I just had a shave and I tried a Williams shaving soap that my wife picked up for me at the supermarket for a surprise. I really got a shave that was worth what she paid for the soap...... 89 cents............:cen
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I just had a shave and I tried a Williams shaving soap that my wife picked up for me at the supermarket for a surprise. I really got a shave that was worth what she paid for the soap...... 89 cents............:cen
Oh boy, another Williams thread....
I bought a puck out of pure morbid curiosity a while ago, and (while I'm one of those who was able to lather it right away) I'd say it's barely my first choice before resorting to Ivory or Irish Spring handsoap! And that's if I lived on a desert island with nothing but a razor, Williams and Ivory....
The new williams soap sucks bad. The old stuff was a totally different formula and if you can find it, buyt it, its wonderful soap!
New guys think williams is always the same as it was back then, its not.
I know from my limited experience with Williams that I was using the new formula, so yeah, it pretty much sucked. Both are tallow based (or sodium tallowate), so out of curiosity how was the old formula better?Quote:
Originally Posted by Disburden
We're all so spoiled from using the good stuff, aren't we?
maybe the old formula actually made a dense, stable lather and didnt have the slickness of sandpaper.
Most of us started with Williams or VDH or Surrey and then moved on. Certainly these products perform their function the same that a Yugo will take you where you want to go. The question is do you want to expand your soap horizons?
You know how in the reviews you can score from 0-10
To me Williams is a dead solid 6 as it gets all 5's except for price it gets the a 9...
Williams is also a great soap to learn how to make lather, because the simple fact is, if you can get a thick creamy lather from Williams everything else is simple :)
You should re-visit it in a year, as many peoples problems come from the fact that Williams drys faster then most Newbs can shave, so it isn't that the soap gets better, but you do LOL
+1Quote:
Originally Posted by gssixgun
What he said: "if you can get a thick creamy lather from Williams everything else is simple :)"
And lathering takes practice so for 89cents ....
practice, practice, practice. Try it with a pea size
bit of Poroso and a cheep boar brush...
Williams soap requires a LOOOT of water and whipping. Most of the soaps we all use take a sparing amount of water, but Williams needs lots. Also, it needs more and more vigorous whipping. It will produce an acceptable lather, but I don't think it's worth the trouble.Quote:
Originally Posted by MARKHOLLADAY
On the other hand, the Van Der Hagen soap sold at Walmart, Walgreens, CVS pharmacy, etc. for $2 a puck is surprisingly good in my experience. Way better than i expected for that price, and it comes in a reclosable plastic blister pack that is pretty good for travel.
I guess I’m either cheap or too stupid to appreciate the finer things but Williams always worked for me.
Try applying a translucent layer of generic Noxema to the shaving zone and then build the lather on your face.
Semper circa,
LG Roy
A little over thirty years ago, I decided to go "retro" and start making my own lather for shaving. I bought an Old Spice mug full of soap and a Dubl Duck brush from the local drug store. When I finished the puck of oild Spice, I couldn't find a replacement puck, but there was Williams, and the price was right! Been using it ever since... Folks have said the formula was changed, but you can't prove it by me and I can't tell the difference!
I still use it quite often and for some good reasons.... "The New World Order" has not yet declared it's use "Verboten," and it still works for me.
I enjoy the smell of.... well.....Soap and I enjoy it.
As in all things, there is no accounting for taste, and YMMV!
I too have used the Van Der Hagen soap sold at Walmart, Walgreens, CVS pharmacy it was my first soap. It was a surprisingly good soap for the money.
A solid 6? Really? I usually think you're bang on Glen, but I have to disagree with you this time. Nostalgia only goes so far as I think you're being a bit generous with this one.Quote:
Originally Posted by gssixgun
I was able to lather Williams right out the gate, and I was surprised as I had heard many people say how finnicky it can be. Be that as it may, IME Williams provides very little, if any, glide or cushion for a shave, nor does it possess any skin conditioning ability. But for $1.70 I guess I wouldn't expect it too. About the only thing it has going for it is the scent, which I do happen to like a lot and is probably the ONLY reason why my puck isn't in the dumpster.
Like I said before, I think we get accustomed to the luxury products, especially if like me you started with them before trying Williams for the first time.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ryan82
This is why we have so many choices hehehe... and your right I think I do give it a Nostalgia point or two :) ...
Don't get me wrong, I don't want to come off as offensive to people that like Williams. It certainly doesn't do much for me, but if it works for others then I say go for it!
Ryan82.. wow. I feel so sorry for you. Not even slickness/glide? Really? See a neurologist.Quote:
Originally Posted by gssixgun
gssixgun... so right. I've tried sodium chloride and baking soda to soften the water, didn't make much difference. Loading the badger well and gradually adding water, more and more and more. I tend to simply add a wet-tipped badger brush to refresh the lather on my face and all the glide comes back. With repeated applications there is some cushion, but really dependent on the glide with cheapo Williams. I've had too many good shaves off the stuff to think it doesn't deserve a place in my life. I bought 9 pucks for 70 cents each, with the idea that I'd eventually sell a few pucks out to people stranded in parts of the world without Williams [gasp!].
I have some Chelsea's Soap Garden pucks (not good enough for str8-razor shaves (eBay soap seller)) that are great for lathering, they take too long to attain required slickness for a str8, but when lightly combined with Williams it is a pretty decent shaving soap. But I still use Williams plain, it really works. As for skin condition, nothing in my shaving arsenal leaves my skin as soft. I have no other tallow-based soaps to compare to, but if I remove all the residue my skin is fresh, soft, and moisturized.
