Thread: Straight razor soap

shavenation.com has a decent selection. I have yet to order from them but will be doing so in the near future.

I have had nice shave with Proraso soaps I have not yet tried Proraso creams but will soon I have also tried from the Body Shop Macca Root shaving cream was very nice.

Found out the MWF enjoys the bowl more than face lathering for me ... Big difference .
Mikes natural soap sample coming soon ...
Thanks everyone !
Peace
Matt

How much money do you have to play with? Trying shaving soaps can get spendy real fast

Lately, I've been on a Tabac kick. It's a top 3 shave soap for me. They're software is nice too IMNSHO

The 3 + years I have been shaving w/straight razors and using shave soap, I've used Tabac more than any other

For my money, there is no finer shave soap

I'll let you in on big secret #2. The Proraso Pro boar bristle shave brush sees the most use in my collection of brushes. The one I'm using is close to 3 years in rotation. It's the best brush for me

All that said, let those that shave decide. Not everyone is on the same page when it comes to using shave soap, nor the way they keep the edge (I'm pretty much set using coticules= : - )

Others may have better and different ideas


Best,


Jake
Reddick Fla.

Thank you ,Jake.
Budget is flexible with bang for the buck being 1st factor after "glide"... Hate to admit but the bowl caught my eye first with icoloniali . MWF everyday now with mikes natural samples coming in the mail ... I think tabac is my next "must have" ,judging by majority opinion..
Peace,
Matt

I tried icolonial for the first time recently. I bought the mango shave soap. Only used 4 X's so far so no real experience with it yet other than to say I like the fragrance and have not yet developed a feel for making it come alive lather wise. IOW's, so far, it's been on the thin side for me yet I think w/more exp I can eke out more performance from it

3 years in and have not tried MWF. That said, I did buy 2 or three pucks of Haslinger Schafmilch (made from wool fat). IIRC I gave one away, one is still in the wrapper and the other has been used several times. Seems to make a nice lather, small diameter puck though but fits nicely in a standard cappuccino cup, w/o grating it to fit a larger dish

Mike's is another one I've yet to try. Came close once to ordering but I don't recall why I didn't follow up. I remember wanting to try his Vetiver and at the time he didn't have any, then it was in stock again. Maybe it wasn't the package I wanted, which he had. I've heard nothing but good things about Mike's natural shave soap. I'm sure you'll get on with it just fine

A couple of other American boutique soaps I have tried recently and enjoyed...Barrister/Mann from Boston and Stirling in Texas. Barrister/Mann has been fun trying a few of his flavors. I tried three flavors in tins when they were offered. Barbershop, Chesire and Vetiver, Heather & Clary Sage. I did not care for the Barbershop fragrance so I gave that one away. His Chesire smells just like a cup of Earl Grey Tea and is quite nice. the Vetiver, heather & Clary Sage...that's a hard one to nail down. I like it, but it's a busy bit of a frag...

As far as I'm concerned, Barrister/Mann's tallow soap base totally works for me, and the sample of Bay Rum he sent me was out of this world. Best Bay Rum Soap I have tired yet bar none, both in fragrance and performance. Having mentioned Bay Rum Shave Soap, I have to tip my hat to Ogallala's version, particularly the Bay Rum/Sandalwood. I've gone through 3 maybe four of these pucks and I have found it truly addictive. Ogallala is a tricky shave soap to get to lather just right but I found the way that works for me when I've used it along with a sharp blade, I get an exceedingly close shave. Finish with Bay Rum A/S, I'm in heaven

I'm a fan of Pinaud's Virgin Island Bay Rum A/S but lately Captain's Choice Cat o' Nine Tails appears more in my rotation, when I use a bay rum shave soap, or maybe I'll follow with Bay Rum A/S using any shave soap, I'm Jake like that=:-)

I mentioned using Stirling's shave soap and I've tried a few of his scents...Sharp Dressed Man being my favorite, but then I'm a worshipper of Green Irish Tweed (EdT) and Sharp Dressed Man is a ringer for that scent. I've purchased far more Stirling bar soap for the bath than I have his shave soaps. His bar soaps are economical to use and I'm fond of several of those flavors (Tuscany, Barbershop, Pig Trail, Sharp Dressed Man) in particular

Back to shave soaps, another tallow soap I suggest you try and it's somewhat economical. Palmolive Sahve Stick, which is a European shave soap sold in stick form. Speaking strictly for myself, I don't care to use shave sticks as they were intended to be used. My beard is far too sparse to catch enough soap from the stick w/o mauling my face with any of the sticks. I grate this stick and press the flakes into an Anchor Hocking glass desert dish, found at my local grocer, Target, K-Mart (anywhere really)

Here's how I use Palmolive-



too many f stops in this pic as the color is bleached. it has a green tint, like in this photo-



I use a box grater to make the flakes



IMO, Palmolive Shave Stick's performance is very close to Tabac but Tabac gets the edge, wins out for me yet both are in and get used regularly in my rotation

I get bored easily using the same shave soap shave after shave. Same can be said for straight razors too and why I keep a rotation of straight razors

I think though, it can't be stressed enough, how much preference is involved when it comes to using particular brands of shave soaps. One shaver will get very good results using a particular shave soap while another thinks that brand is not worth using. It's all so objective

I'm a big fan of Proraso shave soaps. For me, the Proraso green and red shave soap works very well, and I rank it close to the top in performance, glide, you name it, Proraso flat out delivers for me

There are other brands of shave soap I use and haven't mentioned, or else this post will turn into a novel


Best,


Jake
Reddick Fla.

This is my favorite shave brush



Proraso Pro Boar Bristle. Very close the Omega #49 and #48 (both same knot, loft) except the loft on the proraso Pro is a little shorter, giving it a stiffer feel, not floppy at all like the Omega 48, & #49

If you want to go through a puck of shave soap quickly, here's yur maun-



Simpson Chubby 3

another pic of the Chubby 3



they don't last for me ...I'm on my third=:-(


Best,


Jake
Reddick Fla.

@HoldingFast-

I forgot to ask...have you tried Arko Shave Stick yet? Going back through the thread, I see another member mentioned it but you didn't say if you tried it or not


Best,


Jake
Reddick Fla.

Shakinjake, you can also search for a recent thread, entitled something like "arko where have you been all my life?" Lots of positive comments on lather, mixed reviews on scent.

Sir Jake,
Haven't yet , slow and steady baby steps!
Big thank you for all the input (Berkeley , Simpson .. Treats me we'll so far )

Matt