Thread: Williams Shaving Soap 40 years Later

I haven't used Williams in some time. These days, if I'm in a hurry, I usually grab the DE, and a glass dish that holds a travel sized puck of C&S 88 and face lather. I guess I'm spoiled too. I remember having no complaints when I used Williams. Of course, I didn't really know what was out there either. My puck of Williams sits in an over sized coffee cup on my bathroom counter, a staple. It's nice to know you can still walk into a Walgreens, or Wal Mart and pick up a puck.

Been using it daily since I got the puck. I've discovered Williams likes a bit more water than other pucks I've used. If I find it drying as I'm making my passes I just wet the tips of the brush a bit and do a couple of swirls.

I'm thinking that some who are not yet proficient with a straight would find the lather drying more quickly than they can shave. So adding a bit of water as you go, when necessary, would probably be helpful. IMHO.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Been using it daily since I got the puck. I've discovered Williams likes a bit more water than other pucks I've used. If I find it drying as I'm making my passes I just wet the tips of the brush a bit and do a couple of swirls.

I'm thinking that some who are not yet proficient with a straight would find the lather drying more quickly than they can shave. So adding a bit of water as you go, when necessary, would probably be helpful. IMHO.

Total waste of water IMO

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

Total waste of water IMO

Hey ....... if I'm using a pixelfixed custom brush with a lignum/ivory handle I don't even need water ..... its that good........

Back in the bad old days when I was a Bic disposable shaving moron I tried a badger brush and Williams soap. I always assumed the soap was terrible because it was cheap and lathered poorly. I now have pause to wonder if it was I, and not the puck, that lathered poorly. Still cheap. I'll try some again just for S&Gs.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Been using it daily since I got the puck. I've discovered Williams likes a bit more water than other pucks I've used. If I find it drying as I'm making my passes I just wet the tips of the brush a bit and do a couple of swirls.

I'm thinking that some who are not yet proficient with a straight would find the lather drying more quickly than they can shave. So adding a bit of water as you go, when necessary, would probably be helpful. IMHO.

I haven't tried harder to like a soap than I tried to like Williams. I grated a puck up with a cheese grater and the first lather attempt was top quality stuff that didn't dry. Then in a couple of subsequent attempts it was back to the disappearing lather act.

A couple of days ago I soaked the puck in water for about 5 minutes and the lather evaporated again.

I don't want to bash Williams too much, but I have nostalgic ads framed in my shaving area at home and the disappointment is real when I think of how much people used to enjoy it. It would sure be nice if they reverted back to what it was before Combe took over the recipe. I think I have finally thrown in the towel.

The truth is, there are better soaps out there at a good price. I began retro shaving in response to poor shaving experiences and don't want to struggle with lather any more!

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Hey ....... if I'm using a pixelfixed custom brush with a lignum/ivory handle I don't even need water ..... its that good........

Thx Jim,but pls be very carefull,williams will dissolve ivory

If I find more pucks of Williams that I bought, before I knew better, I'll send them to you Jimmy.

Originally Posted by MisterMoo

Back in the bad old days when I was a Bic disposable shaving moron I tried a badger brush and Williams soap. I always assumed the soap was terrible because it was cheap and lathered poorly. I now have pause to wonder if it was I, and not the puck, that lathered poorly. Still cheap. I'll try some again just for S&Gs.

You know, when you were a kid and you grabbed for something off the hot stove and someone said, "don't do that or you'll get a burned". Well if you did it now the same thing will still happen. You're earlier assessment was dead on.

You'll have to excuse Jimmy. He hasn't been himself lately. Someone told me they saw him going into a drug store and buying a whole display of Gillette cartridge razors and then the incident when he was caught drinking a bottle of Lilac Vegital.

We just need to humor him in these difficult times.

I am a Williams fan, and I have some great soaps and creams, and for me, Williams is just as good. I get a great lather from Williams, and I don't add anything but water and the use of my brush, and I don't put any water on the puck. I face lather, and keep adding water to the brush as I build an awesome lather on my face that does not dry and gives me a good shave with a straight. Williams is good stuff.

Now, we are blessed in that our water comes straight from the snow melt of the Sierras, and as far as I can tell, it is not hard, but good and pure. Pixelfixed, you should have the same water, unless they do something different in Roseville.