Thread: williams for starters?

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 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.

Originally Posted by WillN

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.

I don't think the price would affect it's rating at all...If anything it'd be worse.
YMMV but like I said I've tried this soap about 15 times on different pucks and the Vintage stuff was 10x better than the new stuff because they changed the formula years ago.

Also if you have anything remotely near hard water...good luck lol.

if it works for you....don't fix it.

You must get the Williams soap , just so you can say you tried it . I think we all need to try it at least once . I tried it back around 1971 or so . It sucked , and I went back to the Gillette Foamy or whatever it was I was using . If what I was using was the "vintage stuff" , the new stuff must REALLY suck .

At about a buck a puck, you gotta try it. Worst case scenario, you'll get bored with it like me and have a shower soap with a vaguely interesting scent.

If you want cheap locally available soap, buy a puck of VDH from Walgreens. If you want, you can grab a stick of Arko for pretty cheap, as well. Every one should try Williams at some point, but that point should not be learning to shave, IMO.

I use Williams - it works fine for me; I get great shaves with it. Whether or not you'll like it or learn to use it is another thing entirely. No one should say it won't work for you.. except you.

Originally Posted by Sargon

If you want cheap locally available soap, buy a puck of VDH from Walgreens. If you want, you can grab a stick of Arko for pretty cheap, as well. Every one should try Williams at some point, but that point should not be learning to shave, IMO.

+1. VDH for beginners, Williams can be useful for various purposes but as a beginner's soap I wouldn't recommend it.