Thread: Williams Shaving Soap

Have you tried it? Do you like it? I think its pretty good myself I'v heard good things about it in thed past but I'd like to get as much stuff as I can locally. Well the other day I was out of town getting a new phone and being bored decided to walk up the strip and the only place that I felt like looking around in was a pharmacy. I walked in and decided to look at the shaving supplies and found the Williams soap, I'v never been able to find it anywhere else and I'v heard good things about it so I bought a couple pucks. I was just curious other peoples thoughts were of it.

Williams is available at CVS in my area. I loved the smell, but the lather didn't provide me any noticeable "slickness" to my shave, and the lather dried out fast (even after I hydrated it more, and then some more to the point the lather was more foamy than thick).

For me, the VDH deluxe soap (available at some Walmarts in my area) worked better. The VDH was about 1/2 as slick as the SRD soap, and stayed wet 2x longer than Willams, and 2/3 as long as the SRD soap.

Williams is a passable shave soap, but is by no means great.
I just wish someone else would make a soap with the same scent. I love the smell of Williams.

Hello, 15straightrazor:

I think many of us started our wet shaving experience with Williams shaving soap. It definitely has its qualities. As time goes on and you discover other soaps, some really great ones, in all likelihood you will move on. Yet, I don't think we ever get over that first shaving soap, not because it is the best, because it creates fond memories. I still have a puck of Williams in one of my shave mugs, and use once in a while just for the memory.

Regards,
Obie

When I was a total noob to wetshaving, Williams seemed a logical choice, it was affordable and avaliable locally. For a long time I was very puzzled how a soap could be on the market so long and perform so poorly. I decided it was my techique and not the soap. I mean, certainly Williams is FAR from the best soap out there but certainly there had to be something at least consistent and acceptable for it to stay on the market that long. After a long time experimenting with it, I finally got to where I can produce an acceptable (no, not fantastic or super slick) lather with it. My secrets:
1. More water on the brush (stiff boar brushes tend to work better than soft boar or badger brushes)
2. More time working it with the brush
Before I get in the shower, I cover the puck with probably a quarter cup of HOT water. I then put my brush in a sink full of hot water.

When I get out of the shower I dump the water off the puck and simply lift the brush out of the sink and let the water drip of the brush until it stops. Don't squeeze the brush.

Begin working the soap and whip it in a circular motion for at least 3-5 minutes. At first it will look like regular bath soap bubbles but as you whip it, it will thicken up.

IF ALL ELSE FAILS (NUCLEAR OPTIONS 1 and 2)
1. When you get out of the shower apply Noxema cold cream to your face and neck and lather the Williams as previously described on top of the Noxema
2. (I'd recommend this even if you do get Williams to work) Order up some Arko Shavesticks, they're very cheap and rather similar to Williams but provide much easier and much better lather. In fact, if ever there was a soap that lathers easier than VDH it's probably Arko. That gives me an idea, I wonder what would happen if I super lathered crayoning an Arko shavestick on my face and loading a brush with Williams and applying it over the top of the Arko? I may have to try this tomorrow.

I just picked up a puck of Williams in a small local pharmacy. I took a whiff of the box and thought it smelled wonderful. I have to agree though it doesn't seem to shave as well as even the Van Der Hagen from Walmart. So I was definitely disappointed. I don't even know what I like about the smell but it's just awesome. Oh well.