My last post clearly stated that YMMV. I'm sure you'll find that the majority of members here are like-minded , otherwise we'd all be using $1.00 soap instead of these great, luxurious yet expensive European creations.Quote:
Originally Posted by AxelH
As for slickness/glide? Try some CF, Tabac, MWF etc and then we'll talk.
From what I understand the first 2 ingredients on the box have switched so the old formula had Tallow first and now it is the 2nd ingredient on the box so less of a factor in the chemical makeup of the soap.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ryan82
YOU'RE NOT THE BOSS OF ME, RYAN82!!!!!Quote:
Originally Posted by Ryan82
Okay, seriously. I understand it's not the best, it's the bare-bones, requires refreshing with a wetted brush. I can still enjoy it. I've found the 3 tubes of Proraso to make an excellent lather and shave, and I have 4 tubs of Mama Bear's, which has the glide and protection a straight razor shave requires. If I was to get a new shaving soap it would be from the seller from this thread: SMF :: View topic - Prairie Creations Shave Soap
There may be a link in that thread to B&B. I recall a thread there where a single buyer said his face was slightly burned by one of her soaps, and then a huge debacle where the soap maker was made to be at fault, lye issues and accusations of incompetency/irresponsibility. But from all the rave reviews about her truly tallow-based soaps... looks like she seriously upset the established order, which leads me to question the nature of the B&B thread. So I'm hot for PC tallow soap. Honestly, if she was at fault I think she'd now be better than ever before, having gone through that ordeal.
I just don't have a problem with splashing water on an area already saturated with slick soap, or re-applying with a brush, in order to ensure slickness and a safe, smooth shaving action. I understand VDH (deluxe) makes an excellent lather that maintains its stability over time, and it does moisturize well. Saw it for $1.57 at Walmart the other day. That definitely a better beginner's cheap shaving soap than Williams.
Actually, my fav cheap soap is Proraso - not nearly as cheap as Williams, not really much moisturizing, but a lot better IMO for a few bucks more.
Don't get me wrong, it's not that I despise Williams. I like the scent, I CAN get a shave from it, it's just that I have too many other great performers which I can't ignore. That's probably why I still have my puck of Williams, for the few odd days of the year I'll say "Why not?" and give it a go.
For years, I didn't know any other shave soap existed. I never looked, until I got into st8's. All I had was Williams. It served me well, now I'm spoiled. I do have some Vintage Williams unopened, I think it's 12 pucks or so all wrapped up....I'm not sure how old it is.
I would admit I'm hyper sensitive to some smells. Van Der Hagen is the only soap to date that smelled so strong in a cheap cologne sort of way to me right out of its little blister pack that I didn't have to shave with it; I could taste it. That was enough. I chucked it without even a shave.Quote:
Originally Posted by LawsonStone
Chris L
Chris,Quote:
Originally Posted by ChrisL
You're not 'sposed to apply it onto your face, not into yer face. Hope this helps yer Van Der Hagen dilemma. :)
Help, that's what we're here for, doncha know :beer2:
Personally, I love the smell of Williams. Too bad the soap sucks.
I like that VDH soap but I don't use it a lot... I guess because I have others that I like more. I bought a puck of Williams this morning because of all the chatter. I haven't used it yet but I suppose I will give it a whirl on the next shave.
I went to the drug store last week to purchase Williams to try it out. I smelled it at the store and I quickly then decided to not buy it! I thought the smell was terrible. But to each his own.
My favourite cheap soap is from 'Vergulde hand', translated as 'Gold-plated hand'. Nice lather, easy whipping, good moisturizing, smooth and nothing fancy. It hasn't got a strong smell also. Sells for about €1.50 a puck, that is about $100 or so. :p
http://www.fdcw.org/0607/logo/van-ho...ulde_hand1.jpg
Vergulde hand is not so good. Dries quickly. Not so smooth lather enzQuote:
Originally Posted by Strato
Try a better soap, and you will see that everything goes better. shave better, tastier and Smoot lather
Ok ... it costs a bit more.:)
I said my favourite cheap soap, that does not imply that I do not have any other. If it dries fast you are not using enough water. This soap indeed needs quite a lot of water. The performance is as any other without the fancy stuff.Quote:
Originally Posted by kalerolf
so i purchased a puck of williams yesterday.. i hadn't used it in years.. but i gotta say.. i built a great lather with my wee scot... then i tried my vdh.. not so good.. then i did the bodyshop synthetic.. also really good lather.. i think i may just keep williams in rotation.. smells a little soapy and for some reason makes me want to wear aqua velva instead of old spice.
VDH leaves my face dry, but not good ol' Williams.:)Quote:
Originally Posted by MARKHOLLADAY
I like Williams. It works. It is not as good as a French triple milled soap like Institut Kerite but it works. I shaved with it for years and never had any problems. It is a value item. Old Forrester Whiskey is not as good as Knob Creek but it gets the job done. Same as Williams.
I rather like williams. i always have a puck with me whenever i travel. i have often used it as just a face soap in the shower at time as well. i have never had a problem getting a good lather out of it, and it has always worked great for my shaves. just my two cents
-dan-
I laughed lol.Quote:
Originally Posted by Pops!