Thread: Liquid Soap for Barber's Shave Dispenser

Perhaps this is a question for barbers......is there a high quality liquid soap that can be used in a soap dispenser. While I love the lathering process, it sure would be nice to have a wonderful shave soap in a dispenser available for those days when I simply don't have time to enjoy the process.

I would think that, unless you're using a lather machine, you'd still have to whip the soap with a brush to build it into lather.

My suggestion would be using a shave cream like Proraso/C.O. Bigelow or The Body Shop's Maca Root Shave Cream. You'd still have to work it into a lather, but you could use your fingers instead of a brush to do so.

Not a barber here, but just making an educated guess...

I have, in the past, had a Lather King pro barber hot lather machine. The lather was alright but nowhere near as nice as what I generate with my puck, brush and bowl. Yes it was hot if you plugged it in for a time before you used it. This was thirty years ago so I don't remember how long. The machine needed to be cleaned every so often of soap scum buildup. At that time it was used with a powdered soap in the hopper that liquefied. Not sure what the deal is now.

I have one of the older lather kings and it uses Campbell's Liquid Shave Soap. You can get it at most any barber supply.

I get mine HERE

I don't think it takes me 45 seconds to whip up a lather. To use a liquid and get inferior lather and not save that much time? it makes no sense to me. if you are in a rush use a DE.

I was just curious if there was a quality soap maker who devoted any efforts to a liquid soap for one of these machines. I've seen/used the typical formulas and they are all pretty lame.

The answer is no. These machines are made for a shop where it is used all day. For home use they are bulky and foul up and need cleaning and they produce garbage lather. The soap is specifically made for these machines and sold by the manufacturer.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

The answer is no. These machines are made for a shop where it is used all day. For home use they are bulky and foul up and need cleaning and they produce garbage lather. The soap is specifically made for these machines and sold by the manufacturer.

I would agree that the lather is not as good as you can produce with a good puck and a brush, but I don't agree with the other. I used one for years and it never fouled up and as for as being bulky, I guess that just depends on what your setup is. I had plenty of room. I did follow directions and cleaned it every 2-3 months but that is easy to do with the cleaning solution they make for them.

For those that have never used one of these, you premix the soap with water before you pour it into the machine.

Been near 30 years since I had one. It was the big chrome one pro barbers had. They plug it in at the start of the day and it stays hot until closing time, when they unplug. I don't remember how long before a shave I had to plug it in for hot lather but I remember that I decided it wasn't my cup of tea for home use. I don't remember what I did with it. Probably gave it to a barber friend of mine back then. Anyway ...... different strokes for different folks.

I agree with you Jimmy, different strokes for different folks. I have not used mine in over 10-years as I prefer my brush and soap. Mine is also one of those old chrome machines. It was given to me by my uncle when he retired from barbering. I figure he must have bought it sometime in the late 50's, early 60's.