Thread: Williams Shaving Soap 40 years Later

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

I noticed that too. Instead of my usual rinsing under the tap between passes, I'm wiping on a folded piece of tissue. Kind of cool because you can really see those pesky whiskers in the lather on the tissue.

Yes, that. Also, it brightens my towels and takes rust and watermarks off of old razors with regular use. Well, I think it does but I only went back to using it the day before yesterday. You have probably noticed these and other favorable effects more than I have.

Indeed, I use the wet hand-towel I use for my hot face towel folded 4 times on the side of the sink.
Gently stropping off the lather and hairs as needed. First WTG is loaded with long hairs, second ATG, some shorties. Nice to see nothing coming up on the 3rd pass.
Running water and rinsing is counterproductive and no fun!

I'm inspired to give it a go again with Williams.

Going to use it daily until I can figure out the secret formula/ratio with water. From what I've read it tends to like a bit more water and a scratchier brush...is this right?

All this talk about the "new" Williams has reformed me. I think I'll pick up a puck and use it to bathe my husky.

Originally Posted by ZeroCool

I'm inspired to give it a go again with Williams.

Going to use it daily until I can figure out the secret formula/ratio with water. From what I've read it tends to like a bit more water and a scratchier brush...is this right?

The more water works for me. Not a lot more but just enough. You've got to experiment with it to see what works for you. Nothing wrong with a scritchier brush but it doesn't have to be scritchy IME. A good backbone is what I find works best scritchy or not.

Originally Posted by ZeroCool

I'm inspired to give it a go again with Williams.

Going to use it daily until I can figure out the secret formula/ratio with water. From what I've read it tends to like a bit more water and a scratchier brush...is this right?

I would recommend to soak the puck in warm water for 5 mins. By all means a boar or 2 band badger is best, as in most hard soaps. Just drop 4 drops glycerine on the puck and dig in, add a little water here and there. Does great!

Jimmy

I love the stuff too...its just so slick! I haven't used any other soap is almost a year! Hahaha.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

All this talk in that one Williams thread got me thinking. I resolved to get a puck and give it a go. I had tried a puck of it when I first started using a shaving brush in the early '70s. I couldn't remember how I liked it then, but since I had quit using it, I assumed I must have disliked it. I read where many say it ain't what it used to be and @ $1.77 a puck I wasn't too hopeful.

I finally remembered to grab a puck when I was at my local pharmacy. Now as long as I've been fooling with this sport I've never been completely satisfied with my overall lathering ability. It seems I can get great lather off of some pucks and not others. I've never met a cream that I couldn't generate good lather with, glycerin soaps are fine too, but triple milled stuff, that everyone raves about, seem to be my nemesis.

I doubt if Williams is triple milled, but anyway ....... I put the water on the puck, did other stuff for the requisite 5 minutes and went at it with my cold water and a Simpson Manchurian Polo 10. When I tell you that the lather I generated was as good as any I've ever had from any soap I've encountered I'm not fibbing. So good that I went out and bought another puck. This is not 'old stock' but the current crop of Williams soap.

For slickness and cushion ..... ease of generating lather the stuff was first rate IME. So I am another convert to the Williams fan club and will be continuing to use that in my current soap rotation. Thanks to all of the guys who've posted positive feedback on it that stimulated me to rediscover it.

Alright I'm starting to think you guys are pulling my leg lol

Soaked the puck in a mug for 5 minutes, cold water, not sure if this is a factor. Grabbed a Turkish horse hair brush since its got a bit more backbone but still a little soft to the feel. Drained the water and gave the brush a few shakes, worked up what looked like a decent lather in the mug.

When I went to face lather, it was thin and never really got thick and fluffy. Then it starting drying before I could bring the razor to my face. I added a few drops of water and repeated lathering. This went on for 15 minutes.

Now I should mention I have never had trouble getting any soap to whip up well (with the exception of TOBS traditional).

It's looking like it'll be a long week of trying lol

PS....Sharpton, I tried the glycerine about half way through, helped a bit but still not great.

Originally Posted by ZeroCool

Alright I'm starting to think you guys are pulling my leg lol

Soaked the puck in a mug for 5 minutes, cold water, not sure if this is a factor. Grabbed a Turkish horse hair brush since its got a bit more backbone but still a little soft to the feel. Drained the water and gave the brush a few shakes, worked up what looked like a decent lather in the mug.

When I went to face lather, it was thin and never really got thick and fluffy. Then it starting drying before I could bring the razor to my face. I added a few drops of water and repeated lathering. This went on for 15 minutes.

Now I should mention I have never had trouble getting any soap to whip up well (with the exception of TOBS traditional).

It's looking like it'll be a long week of trying lol

PS....Sharpton, I tried the glycerine about half way through, helped a bit but still not great.

Last shave I just used the Williams. Was in a bit of a rush, so it was a quick cold shave. Splash cold water on face, wet the badget brush in cold water, whip the Williams up with the wet brush in a figure 8, applied to face. Worked it in with the fingers, little bit of water on the brush, on the puck again and everything was great. 2 passes and was pretty much a BBS shave.

I was done in like ten minutes....usually I use the Prorasso soap. I don't soak the puck at all, could that make a difference? Just about an ounce of water in the cup?

How I lather my Williams:

• Put water on top of puck
• Soak brush for a few minutes
• Drain most of the water from the puck
• Whip lather
• Face lather with that - let it sit for about a minute, massage it in to beard
• RE-WHIP LATHER IN BOWL (this is the critical part - let your Williams stand for a few minutes after the initial lather, then re-whip it)
• Apply lather to face, as normal
• Enjoy a good shave