Thread: Hard and soft soaps

Originally Posted by milant

Since I love shaving with a good creme, I decided to give a soap a try. After reading stellar reviews, I bought Mitchell Fat Wool. However, I have found that I have difficult time making good lather. In further research, I have learned that MWF is a hard soap that is not at easy to create lather with particularly if you happen to have hard water, which I, you guessed it, am plagued with.
I don't want to give up on soaps (or MWF for that matter) so I would like to give another good, but softer soap a try. I have heard people rave about Tabac and Dr. Harris's soaps, but my primary concern is to find one that will be a touch easier to make lather with.
Cheers!

DR Harris is certainly reliable and easy to use and find. If your budget allows, take a look at Klar Seifen, Calani and Czech &Speake. All top soaps, easy to use and great performers.

A little less $ is Haslingers and Dr. Dittmars. I've used the former but not the latter though both are well regarded by folks I know. Of the four I've listed that I personally used, they were all easier than the MWF to lather( for me), though I don't find the MWF particularly troublesome...just that initial foamy proto-lather.

Hard soaps are fantastic once you get the hang of lathering them, which does take time and effort. Soft soaps and glyceryn based hard soaps are easier to lather and are quite nice. Tabac is very easy to lather, especially considering that it's a hard tallow soap. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Tabac - I've never heard anyone complain that it's hard to use

Some other good choices: Proraso, SRD, Cella, Martin de Candre (expensive but excellent), and L'Occitane.

Milant,

I had a hard time with MWF the first several times I tried to lather it. This video Mantic59 put out helped me figure it out:

How To Lather Mitchell's Wool Fat Shave Soap - YouTube