I guess I'm a Cream Guy?

So at this point in my shaving odyssey I've tried 4 different soaps of varying qualities and I've hated them all. I can't get a good lather, it dries weirdly and while I like the feel of my skin afterward I get a terrible shave. The 4 I've tried are Dirty-Deeds soap (an admittedly subpar kind...not really meant for shaving, I discovered), VDH, a menthol soap from Larry, and Bald Frog. None of them have left me happy.

Granted, the only cream I've used is from Real Shaving Co, but the consistency and use of cream is just easier and more my speed. I've never had a problem getting a great lather and it works superbly each time (well, adjusted for me technique, at least!).

Anyone in my boat? Anyone out there who can't stand creams and wants to chime in? I'll admit I'm bored so I'm going around writing frivolous posts.

Cade soaps and creams both work nicely.

You know how there are all these soaps that have been used for 100+ years? With names every wetshaver seems to know?

There's a REASON for that.

I've only ever heard of one of those soaps, and while it's a workable soap, it's still a melt-n-pour bit of nothing special. The cream you're using is, on the other hand, a top shelf product every bit the equal of the big 3 English brands. So....your sample set is not really representative.

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Originally Posted by JimR

I've only ever heard of one of those soaps, and while it's a workable soap, it's still a melt-n-pour bit of nothing special. The cream you're using is, on the other hand, a top shelf product every bit the equal of the big 3 English brands. So....your sample set is not really representative.

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+1. It isn't fair to tar and feather all soaps because some no-name varieties didn't work out for you. Before giving up on soaps try some of the good brands. There are tons of recommendations in this sub forum to get you started.

Ah. I had read a bit about VDH and Bald Frog that indicated they were pretty good. I guess I was mistaken; I thought it was fairly representative (bad soaps to decent soaps to pretty good soaps) but apparently I'm way off. Good thing I posted this then!!!!

You know, I prefer Shave Cream myself, but there are good soaps out there like the aforementioned L'Occtaine.
Tabac, MWF, SRD, P160 and Czeck and Speake 88 to name a few. Give one of those a shot, and see how you like it. Of course, you can always Uber the one's you have. Grab a bottle of Kiss my face, and some Glycerin and your in business.

I find myself enjoying creams a bit lately but that is mostly due to my hard water and stubbornness (i won't buy a water softener). The creams I have tried lather well with anything from my super hard VA water to well water from western OK and lake water in MA and VA.

That being said, I keep trying soaps. I like mama bear soaps ok but they don't offer the cushion I get out of my creams. The ogalolla soap isn't bad but compared to the creams I've been using it just isn't in the same ball park (real shave co., palmolive, Caswell Massey, TOBS, Edwin Jager). I need to spend money on good soap this winter :).

I've been using Mitchell's Wool Fat soap recently. Works up a nice lather, but...because I'm a slow shaver...it can dry before I'm done. I've found that I have to add more water to the lather and make it really well hydrated to get it to work well for me. Perhaps you just need to coax the most out of your soaps?

I've also tried a cream from some company called Castle Forbes. Works very nicely. Why worry? Use what you enjoy.

I tried MWF for the first time tonight and it was really a lovely, thick-lathered, well protected shave...creams are easier and require a little less effort on technique, but there are some soaps I really would miss if I didn't have them (Trumper's Coconut...T&H Luxury...). Wetshaving is something you will continue to do and get better at for years and years...I guess if creams work for you now, great, but I wouldn't rule out a fairly large variety of great options so quickly...

D.R. Harris makes great soap. Spend the $15 on a puck of quality soap and your face will thank you.

I just want to stick up for the Bald Frog here! I think it's a great soap. I have a lot of soaps and creams of various brands, my suggestion would be to work at adding a drop more water when necessary and maybe working more lather into your brush? I don't know your technique so it's hard to say...personally I prefer soaps to creams but I do enjoy both. Just seems with a cream I'm missing out on what I consider a traditional part of the shave prep, like it's almost too easy.

A soap that I would suggest you try is the Arko shave stick. Nice clean scent and lathers easily, no matter how hard or soft your water is. Can usually be found for less than $2. Well worth adding to your shave den.

My first suggestion is to not give up. You have only tried 4 soaps and 1 cream. Your point of reference is quite small.

Granted, Real Shaving Co is an excellent cream (one of my favorites) and is quite easy to lather, you really should try some better soaps. Col Conk's is a good, inexpensive alternative that is relatively easy to lather well. Also I have been using Mama Bears Soaps recently and love them. Very slick and very easy to lather once I figured out the magic formula.

One of the biggest things is that soaps require a very different technique to lather than creams. For most of the creams I've tried I can soak the brush, put a dab of cream in my lathering bowl and simply shake the brush lightly to get out excess water. I leave the brush quite damp and usually get great lather with only having to add a small amount. For soaps I soak the brush and put a small amount of water on top of the puck of soap (usually a 1/2 teaspoon). Here's where it gets quite different. I drain the water off of the puck of soap into my bowl and squeeze out the brush to get most of the water out of it. Next I will swirl the brush on the puck of soap for the length of time it takes me to count to 60 at just slightly faster pace than one count per second. From there I can build my lather and maybe add a few drops of water.

