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So, the first and only soap I've used is Williams, and I'm wondering how the lather quality is for the rest of you folks. What my experience has been is that the suds is not much better than normal handsoap would produce, and it quickly dries out on my face. Ought I use more water, or get a different soap?
Your thoughts...
Oh, btw, I've tried on the face, in the bowl, and off of the hand, no difference in results
Thanks Steve, I'm checking out the links now
Oh, God. Please, if you're going to shorten it to two letters, make it VW. VD makes it sound like I'm syphilis.:rofl2:Quote:
Originally Posted by OLD_SCHOOL
Also, as of a couple weeks ago, the order form for sample packs wasn't working, which I emailed Colleen about, but you can buy the sample bars for roughly the same price anyway.
Quote:
Originally Posted by papaface29
You really won't regret it. I used 1 brand of shave soap for 99% of my shaving from the time I was 15 or so. I'd try something else every once in a while, but always went back.
I tried TGQ soaps, and after 1 shave, I knew I could never go back. I ended up giving away some of my old stuff because TGQ was so much better.
If you're either really picky about the scent, or have no idea what scent you'd like, TGQ sells 1/2oz sample bars. A 1/2oz bar doesn't last long, but it's more than enough to decide if you like the scent. Of the 3 scents I've tried so far, the lather is pretty much identical.
My personal favorite so far is Highlander. It's listed as lavender, and there's certainly plenty of lavender in it, which my girlfriend loves, but it also has a nice touch of pine to it. Keeps it from being too girly.
Either way, let us know what you get, and what you think of it once you try it.
Since I'm somewhat impulsive and I've been sitting in an office all night, with nothing better to think about than shaving and shaving accessories, I went ahead and ordered the 1 oz bar of sandalwood from TGQ. I've heard some good and bad about the sandalwood scent in general, and thought I'd give it a try. I'll be out camping this week, so it'll be a full week before I can hop back on to share the results. Thanks for the input, as always.
I could be wrong, but I think that if you like sandalwood, you'll like the TGQ sandalwood. It's just that not everyone likes the scent of sandalwood.
Personally, I find sandalwood and patchouli to be the two most offensive fragrances on the planet, (as far as personal care fragrances are concerned) despite the fact that they are very popular.
I have some relatives in a town called Eugene, OR. It's generally the biggest "hippie" city in the state, and I'm not much of a hippie. Every time I smell sandalwood or patchouli, all I can think of is unbathed hippies. If you resemble that remark, no offense intended. It's just not my thing.
Anyway, if you like the lather, but don't like the scent, just order a bunch of samples until you find what you like.
I actually like the Williams. It's best if you boil a bit of water on the stove and pour that in the mug. Let it sit while you shower and then pour out the water when you're ready to make your lather. The hot water softens it up really well and I get hot lather and a very comfortable shave with it.
Another very cheap soap is Van Der Hagen. It's a bit softer than the Williams, and I like the smell better. Don't pour boiling water on it though. It'll get used up in about 6 or 7 shaves because it will melt away fast. Hot tap water is fine.
Both of these are available at the drug store locally, and both are very inexpensive.
Williams lather:
Sudsy
Quick to dissapear from your face
Zero cushion
Decent glide/slip
I do like the scent
For $10 you can get a puck of Tabac that will last you 10times longer than the $2 Williams, and you will actually get to enjoy the shave as well!
To me Williams is the standard, the 30-06 of soaps all others are compared to it....
This is better than Williams etc:
I give Williams a solid 5/10 on everything but price :D that bumps it to a 6 overall....
I tell you one thing if you can get Williams to lather well then you can get just about any soap to perform
For me keeping it around is more for nostalgic reasons than any other, Pops only used it or Old Spice so I keep a puck loaded in his old scuttle and take it out now and then....
This is quite true!Quote:
Originally Posted by gssixgun
I tried doing a "week of Williams", using only Williams soap. I so badly wanted to like it, it's kind of cool in it's own way: cheap, old school, etc.
Anyhow, you definitely have to work to get any sort of decent lather (in my opinion) out of it. What ended up happening, is after a week of Williams, my lathering technique on my other soaps was vastly improved. I used to always superlather my soaps (shot of KMF) to get the lather where I wanted it. After dealing with the week of Williams boot camp, I found I no longer needed to do so, and got excellent, thick long lasting lather on all of my other soaps.
When I first started straight shaving I used Williams and VDH and Surrey, all the classics and thought they were as good a soap as I ever needed. Like with other things its only when your horizons expand that you discover the real world. Looking back the Williams is terrible stuff. Just very thin weak lather that dries quickly.
