Thread: Van Der Hagen Kit

That brush is still what I use. It's cheap, but I don't think I want anything softer...I actually wish it was stiffer.

The soap isn't anything to right home about, and it isn't anything to snub your nose at either. I prefer it to the Col Conk stuff I tried but has finally, after a few years mind you, taken a back seat to Pre de Provence. It's good stuff, at an awesome value.

VDH Deluxe (with the Shea Butter) is my everyday soap. I've used Mitchells Wool Fat too, but (gasp, heresy!) I like the VDH Deluxe better. A richer, more cushiony lather, it lasts longer, I do a 2 pass shave and after making up the lather in my mug, I don't add any more water, the lather doesn't dry out on my fact. In fact, during my WTG pass, I often use my finger to move lather from my mustache/goatee onto my face for a light XTG in spots.

People like to dis the cheaper soaps, but VDH Deluxe is great stuff. Plus you can melt it in the microwave and pour it into your mug or bowl and let it dry. Sure, you can add glycerin if you want, but I find it doesn't really need anything.

I dunno about their brushes, haven't used them.

Hello, JDCAL29:

The Van der Hagen kit is a great buy when starting out.

I bought one a long time ago. I bought another kit several years later to get another friend started. Of my set, I still have the green mug, and the brush I keep in the kit that holds my hones, Maas, and the other straight razor tools.

By the way, if you crack open the door a little more, you'll step into a world of wet shaving products that will dazzle you.

Regards,

Obie

I agree wholheartedly with my good friend Obie. You can't go wrong with the VDH kit as an entry level soap/brush addition to your first shaving kit.

We all have to start somewhere. There's no need to break the bank to enjoy the pleasures of wet shaving.

i forgot to mention.. cvs has rebranded the kit and sells it for $6..

I've been using the VdH kit for almost a year. The brush bristles have nicely split ends which make it soft and comfortable, yet it still has enough backbone to lather soaps well.
I alternate between VdH, Arko, Godrej soaps and Godrej, Old Spice, Palmolive (all Indian made, I love the Indian made creams and soaps), and Campbell's cream.
I like the VdH soap very much. I bought six pucks at Wal Mart last summer because it was about a buck fifty each. It works well for me. Arko shave stick is my favorite soap, I think, but I like the VdH a lot too.
If you haven't tried any, the Godrej Shave rounds are good shave soap, too.
It seems it takes more water/less soap than others. The scent may not be for everyone, but that's a YMMV thing.
Wal-Mart has glycerin in the first aid aisle. My bottle cost about three dollars.
I add a few drops to all my after shaves and sometimes to my soaps when lathering.

If my VdH brush sheds too many bristles, I'll re-knot it with a TGN boar bristle or black badger knot I have on hand.
You could do a lot worse than to use the VdH kit. It's cheap and it works.
You could also do a lot worse than to buy an Omega boar brush. I love mine. Their prices are great and they work well.
I have a cheap Tweezerman badger brush and I like my boar brushes better.
I have my best luck with lathering soaps if I rub the puck all over my face, like a shave stick, after soaking my face. Then I just face lather with the brush. I get a thick, creamy lather with very little waste.

I didnt get the kit, but I did get the brush and bought a 12 pack of vdh glycerin soap. I dont know about the regular or delux vdh soap but the glycerin smells good works great, and it was only a buck a puck. brush works great too. rather than soaking it in a bowl though I run nice hot tap water over it and leave it hanging without shakeing the water out on my homemade brush stand while I take a nice long shower (I have a kind of molded sink/countertop rather than one of the newer styles) then I rewet it with nice hot water again before useing it. that routine seems to get the brush just right for me. as far as a bowl goes I just use an old coffee mug (one thats been cleaned out and dedicated to shaving) to hold my soap and I build lather on my face. although lately I have been experimenting with actual shaveing mugs.

Might have already been posted, but VDH is launching a new "luxury" line on the 24th of this month, only available through Amazon.com

Here is the link.

I guess they have completely remade the brush (probably a best badger grade) and have newer soap. Check it out!

just looked at that link and i may have to invest in that set. looks very nice indeed.

I started with the VDH kit like many did. Out of the few soaps I have tried the VDH soap is my favorite scent still, it just smells clean.