Thread: Williams shaving soap. oppinions?

I think that there are more Williams thread than any other wet shaving product. That said, Williams is one of the more difficult soaps to get a good lather out of, but can perform decently if you get it working. The usual method is to use a *LOT* of water ( like 2-3 times as much as you'd expect) or to superlather it ( load the brush with Williams then add an inexpensive cream ( I had good results with derby).

YMMV applies to Williams more than almost anything else. it is cheap enough to try, so no reason not to, IMO.

I have no complaints about Williams. For 1.88 it is cost effective. I only use it now adays to break in boar brushes. Rarely I will shave with it. No problems just when you have Proraso, arko, mikes naturals, C&E and mammabears laying around why use Williams?

It was my first soap, love the scent. Never liked the lather it produces so I switched to Proraso.

I mainly now just face lather with it. However I do add a little shave cream to it. Good hot water in the brush to help load the soap and it lather great. For me on face anyway.

From what I've noticed over the last little while that other than practice, another trick is just adding a few drops of glycerine to help make the lather, and give it more staying power. I haven't tried it myself as I have enough soaps to last until the Shavepocalypse, but it's what I've heard. I haven't found it drying on my skin personally, and I tend to keep whipping it up with a couple of drops of water before every pass anyway, so that may be my accidental solution to the problem.

Granted I'm a noob, but the Williams was the first soap I tried. Even when I seemed to get the lather "right" it still seemed to dry on my face really fast. I have tried VDH next and do not have that problem. Now I want to try Proraso or Mamma's Bear.

I like it and still use it on occasion. As compiled from other recommendations, I fill my cup with hot water and let the puck and brush soak in it while I prep and strop. I then dump it, leave the brush loaded with water, and work it vigorously, I also "pump" the brush, vertically moving it up and down in the lather (which seems to pull air into it to me). The lather is a little less stiff than cool whip - not quite stiff but not runny.

I personally enjoy Williams with a dollop of prorasso for its menthol

I like Modern Williams - I've had an easy time lathering it and all of my shaves with it have been wonderful.

I will only use vintage williams. The new stuff just can't compete with the others. It is a good soap and will get the job done but with lots of work. So to me, there is not much point. To each is own though