Thread: Instructions received stating soap is better than cream... opinions?

Hi All,

I received a "sight unseen" razor from Larry today (great service from Larry, included crox paste and some other things I wasn't expecting for free), but with the items, he included some small leaflets, explaining the products (ie with the razor, and explanation that it is shave ready and to try first before stropping, explanation of the small packet of oil included, packet of some cleaner for cleaning the badger brush before use etc).

Anyway, one of the leaflets was about the brush & instructions, and I read something interesting and would like everyone's opinion. I am too new to this to form my own opinion yet, but have bought T&H shave soap, and 2 of their creams, so Im not bias in any way...

"Hot water softens whiskers. Of course you already knew that. Optimal softening also requires that the whiskers be saturated with water. But how can water soak into your whiskers if your beard is covered with water repelling natural oils? That is why shave soap is much better than shave cream: the soap removes oils so water can soak into your beard."


I'd like to hear everyone's thoughts / opinions on this. Perhaps this is marketed towards a beginner buying a sight-unseen razor, or perhaps it applies to anyone, or perhaps it is just Larry's opinion. If it is true re the oils, why are shave-oils so popular?

Obviously it is a matter of personal preference as to what we each prefer. Is this advice purely aimed at the novice like me who is obviously his target market with the beginner gear I bought? Or is this fact and others using creams simply doing so because of personal preference?

I've tried both cream and soap with cartridge razors - with no particular preference, will have my first straight shave on Saturday (its frustrating actually, Ive had a couple of beers this afternoon - can't wait to try straight shaving but thought it be best to wait while Im not under the influence lol)

On a side note, very happy with my interaction with Larry. The razor is sharp, without prep or cream (dry) easily took all the hairs off the back of my hand in one pass. Arrived faster than I expected and communication was great, very friendly and helpful fellow and glad I bought the beginners stuff that I did.

Cheers,
Andrew

Well, first off you seem to be discussing three different things: Shave Soap, Shaving Creams, and Shaving Oil. From my take of your post I am assuming shaving soap is the hard puck, cream is the soft/creamy soap, and oil is an oil mixture you apply by itself or before the lather. That being said, soaps and creams are one and the same. As far as oil goes, it will provide slickness (it is oil after all). I haven't tried an oil myself, but it can't be that bad as it is still fairly prevalent.

I personally think soap and shaving cream behave like different animals albeit with one common purpose which is to soften the hair while allowing a slick surface for the blade. Each has its pros and cons and I have found the combination of both in an uberlather mix brings up the best of both worlds.

I have the truefitt and hill soap, the truefitt and hill unscented cream as well as the lime cream. I have these 3 so am not worried about what I should buy, plus I also have the eshave pre-shave oil waiting at the post office for collection.

Im just curious whether the info on the literature provided with my basic purchase should be followed, and whether a cream vs soap makes any difference. Ive already bought the preshave oil, plus soap and cream, so I can and intend on using them all, but was really interested whether anyone else notices any difference between the cream/soap and whether using an oil will block the hair from absorbing moisture.

Cheers Andrew

I'm not going to use the YMMV cliche....wait, I just did. I use soaps at home and Proraso cream when travelling. I do prefer the soaps.

Here goes Andrew
I tried oil and really didn't like it at all, in fact I left it in the common laundry with a free sign which explained what it was and what to do with it. That being said others love the stuff.
I find creams easier to lather, and have amassed quite a few, but I have recently collected a few soaps which I intend to work on, for years I used Palmolive shave sticks, but now I am getting more sophisticated, I like razorthin quite like making an uberlather, unless the particular product is outstanding in it's own right, or I am travelling then I generally cant be bothered fannying about.
I think the idea that shaving must be do.e with hot water is rubbish, I like cold water shaving, the exception I make is if a particular product works better with warm or hot water, but even then I will only ever fill a cup to soak my brush, and then use a bit of water at the end to rinse off, I don't fill sinks etc.

I love this term "uberlather"... Sounds like something I should pay admission to, and bring a female friend or pay a much higher entry fee

Just finished my first ever straight shave [Larry from whipped dog - sight unseen razor]. Against all recommendations I thought Id try the entire face for the first go, then move to cheeks / easy neck areas from now until I get decent at shaving like this.

The shave went quite well, I showered first then used T&H soap with a brush I found the soap dried quite quickly. I timed myself, not as a race but purely out of interest. 11m 22s. I did full face and neck, but didn't manage a good shave under the nose or the ridge where chin meets neck. For first time I wasn't going to push it further than this. I will finish with cartridge razor in the morning, as Is already 2.10 am and I start work at 8.

I took pics after the shave which I will post tomorrow. Against the grain was fine, it was really only under the nose and chin line that I couldn't manage. Also, I hiccuped when shaving the neck, which cut, but luckily was minor. In total, 2 nicks and one cut (but the cut was very small. After a rinse and a minute, no major bleeding).

In a couple of days I will try the same with shave cream rather than soap and see how it goes and if I notice any difference.

Will be interesting to try the pre-shave oil... Kev from Brisbane has tried it with another oil but he said it wasn't good for his skin (acne or blocked pores etc), so want to try for myself but will drop t if acne etc becomes a problem. I don't think (correct me if Im wrong Kev) that he is using a preshave oil but instead an olive oil experiment or similar.

Can't wait to get to the level of expertise you guys are already at.

Oh, one thing I noticed... when I tried my first shave, I found it more comfortable and easier to see my face with the scales pointing downward, as opposed to how I have sen vids of people shaving with it pointing upwards (90% of my shave I held the razor with scales pointed downwards)... Im right handed, I found it easier to see what I was doing and follow the shape of my face than the left, I assume that is normal... Is there a better way to hold a razor when attempting the non-favoured side of the face?

p.p.s. My skin feels dry and taut after the shave. Is this my skin not used to the shave, or a coincidence that I have been in harsh air-con all day, and my lips and skin were feeling a bit dry anyway before I started? Definitely feels different to before the shave.

p.p.p.s. When I post the pics of my face after the shave, I don't want all of you trying to set me up with your daughters, sisters etc because Im so attractive [said in jest]

Hope everyone is well Andrew

Originally Posted by AndrewJM

"Hot water softens whiskers. Of course you already knew that. Optimal softening also requires that the whiskers be saturated with water. But how can water soak into your whiskers if your beard is covered with water repelling natural oils? That is why shave soap is much better than shave cream: the soap removes oils so water can soak into your beard."

My impression is that "shave cream" refers to canned goop. If correct then yep goop Bad, shave soap Good.

Jonathan

Originally Posted by Datsots

My impression is that "shave cream" refers to canned goop. If correct then yep goop Bad, shave soap Good.

Jonathan

Good point. I think you might just be right.

Originally Posted by Razorthin

Good point. I think you might just be right.

So, if Im using T&H shave cream, you think that's as good as their soap?

I prefer the smell of the lime shave cream (although unused) compared to the unscented (still smells like lavender to me) cream.