Thread: Williams Shaving Soap Users

Just saw Williams at Meijers. Must have been about 30 boxes there. Is wet shaving getting popular now?? hehe!

I've been using Williams forever, mostly on account that it is what is found at CVS here. Ten years ago I used it with a straight, and since with disposables. I lather on my face, and if what I read is correct, dryer than most.

Nothing fancy to my technique, which hasn't changed in, oh, say 30 years to be benign. Just wet the soap, run hot water over the brush, shake and mush the tip of the brush on the soap with a little twist several times, then roll it like beating eggs. It is by now pretty dry, so I'll drip a bit of water on the side of the brush. With a wet face, I do quick round strokes while pushing into the face going all over. I do this several times (most pleasant this part) until lather forms. It is not a huge, oh-my-gawd kind of lather, but it's rich and thick, sorta like whipped cream.

Only started soaking the brush about six months ago, some time after I started reading articles and posts here. I think it made a small difference for the better. I've meant to buy glycerin to add a few drops, also after reading about it here, but haven't gotten around to it.

I'm not unhappy with it, but I have naturally started to wonder about other soaps and have a list of "must try", "would try" and "maybe try" that should take me well into old age. Once I get my razor ready and start using it again, buy a new strop and all that, I think I'll buy another mug and a cake of fancy soap to try.

Mind you, this is only my experience, and I have absolutely nothing to compare Williams to, not even vintage Williams, but it has been a competent soap for me. On the other hand, once I try something else you may just find me posting that I can't believe I put up with that s***t for all those years.

Originally Posted by Snake

On the other hand, once I try something else you may just find me posting that I can't believe I put up with that s***t for all those years.

Ahahahahahahahaha! Love it, same with me, except I just started today... as soon as the mailman came with my new/only brush. Shaving is way smoother with a brush as compared to anything I've tried before, even with a sub-par Mach5. I kept the lather pretty thin, doing about the same rinsing an soaking the brush, except i didn't run water over the soap, or smush the brush into the soap, but will try next time. Thanks for the advice and the laugh.

I use Williams soap in a pinch. It is about $1.25 in my area. I am limited to either VDH deluxe or Williams. I would suggest VDH over the Williams.

Originally Posted by northpaw

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!

I'm very excited to find this forum. I usually worry when I have an original idea because that gets me in trouble usually. Well, I couldn't make a lather to save my life before today. I found a killer video from Jockeys, and gave it a shot. With three different bars of soap, Williams gave me the best, LONG LASTING lather. I figured "Awesome!... Now we gotta do something about the fragrance" Granted, it's not bad, but I've smelled almond soaps, and enjoy them immensely.
Though I don't yet own my own almond odored soap, I remembered an old lady/girl friend left her cucumber dove here a few years back. What the hell, now I can make lather, let's try mixing just a dab. Low and behold, that mixed beautifully. So well in fact I had to remind myself it was soap, and not food.

After the success of the lather I went to thank Jockeys, and browse the soaps forums. Williams Users was the first on the list. Click! The first page I find Northpaws post and realize we are on to something.
I am def. Gonna score a case of Williams the first chance I get. Gonna try mixing it with all different scents and see which comes out best.

BTW, glycerin (from what I've been told, don't own any YET) is supposed to moisturize. I know it is high on the list of ingredients for liquid soaps, keeping it from solidifying.

Originally Posted by Elon9669

With three different bars of soap, Williams gave me the best, LONG LASTING lather. I figured "Awesome!...

Williams gave you the best lather compared to what??????

Man, if you're getting this excited over Williams just wait until you try the top shelf stuff...

1. Williams
2. Van something they sell at CVS. I threw away the box before noting the brand(second best lather)
3. Caswell-Massey 1752 Sandalwood. The most expensive of the soaps I've bought, and the worst performer. In all honesty, I bought this one for the packaging. It came with a nice wooden bowl. I learned my lesson on free soap bowls. if there's soap in the bowl, throw the soap away, keep the bowl.

Originally Posted by Elon9669

.....snip....
3. Caswell-Massey 1752 Sandalwood. The most expensive of the soaps I've bought, and the worst performer. In all honesty, I bought this one for the packaging. It came with a nice wooden bowl. I learned my lesson on free soap bowls. if there's soap in the bowl, throw the soap away, keep the bowl.

+1

I would say it slightly different.
Get the refill and not the bowl. If you love
the soap then consider the bowl+soap combo
when you run low.

I only toss a soap if it makes me sneeze. I have
been pleasantly surprised how well a soap that
I almost tossed works with a pea size bit of
Prosaro or Erasmic.

Caswell-Massey is a well made well balanced
old school soap. If you like the fragrance keep it and give
it a second try in six months....

Be gentle knocking it out of the wood bowl.
If it does not pop out with a little gentle help
just use the heck out of it practicing. Snag
a $8.00 boar brush and abuse the heck out
of the soap and brush...

I am super new to wet shaving and will be straight razor shaving as soon as my razor comes in the mail. To prepare for the arrival of my straight razor, I purchased some Williams Mug soap at CVS today. When I got home, I lathered up with the Williams for a shave with my multi-bladed safety razor. What a difference! I can't believe how much better of a shave I got using shaving soap and a brush compared to a shave with the canned stuff. Now I can hardly wait for my straight razor to arrive. I think that I will try out some of the more expensive soaps once I get the hang of this new shaving experience.

Originally Posted by jeffegg2

Just saw Williams at Meijers. Must have been about 30 boxes there. Is wet shaving getting popular now?? hehe!

I've noticed that the stores in my area are having a hard time keeping williams and van der hagen in stock. DE blades are going even faster. looks like people are figuring it out.