Williams dries very fast on my face. I throw it away.
Hi, you must try this shaving cream from:
JM Fraser Classic Shaving Cream
It's the J.M. Frazer classic shaving cream
It produce realy thick foam, very thick foam, very nice to shave with. And it's not expensive. Might be the last shaving cream you buy.
/////
A rich lathering shaving cream that gives you a beautiful shave. One 16oz jar will last close to a year. A classic barbershop cream with a light lime fragrance.
JM Fraser shaving cream: quality and value since 1956.
Weight: 16 oz. (475 ml)
Made in Canada
Click to enlahttp://www.fendrihan.com/product_thu...pg&w=100&h=100rge
CAN$12.95
http://www.fendrihan.com/images/stars_5.gif
For all its worth, I think Williams is a great entry level soap. For those who are just getting started, who have no idea how to build lather, it really helps. I went through 1 bar of Williams and have found another brand with is far better, but at the same time, I don't regret buying williams. :P
I tried to like it, I really did...
But it just couldn't compete with the Tabac...:shrug:
I think I've spoilled my face...:D
On scale from 1 to 100, I'll give it 55...
It simply exploaded with lather and lather was rather slicky, but the lather looses water very quickly...
Maybe its a factor of my age....but life's too short for cheap soaps. I'm of modest means, but we're only talking $7 to 10 more for a soap with some provenance, cachet...that you love mixing into a lather. You could also find inexpensive underwear because that's what your grandfather wore, or because it'll work for less money...but why not the pima cotton, perhaps silk that you'll love wearing that much more. The most expensive suit is the bargain priced one that you dont wear...far more expensive/use than the expensive one you wear often....and enjoy.
Anyway, what's it matter? Great that we have choices. Viva la diference! Enjoy the trip.
Best to all.
Tabac and the soaps from TGQ are the best out there imo, especially when you consider prices. I also like T&H but it is very expensive and I don't buy it often.
I really like the smell of Williams though, and my grandfather used it, so I Think it's cool to buy it at CVS from time to time. The shave always ends up being "ok" though.
How many pucks did I send you, two or three? I assumed that you had already used it and liked it, otherwise I would have tried to talk you out of it. Oh well, you found the Tabac so you'll be fine. Just mix the Williams and the Tabac and eventually you'll get rid of it!Quote:
Originally Posted by Robert1988
Everyone will give you their favorite soap/cream. Ton's of them on the market. I have soft water, so every soap works good for me pretty much. I used Williams exclusively, until I hooked on the high end stuff. If you don't mind spending a couple of more bucks, you can always pick up some "Uber" supplies. Check Amazon. Get some "Kiss my face" shave cream and a small bottle of Glycerin. You put one pump of the Kiss my Face and a 3-5 drops of Glycerin, It will improve your Williams soap dramatically. It will improve any soap dramatically....Also, The "Kiss my Face" is scentless, as is the Glycerin, so you don't change the scent of the host soap at all. This will make the 30-06 soap, a 50 cal...
This info is available on the Wiki.....
Back from camping and thrilled to see so many replies!
I'm glad I'm not the only one who's run into problems with Will's:
dries quickly on the face
not much glide
difficult to lather
etc, etc
I kinda like doing stuff the hard way first, just to learn it better (like driving a stick, or shaving with William's), and then going on to the easy stuff
From what it sounds like, if I can lather w/ William's I can lather with anything
I get good functional lather with Williams, actually quite slick and creamy. Definitely not a top shelf product but it gets the job done.Quote:
Originally Posted by papaface29
MWF on the other hand:cen...
I used williams for 13 years until I found this site and discovered TGQ, Castle Forbes, and SRP soaps. I havn't touched a bar williams since.
I have no trouble to lather Williams mug soap. I get great shaves and the lather is as good as any other shaving soaps that i got. To my opinion it's not the best around but it's a good soap when you know how to lather it. Gino
Here's my result Attachment 258302Attachment 258303just a stable slick cushion lather who doesn't disapearQuote:
Originally Posted by papaface29
"Another very cheap soap is Van Der Hagen. It's a bit softer than the Williams, and I like the smell better. Don't pour boiling water on it though. It'll get used up in about 6 or 7 shaves because it will melt away fast. Hot tap water is fine."
Glad to see someone else likes that Van Der Hagen. I actually started off with that stuff which I bought at a Wally World for about 5 bucks. The soap was crap until the last shave. When it got down to that last little gooey, mucky mess, the suds, slickness, and shave was incredible.
Here's another pic of the results that I got whit using only waterAttachment 264157Attachment 264158Quote:
Originally Posted by Papabear11
I really can't complain about it