Creams and soaps really are two different creatures when it comes to building lather but if you get a good one from either category it will work great.

Charlie

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Originally Posted by Theseus

A soap that I would suggest you try is the Arko shave stick. Nice clean scent and lathers easily, no matter how hard or soft your water is. Can usually be found for less than $2. Well worth adding to your shave den.

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+1... arko has been a much used and loved addition to my shave kit........ lathers easily and does what its supposed to...

Also going to stick up for Bald Frog. It works great for me. You might just keep trying them. If not, send 'em to me! :)

Alternatively, take a look at Obie's recent thread "The Keepers.". There are several good/great ideas for soaps in there. I like MWF and Provence Sante. You could use Obie's list for a shopping list and not go wrong.

It is kind of like using a true shave ready straight from a reputable Honemeister. Using something that lots of people have used before can give you a good frame of reference. See above for all the good suggestions from people who have used the soaps.

However, I would be extremely hesitant, extremely, about disparaging all or certain soaps based in such a small sample size. You admitted that several of the soaps you tried weren't even very good for shaving. Doesn't sound like you have really gotten a good start. Keep looking. Grab one off Obie's list, put the bald frog away for a bit and try it again once you've learned which soaps you really like. Throw the others away If they aren't for shaving. I thought I'd be a cream guy based on my experience with Proraso, but I got one, then two, now several soaps. I love soaps, but I'm not discounting the possibility of using creams. Keep your options open.

Well. I'm certainly not saying soaps suck. I'm saying that in my limited experiences, I prefer cream to soap so far. Despite the varying qualities, the process of cream is more my style. If I stumble upon a soap, I will try it. I really want to try MWF and Taylors soaps. And Colonel Conk. I will buy them when I can. But right now I'm limited in scope because RS cream is what fits my budget.

But all things equal, if I could choose between a soap or a cream at any given time, I'm picking the cream.

You can't go wrong with the RS cream.

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Originally Posted by U2Bono269

Despite the varying qualities, the process of cream is more my style. If I stumble upon a soap, I will try it.

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I can certainly respect that. I feel the same way about soap. The whole process can be an exercise in mindfullness, so you should absolutely do what you like best. In the end, it's a sharp piece of steel scraping hair off our faces. Many roads to Dublin.

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Originally Posted by medicevans

Many roads to Dublin.

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Funny. I live in Dublin. Not the Irish one.

I do love my creams...vulfix rose and lime, spiek
I do love my soaps....proraso, cella, williams (gasp I know right?! who the #@&% says williams, but I found out how to lather it and it goes great with spiek cream :)

I have Mamabears north woods and masonic lodge in transit so I hope to enjoy playing with them as well!

If you put a gun to my head though and asked me to pick soap or cream....I would gladly meet Jesus that day, its just not a fair choice lol

I also have converted to Mama Bears Products. Col Conk isn't bad but I only have it in my travel bag and notice the difference right away. I'll replace the Conk with a Bear very soon.

Today I had my first shave with a soap, Colonel Conk. I normally use Bigelow cream with a few drops of glycerin in a scuttle with cross-hatching in it. My experience with the Bigalow this way is I get plenty of lather for three passes.

When I used the Conk, I made sure to get plenty on the bristles. I also used my father's-in-law boar, which is a bit coarser than the badger I normally use.

I would make enough lather that appeared to be good for one pass, but after that first pass I just dipped the brush in water and I easily and quickly made enough for the second. It was the same for the third.

And I got a fine shave. I think Conk was a good soap to get me started; and it's very inexpensive.

As you have seen Markdfhr, all we shavers travel a crooked road never quite reaching the perfect shave or even the perfect soap or cream. As you can see by the glimpse into alb1981's stockpile, we like different things at different times.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone and may the New Year bring positive change to our Country and you.

Yeah, I purchased the Conk I think before my first razor came in back in September. I finally decided to give soaps a go. I think I would otherwise be missing out on a full half of the world of soaps and creams. I look forward to the journey.

May 2012 be your best year ever, with better still to come.

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Originally Posted by markdfhr

Yeah, I purchased the Conk I think before my first razor came in back in September. I finally decided to give soaps a go. I think I would otherwise be missing out on a full half of the world of soaps and creams. I look forward to the journey.May 2012 be your best year ever, with better still to come.

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Now you need to try your first shave stick: Arko Barber's Shaving Soap 'Berber Traþ Sabunu' (75g) by Arko (Arko Barber's Shaving Soap 'Berber Tras Sabunu' (75g) by Arko): Tulumba.com

+1 on the Arko! I got a box of the stuff on amazon for $19. If you dont like using the stick simply grate it into a container and use as normal. I love its scent, and that its tallow based...

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Originally Posted by Theseus

Now you need to try your first shave stick

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I will have to take you up on that. I've heard nothing but good things about this. Thank you for the link, sir!

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Originally Posted by markdfhr

I will have to take you up on that. I've heard nothing but good things about this. Thank you for the link, sir!

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The inexpensive Arko creams, AS creams and AS balms they sell there are quite good as well.