Thread: Williams Shaving Soap Users

Originally Posted by cudarunner

Yes I'm probably set for life, but then again, my 17 year old son has taken up the wet shaving torch and if nothing else, he'll be able to use it also.

Thats awesome. I wish I started at 17.

Well, I started at 63, so I guess it averages out.

Okay, I've been reading about the ongoing Williams Wars ever since I started this whole wet-shaving thing about a year ago. Some of these conversations get really interesting over on B and B, where for now I just lurk.

So wanting to see what the fuss was all about, and in order to find out if I'm going to become a partisan of the rabid, foaming at the mouth hate-it side, or the adoring, clothes-tearing love-it side, I just picked up a puck for $1.03 at the local grocery, along with an oil-can of Foster's, and a newspaper, so I'm ready for just about anything.

At that price, I figure if I hate it-and it's going to have some stiff competition with some creams I love (CF Lime, Godrej, Arko, Proraso)-then I can always use it as a shower soap. More later.

Originally Posted by vthomlinson

this got me wondering... why is it that i can find williams at the cvs store 2 blocks from my house.. but i can't order it from any of the online vendors?

Try this link:
Amazon.com: Williams Mug Shaving Soap - 1.75 oz: Health & Personal Care

Originally Posted by amber62509

What a deal! Williams is sometimes hard to find as with a lot of stuff now a days. I like williams but not a big fan as of yet. As of right now its the only shave soap I own. I love the smell but its got its own mind as whether it wants to give you lather. I'd love to find the old original williams but all I seem to find is box's. Congrats on passing it down to your son and thanks for the info.

I'm using a Badger Hair Brush that I bought from an Elk Drug Store about 25+ years ago for about $5. This was when I first started using Williams Shaving Soap! The brush is very worn but will still quickly bring up a lather using hot water and vigorous stirring. I whip the brush in my cup that holds the bar. If I need more lather for a second pass, I simply add a little more water to the brush and whip up some more lather. I will admit that I'm in the market for a new brush, however this very basic shaving soap has stood the test of time! As I first posted, this is for those who use Williams and where to find it economically.

I tried Williams for the first time today. Not bad stuff, but I found the lather went from thick to vanished on my face in no time at all. The shave was OK, but I wouldn't place it in a category with Mitchell's Wool Fat soap.

I first used Williams in about 1960. Have used it off and on all these years. I will be 65 my next birthday. I like it. Sure you can pay more and get a better soap but for pure value you can't beat it.

It is Sunday afternoon. I am going to get out my Woderedge, give it a few passes on my 00 Frictionit hone, strop it on my Illinois 992 strop. Lather up with Williams in an Old Spic Shaving mug, using my Morris and Landron brush and finnish off with some Clubman after shave.

Life is Good.

I've been using Williams for the last couple weeks or so as a base for a soap/cream/glycerin combo. I start with lathering directly on the Williams puck, stopping before it gets too thick, then add about half as much cream as I'd normally use with cream alone, then 5 drops of glycerin (read that in one of Glen's posts, I think). Works great with every cream I've tried so far. I get the slickness from the Williams, the cushion of the cream, and as for the glycerin, I don't know what that does, but I can't argue with the results!

Originally Posted by d. m. ellington

I first used Williams in about 1960. Have used it off and on all these years. I will be 65 my next birthday. I like it. Sure you can pay more and get a better soap but for pure value you can't beat it.

It is Sunday afternoon. I am going to get out my Woderedge, give it a few passes on my 00 Frictionit hone, strop it on my Illinois 992 strop. Lather up with Williams in an Old Spic Shaving mug, using my Morris and Landron brush and finnish off with some Clubman after shave.

Life is Good.

+1 Williams has been handy and ready to go since the '70s for me.

It is a good soap and does not rattle my allergies.
Building a lather takes just long enough that my whiskers
soften for shaving when some other soaps lather "too quickly ;-)"
and I have to wait....

At its price point it cannot be touched.

At almost any price point shave soaps and creams are a bargain.
The variety of the four that I use most often very much contributes
to the pleasure of the process of shaving and my mood.

Yes there are "better" but only from the point of
view that personal preference establishes.

I was able to pick up a few old versions of Williams. The first puck pictured is from around 1982, and the second puck was made before 1960. I enjoy using these soaps. Very thick, rich lather, while not burning my sensitive skin. No nonsense soap with a short list of ing.