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Your patience with another newbie is appreciated. I am finishing my first puck of shave soap, VDH Deluxe. I am very satisfied with it but would like to try something else next. I am not looking at the high end, "I just won the lottery", soaps. Some contenders I am looking at are: Proraso White or one of the artisan soaps like Kell's, or Ogallala?
Suggestions appreciated..........
Bob
There are so many fine possibilities out there, so many that I will never be able to try most of them given how long lasting that they are in use.
Why not try one of the classics such as Mitchell's Wool Fat, Tabac, Cella, ProRaso? They can usually be gotten for less than $ 20. I use all of them. Of course there is always the ever controversial Williams available almost everywhere for about $ 1.00. If you need a classic right away, Bath and Body Works carries C.O. Bigelow cream (ProRaso green) in $ 5 and $ 10 tubes. Strongly scented soaps and creams can be irritating to some people. I have never had an irritation issue with MWF, Tabac, and Cella.
Mama Bear's makes glycerine based soaps many of which have pronounced long lasting scents from the puck. The ones that I have tried cost well under $ 20/puck. So far, I like her Almond scented soap the best. My granddaughter also likes her Almond scented soap telling me that she has noticed a skin improvement on her legs after switching away from the canned products found in supermarkets and pharmacies.
I often make uberlather. Try dribbling lather from a mug with puck into a bowl containing 6 drops of glycerine and a small tooth brush sized dollop of cream, then whip them together into a lather slowly adding as much water as needed (dip brush tips in water). I often use a scuttle to keep my lather warm, but a bowl will also work. I do it cold in humid weather (no hot water in the scuttle) and warm in cool seasons. Do not be afraid to add more water to your lather if it is starting to get thick and dry. Also rehydrate your lathered face using water or more lather as often as necessary to keep it and your face hairs moist.
HTH
my favorit under 5$ is La Toja stick. i grind it down in a bowl and then press is with my fingers so its like a hardsoap in a bowl, abit easier to load the brush in it.. it gives a rich lather and i like the simple smell. one of those soaps that smells soap.
Maybe try a cream like The Body Shops Maca Root shave cream.
Bob
+1, though I often see D.R. Harris appended to that list as well.Quote:
Originally Posted by sheajohnw
But don't discount Ogallala either. Good stuff - just be sure to use a little bit extra water, and lather a little longer, to get a good thick consistency.
I would say any fine English soap like harris or trumpers. I think they are reasonably priced and are of very high quality. With them you need never go higher knowing you have a true class soap.
All of the previous suggestions are excellent. Tabac is a great choice imho.
I just got a puck of Ogallala Bay Rum shaving soap and fell in love with it. I've never tried Kells, but have used Proraso Green. I prefer Proraso as a shaving cream, not a soap.
If you don't want to break the bank, try one or more of the Mama Bear's brand shaving soaps. They are a great value for the money.
Handmade Shaving Soaps, Mama Bears Soaps
John excellent suggestions very well written. I couldn't say this any better than you already have.
Tom
Thanks y'all! I really appreciate the input! Keep 'em coming...........
You're a Texan -- buy American! From my seven years of hands-on wet-shaving experience, I highly recommend any of the offerings from QED -- either one of their shave sticks, or tubs (I own and use multiple items from both product lines).
QED shaving soaps contain only Essential Oils -- never synthetic, Fragrance Oils -- and lather, lubricate, and moisturize "like a champ".
JBH-While their QED soap may be great, their "Cruelty Free" comment rubs me the wrong way as a hunter. I guess I am just not PC enough. I sincerely appreciate the recommendation though.
You can't go wrong with Tabac - very masculine too.
Another vote for Tabac...one of my favourites. A couple other really inexpensive ones I like are Arko or if you want to try a cream then give Spiek a try...both are great especially for the price point. Another thing that may help with the recommendations is to let us know what type of scents you're into.
So... don't shoot at it, shave with it! :rofl2: (and be careful with those acronyms!)Quote:
Originally Posted by Lince
Cella.......= tons of slick suds....nuff said
Check out stirlingsoap.com I have a puck of their Anise, and it's aces across the board.
Ogallala is one of my favorites. I like the clove note in the soap and aftershave. It brings back childhood memories of grandma's house back in the 1950's. SRD Opus X (tobacco) is another of my favs. And don't ignore the more expensive D.R. Harris. It may be 3x the cost of a glycerin soap, but will last 3-4x longer.
