, or a straight razor yet. One hint on the lather I found, was after I "broke" into the soap, I swished the brush tips through the sink water, and then went back to building a lather in the mug.

It seems to be much closer then normal, and my skin doesn't feel like it's burning off. Still a slight abrasion (burn) issue, one of the reasons I want to get to a straight razor. The smell, of william's soap, is .. odd. Will take some getting used too.

From what I read here, the brush will soften up and develop better lather over use and time. The true judge though is my lady, as she is who normally tells me if I missed a spot or not, and if it's smooth. She pointed out a couple missed spots, but nothing else. *shrug*

I will keep playing with it while I save up to get a straight razor, so that portion is second nature and I can focus on the razor itself.

Williams is tricky to lather some say, I haven't had a problem with it, used it for a few years with carts before I switched to str8s. You know you'll have a cabinet full of soaps in a few months, right? You won't be able to resist trying other ones.

I can attest to the boar brush getting softer as it breaks in. I have one and I love it. The tips of the hairs split and this is why it gets softer. It did smell a bit like a wet dog for the first week but I hear if you shampoo it you can remove much of that scent. It'll go away on it's own from use anyway.

I live in an RV with my lady and two dogs. I didn't even notice a wet dog smell, but I think I am immune to that smell. *laugh

As far as the soaps, I am glad they are small. Space is a major issue when one lives in the quarters we all do.

I actually don't like the scent of williams, but this is just the tip of the iceberg my friend, there are so many nice smelling soaps

Originally Posted by mcgyver74

I actually don't like the scent of williams,

Heretic!!!!

The Williams is a big upgrade over the canned foam or gel. A safety razor will do an even better job with more comfort than a disposable.

Originally Posted by CaliforniaCajun

The Williams is a big upgrade over the canned foam or gel. A safety razor will do an even better job with more comfort than a disposable.

That's the thing. I didn't use canned foam or gel. I used water. That's it.

Originally Posted by Zolon

That's the thing. I didn't use canned foam or gel. I used water. That's it.

Wow, your skin must be made of steel.....

Ps, I challenge anyone to take a whiff of TOBS Sandlewood, MWF or Tabac and tell me that Williams smells better (man I just love rabble rousing LOL)

Originally Posted by mcgyver74

Wow, your skin must be made of steel.....

Ps, I challenge anyone to take a whiff of TOBS Sandlewood, MWF or Tabac and tell me that Williams smells better (man I just love rabble rousing LOL)

I am learning as I age, my skin is not made of steel. In fact, I suspect some of the "blemish" issue I have is how I have been taking care of my face. So now, I am going to go the other direction. Hence, preparing to switch to a straight razor.

As far as the smell, I'm not used to smelly things near my face. Williams does not smell good to me, but for the price and the learning to build a lather, it works.

Course, now you have listed a few I will have to try down the road of this adventure.

If you're looking for comfort, you cannot go wrong with a safety razor. I haven't been at straight shaving long, and I've yet to achieve a shave similar to what I can get with my old Gillette adjustable. However, I think the straight shave will eventually be better than the DE once I become accustomed. To paraphrase something Glen said a few days ago, if you've never tried either how do you know that one is any harder than the other? You've got the advantage of no perspective other than the relative hell you've had with disposables. I remember using Mach III's and how bad it was. Anything is better than that.