Thread: williams for starters?

Originally Posted by jhenry

I would recommend getting some Razorock shaving cream soap. It is inexpensive (approx. $7.00), excellent quality and gets good reviews by SRP members.

Ha, I just posted the exact same thoughts.

i really like Proraso, the one that comes in the tub. It's fairly inexpensive and I love that menthol kick

The problem is, you're not just "learning to lather" -- you'll be shaving with it !!!

I've had good luck with Proraso shaving soap, which is pretty cheap. I found it made a better lather than Williams.

You might also add some glycerin (easiest source is Astroglide or KY Jelly) to the lather -- that would improve the Williams lather a fair bit.

Charles

The 'William's' I use doesn't have Marvy in the name. It's the William's that's been around for a thousand years, but I heard they changed the formula at some point. I wouldn't know.

I like William's. The smell is great. I keep a puck in my teacup and use it at least once a week. A puck will last a long time and for under 2 bucks that's a bargain.

It does tend to dry out a bit, or at least it did until I learned to shave in under an hour, now I don't notice it's shortcomings nearly as much.

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 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