Thread: williams for starters?

I must agree with Theseus. A great man once told this group to get one puck and lather it over and over until it is gone, then get a better soap and try it. you will definitely get a better lather using this system. In this sense I consider Williams a tool, but not in its advertised form.

Many of us started with the old familiar soaps, Williams, Surrey,Col Conk and yes they are cheap but not the best performing. It takes some skill to get the max out of them which will teach you much about lather production. Most quickly move on the something better though we have plenty of members who are minimalists and stick with it and enjoy it. Like they say, "it gets the job done".

thanks for all the replies! I think I may try the williams to learn how to do some good ole lathering.
I mean it is so cheap. What could I lose right? Then once I git it down just git some nicer stuff.

but thanks again for all your feedback, super helpful!

There used to be a senior member/developer here, BeBerlin, who advocated starting off at the top instead of the very bottom, his reasoning being that the whole experience will be improved: lathering, glide, skin conditioning. IIRC it was Castle Forbes that he recommended to newbs all the time. I would have to agree on the ease-of-lathering part. Trying to get a good lather out of Williams might drive a newb back to an electric lol....

I started with it many years ago. Learned how to lather it well with a silvertip brush and never felt the need to try anything else. I have a thick beard and demand BBS shaves. I get them with the cheap WIlliams pucks. Of course, YMMV and many here seem to like to spend money. For me, it's SHAVING SOAP. Nothing more. Nothing less. Millions of pucks sold say something for it, doesn't it?

I too shave with Williams. For the price of some of the shaving soaps I can shave an entire year or more with williams. Everyone has their priorities on spending money and I would rather put it into buying more razors.

Originally Posted by omega1300

Hi - I'm still pretty new to this, but if the "Williams" you're referring to is William Marvy soap, then I know that hands down. I've been using Williams Marvy and have just about used a puck up (also my first soap and until tonight, then only thing I've used) - I've had a very difficult time getting a good lather out of it (and what you get seems to break down quickly). I started adding a few drops of glycerin lately, and that seems to help, but although I've got to the point where it's passable - it's nothing close to the creamy, thick lather some of these guys post pictures of.

I'd try something a bit better if you can.

The William Marvy you are using is not Williams Mug Soap.
The Marvy stuff is utter trash. I had some that came with an eBay purchase. I tried making a lather twice then stuck it in the shower. Ivory soap lathers better than Marvy.

I also like the Proraso. I am also a newb and couldn't get it to lather correct. I gave up, thre it out and bought the Proraso. It is 100% better and easier to use (atleast for me haha) IMHO

I have never gotten good lather from Williams....Every other soap I've tried has been superior so far in terms of Lather, and cushion too.

I'd recommend Tabac for a beginner, it's about 10$ which really isn't THAT much money and lathers easily, shaves great too!

Go for the Williams. I have used it for over 40 years and have found it to be a good soap. There are better and there are worse with Marvy being near the bottom of the list.

I have never had any trouble lathering with Williams though it does need a little more water than others. I think if it were $7.00 instead of $.97 at the local grocery, it would get a higher rating.

Just my opinion.

Will N.