Thread: Soap, mugs and water...

Being a beginner at all this I took a walk to my local shavershop and got started with a shavette which I'm still using while working out what to get next. While I was there I picked up the only shaving cream that they had (it's not really a shaving shop even though it's called that, it's more of a hair dresser shop). The company that made this is Wahl who are more focused on hair products. It has worked really well but is on the virge of running out.
I've looked at the round soap bars online and they seem like a good option with minimal packaging rather than a big plastic bucket or plastic tube. Now for the embarrassing question. In one of the posts I was reading someone asked a question of Tony's mugs if they would fit a certain brand of soap. Is the soap designed to sit in the bottom of the shaving mug all the time ready to add water to from a brush when needed, or do you lather up the brush then work up more of a lather in the mug?

Originally Posted by drsch3

Being a beginner at all this I took a walk to my local shavershop and got started with a shavette which I'm still using while working out what to get next. While I was there I picked up the only shaving cream that they had (it's not really a shaving shop even though it's called that, it's more of a hair dresser shop). The company that made this is Wahl who are more focused on hair products. It has worked really well but is on the virge of running out.
I've looked at the round soap bars online and they seem like a good option with minimal packaging rather than a big plastic bucket or plastic tube. Now for the embarrassing question. In one of the posts I was reading someone asked a question of Tony's mugs if they would fit a certain brand of soap. Is the soap designed to sit in the bottom of the shaving mug all the time ready to add water to from a brush when needed, or do you lather up the brush then work up more of a lather in the mug?

I guess the correct answer is...yes! I'm not familiar with Wahl shavving soap, so hopefully some of your fellow countrymen can chime in with what might be available. You can use any mug for any soap as long as it will fit in the bottom. What you have to make sure of is that you have room to work your brush on the soap. Also, you can get glycerine soaps (that I refer to as soft soaps) and hard soaps, which are more like a bath soap. With my hard soaps, I will cover them in hot water while my brush soaks. Not with glycerine soaps...they will disappear too quickly.

As far as developing your lather three ways to go. You can work up the lather in the mug, get it started in the mug and then transfer to a bowl, or just work the brush on the soap and lather directly onto your face. If you are not using a quality soap, it may be difficult to move from the mug to the bowl. I've done all three, and you should try them and decide what works best for you.

Best of luck!

RT

Thanks for that. I haven't had a good look around at the different soaps available in Oz, just the sites that are mentioned here (classicshaving, thewellshavedgentleman).

I have used surrey, colgate and williams soaps for a long time. Since shaving with a straight, I have used other soaps, but mostly classicshaving bay rum, which I really like.

I have recently tried the soap made by Sue at www.saintcharlesshave.com This is a great soap and well worth trying. It did not lather as much as the classicshaving soap for me, but it shaves better. I am not sure what her recipe is, but Sue's soap has more glide.

I have not tried any of the shave creams, so I cannot comment on them.

I've tried quite a few 'hard' soaps. The best I've found are DR Harris, Truefitt & Hill, saintcharlesshave (Sue), Arko, and Williams. The best bang for the buck(IMHO), if you don't mind being limited to a 'clean soapy scent' is Arko. It comes in a stick form, but is soft enough to cut into chunks and form into the bottom of a Ziploc bowl. Sue has scents that will make you want to shave at every opportunity, however.


Wayne

Drsch3,

The Williams is definately worth a try. It's readily available, Wal Mart and
most chain type drug stores. If you can find a tuble of Palmolive Later
cream in the red tube this stuff works quite well. Do not get the Palmolvie
in the Grren tube - it's marked brushless.

The soaps from Sue, saintcharlesshave are outstanding in IMHO.
I currently have a cake of her Savory Rose and New Spice. I will
reorder when the time comes and will probably add Ginger Spice to
the mix. The Classic Brand from classicshaving in Lime Coconut is
very good also, if you like coconut.

I also have a tub of Taylor's Lavender cream from classicshaving.
As well as a tub of Trumpers Violet from shoplondons.

Though I prefer the soap over the creams, you won't go wrong with
either.


Terry

Thanks guys,
I'd really like to try some of the more 'hand made' type soaps but due to the fact that I'm in Australia restricts me from (in a cost point of view) from some of the brands you are talking about. I might have to dig around for locally made products and do some testing myself. In the meantime I'll probably give the Williams a go, that should be available down here.... somewhere

Where do yall get your soaps? I have seen Sue's post and I can fine Williams at any corner. I don't know about the other brands though being new to SRSing. I even tried to make soap, wrong answer. Could one of you knowledgeable gent’s give some stores or sites that we might get these products without searching all over again.

Try the following sites for all the soaps that you can
shake a stick at.

www.classicshaving.com
www.emsplace.com
www.shoplondons.com
www.greenpond.com

That should get you started. Good luck and remember.....
soaps and creams are just as addictive as razors....

Terry

Terry
Thanks for the resopnse, I sure don't want another addiction though. This straight razor thing is pretty is too much fun. Man it is fun just to meet this crazy bunch.