Thread: Williams® Mug Shaving Soap........

Originally Posted by pongulsku

I bought Williams as a first soap but found it too drying. I switched to Pirate's Cove Bay Rum and enjoy that one.

I had the same problem it burned my face.

I've heard somewhere, that most hard soaps (and almost ALL creams) have a pretty wide latitude with regards to how much water they will work with.

I guess it's possible to actually use TOO MUCH water, (and you may not even realize it) and end up with a lather that's too thin.

On the other hand, If you use a little LESS water than you need, you may end up with a lather that dries out before the shave is complete.

A few extra drops of hot water while you buff up your lather might help with the drying out problem.

Marko.....

Another method that works really well is to take your hard soap, put it in the trash and then dip your brush into some cream soap, water, then stir...

Actually I really like most of my hard soaps but I much prefer the cream's.

I don't much care for Williams when it comes to shaving, but I like the scent so much (yummy lemon verbena) that it has become my daily shower soap.

For shaving it actually works better as a shaving stick for me, without a brush. Working up a lather just seems to dry it out and it looses it's slickness unless I add a few drops of glycerin.

Christian

Originally Posted by Shaun

Another method that works really well is to take your hard soap, put it in the trash and then dip your brush into some cream soap, water, then stir...

Actually I really like most of my hard soaps but I much prefer the cream's.

Thanks Shaun !........I'm leaning that way myself.

Hard soaps are great, (lot's of nostalgia there)......but I really love the few creams I've aquired so far.

Being new at this, I've got "Tabac", T&H "Lavender", T&H "Trafalgar",
Trumpers "Sandalwood" and Taylors "Shaving Shop".

These are (for sure) the Rolls-Royce of lather-makers !

But like I said......Williams just kind of takes me back to when I was a kid......I remember the old man had a half-dozen pucks stored in the cabinet.....(having gone through the depression, I figure he always wanted to make sure he had a good supply) !

Marko.....

I spoke with a local barbershop that offers traditional straight razor shaves. I haven't actually gone there for a haircut, just read about them in the local paper. The barber there has 50 years in the business. I asked him what type of shave cream he uses, and he said Campbell's, from a hot lather machine. I asked what he would recommend for use at home and he suggested Williams! He said that it is an economical product and works well. He did add that any shaving cream or soap should be kept warm when applied, which would help in the shave.

I've been using Williams for a little while now, I rotate it between other soaps and creams. Maybe not the best, but I like it.

My response to Marko's question -- for me -- would be Taylor of Old Bond Street Sandalwood shave soap. It was the first soap that I bought when I got into straights & wetshaving overall. I always get a great lather when I use it.

Alright, my interest is piqued.

Now I have to stop by the drugstore on the way home and pick up a puck of william's!

I suppose you can't go too wrong for a buck (and a half).

^^^ Yeah, everyone needs to at least try Williams once in their life! LOL

I have found that a few drops of glycerin on the Williams before you later up makes a HUGE difference in the performance over all. Since my biggest gripe with Williams is that it dries out so quickly, this seems to alleviate that problem.