Bob:
Here is a lineup of quality soaps at reasonable prices that might interest you: Tabac, Mitchell's Wool Fat, Valobra, Mama Bear, Institute Karite, Provence Sante Verlaine, Edwin Jagger and Muhle. Klar Kabinett, from Germany, which comes in bricks similar to butter sticks, is an excellent barber soap. It is reasonably priced and well worth it.
Lots of good suggestions here on soaps, enough, in fact, to make a person indecisive. If there is a Crabtree & Evelyn store near you, check out their Sienna shave soap. It's a top notch tallow based soap with an incredible scent and produces an excellent lather, comes in a wooden bowl, will last you a long while, and it's only twenty-some dollars. You can also order it online. Good luck!
I've gone through some soaps and creams for sure. I thought I liked creams better then I went to soaps...all he while buying any samples I could get. I've settled on the hard creams like castle Forbes and Esbjerg.
Can't go wrong with mamma bears shaving soap there wonderful... And the price is right... Mwf is an all time favorite ...
I've been using a hand made goats milk shaving soap (unscented - I have a lousy sense of smell) and it has worked well but I have sensitive skin and have switched to Van Der Hagen glycerin Shave Soap and its under $2 a puck and available in many places. Check their web site for locations Welcome to van der Hagen + The Premier Specialty Bar Soap Manufacturer. I've also experimented with pre shaves and so far have found mineral oil works well for me.
Hope this helps.
OK y'all. Italian Barber had both of these on sale, so they are my next victims: RazoRock Fresco, Proraso White Tub.
I had my first shave with the Proraso White tub and second with the new Omega 10066. What a step up from the VDH brush and soap. Lather was a snap and the shave was great. Tomorrow the RazoRock Fresco gets the nod......
Thanks again..........I have a few more picked out for later.
Bob
Those are the two I was going to suggest. You won't be disappointed with the fresco, it is one of my favorite products.
Another vote for DR Harris. Great suds. Check out "Marlborough" It has a very fresh scent.
I have to vote for Tabac. This soap is easy for me to use and allows for a close comfortable shave.
Dave
Ok. I'll have to agree with the Mitchell's Wool Fat, Tabac, Cella, ProRaso and all the other excellent choices suggested. One thing though, I have most all these and use all of them, yet I find myself always pulled to either the Tabac or to one of my selections of a brand not mentioned yet. Mikes Natural Soaps! mikesnaturalsoaps.com has many strong scents that'll increase your testosterone levels 18% in a tallow based soap that'll whip up some of the gnarliest lather. My two cents anyways....
OK-I have had a chance to shave with both the Proraso White tub and the RazorRock Fresco. Both lathered easily and gave a good shave. They were both also a huge step up from the VDH. Of the two, so far I like the Proraso White better.
I was lucky enough to have a few sticks sent to me try also: La Toja, Speick, and Arko. All have done a great job as far as the ease of lathering and the quality of the shaves. The Arko did indeed smell like a urinal puck at first blush, but settled down into a pleasant sent.
The Omega 10066 is an excellent choice brushwise--I love mine. I was going to recommend the Speick stick, glad you have it-I'm sure you'll like that one.
Consider the Valobra shave stick as well. That's the best soap I've found so far.
Marty E.
Thanks Marty!
In a previous post I listed my buys at the local Walmart of various soaps and creams. Among them was this little bottle of18.75ml labeled Shave Secret. I have finally got around to trying it. A no lather, no cream solution. Wet your face, rub 3 -5 drops in your palms and apply. Wet razor (I used a DE this time), dampen face again and shave. Rinse razor and shave again. I was surprised at ease of shave and lack of razor burn. I was not pleased with the fact that for a BBS I had to shave several times more in various directions. Normally with a DE two passes does the job. I used an Astra blade.
I had previously tried the other crčams, namely Cremo and Neutrogena Shave Cream for Sensitive Skin, both applied by hand. Nothing to write home about but useful if in a rush and I wouldn't use anything but a DE with them.
Live and Learn - and sometimes regret the expenditure on a shelf stuffer.
The easy-to-find Bath & Body Works carries $5.00 travel-sized (and $10 large) tubes of C.O. Bigelow shaving cream; It is rebadged Prorasa far as I can tell. Nice stuff.
On July 28 I ordered jar of Panna Crema. It arrived this morning. Eight days for international mailing, not bad. Only complaint is the sceww lid was cracked, but no big deal. Looking forward to trying it as soon as I have a few new/old 4/8 honed.
Mike's Natural Soaps. Great scents. Very smooth shave. Excellent lather.