Thread: Williams Shaving Soap Users

You know, Williams ain't that bad. You probably won't get the "total" shaving experience your looking for from it. I think it's a working mans soap. Nothing fancy, just gets the job done and quite well, actually. The scent is nothing to brag on, smells like, well, soap. Lathers o.k., again you can get alot more lather from other soaps but it will do the job. Where it excels is the glide. Keep your lather moist and it will glide with the best. I face lather, and dip the tips of the brush in water often to touch up the lather while shaving. The end result for me is excellent. I use it a couple of times a weeks. 2 pucks hit the trash this week but Williams keeps hanging around. I've been wet shaving since the late '60's mostly DE but lately just straights.

I'm in the "like" camp for Williams, and will occasionally drift to the "love" camp when I add a few drops of glycerin to the mix - makes the lather last longer, and is even smoother for the skin.

It's in my regular rotation, next to a litany of Colleen's soaps (The Gentlemen's Quarter), Proraso, MWF, and Crabtree and Evelyn.

Just my $1.52 (price I pay for Williams).

Mark

I just found this soap. My mother in law works as a local chain store in my home town and gave me three williams mug shaving soaps. It cost her like 50 cents a soap.

This is the first soap that has not irritated my face, think I will stock up on this stuff since its hard to find.

Brian

You can always uber it...Musgo real, or Kiss my face would work. I like Kiss my Face for most Uber'ings because is has no fragrance...However, some soaps work well with Musgo, like MWF and Williams...

i just bought some williams at CVS. it was a $1.57. i haven't used it yet, but i might try to make some uberlather with kissmyface. or, this brushless cream with lanolin.

I've been using williams for sometime and like it alot also. I have also uberlathered it when I've add a little to much water to the mix useing Cremo shave cream( brushless cream) and that worked very well really enjoyed that and have done it on more than a couple occasions now.

Also I know atleast in the northeast CVS and Pathmark carry williams. Rite Aid carries VDH and Walgreens/Happy Harrys no shave soaps at all.

And for those that have tried williams and had trouble with it when I first started using it had same issue but found if you grate it and repack it you get much better results.

I have a puck of Williams that came with the Bicentennial Mug. It looks a bit off and am not sure if it's the good stuff or if it's useable. Maybe I'll give it a shot when my VDH and C.O Bigelow run low.

It's not fancy but I also like William's shave soap. I tend to like wetter, more foamy lather, maybe because of the dry climate in my neck of the woods. The lemon verbena scent also appeals to me in a very nostalgic way.

[QUOTE=SewerGuy;691720]You know, Williams ain't that bad. You probably won't get the "total" shaving experience your looking for from it. I think it's a working mans soap. Nothing fancy, just gets the job done and quite well, actually.

I am always up for the Williams defence! I suppose it is because I am a working man. I think if it cost more, it would be more "prestigous" ! I have tried others and some do not work as well. 99 cents at Kroger means more money for razors! I am going to try the addition of a few drops of glycirine as so many have recommended. Might make a good thing better? The aroma is reminiscent of the barber shop smell from my youth!

think I will stock up on this stuff since its hard to find

I guess it depends on the location, but here in the Northeast it seems to be just about everywhere. Most of the big chain stores only really sell goop-in-a-can type products, but they will often have some Williams and the classic Pinaud AS lurking in a dark corner somewhere. NYC has lots of great little old school chemist shops that sell a range of quality shaving supplies and they too often will have pucks of Williams floating around. I saw one selling Williams once for $2.49!!! (that's expensive)

I used Williams before moving onto straights and agree with all the previous positive comments. It costs $1, produces a very nice lather if prepared properly and a puck will last ages in your rotation. It's hard to argue with that.

It's also a good component in Uberlather since it doesn't have much of a sent and allows the cream ingredient to carry that role without any competition.