My two theories about shaving soap

[kingfisher]

1. The Xillion Theory

Anybody who's been around this site for any length of time will understand what I'm talking about here. It seems like every time somebody makes a post about a particular soap, like "Hey, anybody tried Jermyn Street?" or whatever, Xillion will post the most amazing lather porn in the universe, and everybody on B&B will think, "Jermyn Street (or whatever soap was asked about) must be the best soap in the world; I need to buy some right now."

But I got to thinking.......All of Xillion's lathers look amazing. So, either he's just posting the same amazing lather picture every time and pretending it's from the soap in question (which I'm neither implying nor insinuating) or he just makes amazing lathers out of pretty much all his soaps. Think about it: the only thing all those lathers have in common is Xillion. So, the point is not that Jermyn Street or X or Y soap is completely amazing; it's the Xillion is an amazing lather maker.

I'll make an analogy. I'm sure that Rory McIlroy has his clubs built to his exact specifications and all, but does anybody doubt that he could just walk into the clubhouse at your local golf course, rent the crappiest set of K-Mart golf clubs in the world, and still kick your butt on the course? Why? Because he's Rory McIlroy. He plays great golf not because he has the world's best clubs, but because he knows how to use them.

What is my point? My point is that the goal should be changed from "I need to buy the world's best shaving soap" to "I need to become an outstanding lather maker." This is the approach I have taken. Every day when I make lather I try to make the best lather in the world. Lather that is better than yesterday's lather. Lather that would make Xillion jealous. And you know what? By concentrating on becoming better at making lather, I have an awesome lather EVERY SINGLE DAY.

2. A corollary theory

I think that soap lather can only be so good, and no more. I think soap lather approaches ideal as an asymptote. I think that, at a certain point, it becomes physicochemically impossible for a lather to be any better than it already is.

What is my point? My point is that there is no magic shaving soap that makes lather that is 10 times better than any other soap lather. If you have a reasonable shaving soap and you are a talented/experienced lather maker, almost all soap lathers are essentially identical. This also points out the absurdity of "I need to buy the world's best shaving soap." It changes the rubric to "I need to buy a quality shaving soap." Because I truly believe that, although there are subtle differences in shaving soap characteristics (mostly having to do with how difficult or tricky it is to coax the best lather from it), if you have a quality soap and you know how to make lather, you can make a lather that abuts its physicochemical limits, that essentially reaches its asymptote. And that, my friends, is shaving soap bliss.

So find a quality soap in a scent you enjoy and then practice. McIlroy didn't become an awesome golfer without going to the driving range a few times.

 

[texaninkc]

Although I do like your theories, Rory McIlroy probably has his favorite golf clubs. I've reached the point where I can just about make a good lather out of anything you put in front of me (with some exceptions of course: crappy soaps). I also have my favorite soaps based on different categories: performance, scent, and latherability. I see your point that ultimately, someone that is new to the game should focus on making their technique better. Some of my favorites when I first started are no longer in the den; and some bad ones have moved to favorites. All because I got better at it and my ratings changed.

So although this whole game is still consistently all about YMMV, there are some products that are better and easier to use than others. I will always recommend P160, AOS, and MdC to a newbie getting started because they are great easy products to start with.

I guess my point is if I'm going to pick up a hobby, I want to start by using the tools that are as newbie-friendly as possible so that I can perfect my technique. Ultimately, the newbie is the one that benefits from these "what's the best threads" because they want to use the same golf clubs Rory does. I stopped asking because I figured out what works for me. I could not have done it without the guidance of the "what's best threads."

 

[brucered]

My point is that the goal should be changed from "I need to buy the world's best shaving soap" to "I need to become an outstanding lather maker." This is the approach I have taken. Every day when I make lather I try to make the best lather in the world. Lather that is better than yesterday's lather. Lather that would make Xillion jealous. And you know what? By concentrating on becoming better at making lather, I have an awesome lather EVERY SINGLE DAY.

Excellent post and thoughts. I use the above point for my lather as well.

I also have been in the 3017 thread and concentrating on using up products from start to finish, instead of jumping from soap to cream to cream to soap all in a week. It has helped greatly and has allowed me to dial in products and concentrate on what makes them perform to their best.

 

[Bigsurprise]

Well said, and I agree with both of your theories. It took me 6 months before I realized how important it is to fine tune your lather making ability.

I also agree with Texaninkc, some products are just easier to lather and are excellent if you are just learning the ropes.

 

[goatee]

i have been coming to that same conclusion these last few months. i am totally becoming an amazing latherer!!! some soaps do "pop" a little more than others, but nothing worth spending double or triple the cash for.

 

[reboot]

Just to add to the confusion, not everybody likes the same kind of lather. I worked with a man about a month ago who likes his lather rather thin and he applies only a thin film of that to his face. He says it's so he can "see what he's doing". To each his own. I like my lather to be slick and I don't need to apply a ton of it to the point where I'm looking at Santa Claus in the mirror.

 

[BrookR1]

I guess if latherability is your only criteria for judging a soap, then I will agree with everything you say. But for me, I judge a soap more by its slickness (and not just how much, but the quality). If it lathers halfway decent, and it's a nice slick soap, then I'm sold. And let's be honest, even some of the worst soaps and creams can be lathered to look great. I lathered a bar of Oil of Olay bath soap and it had lots of peaks and valleys and looked very nice on the brush. Too bad a picture can't show slickness or scent.

I don't place a lot of weight in how a soap lather looks. Although I will say that Mystic Waters soap is one of the slickest and most protective soaps I've used and the lather on my face didn't last more than a few seconds before disappearing...and I spent almost two weeks with it. So, there is a minimal amount of latherability that I must have. Williams is easy to lather and it's slick enough. The scent is terrible, though.

Anyway, after purchasing a lot of different soaps (i think I have about 40 soaps and 25 creams), I've come to the conclusion that, aside from a few stinkers, they all perform very close to each other...they are all in the top 95th percentile. There are 3 or 4 in my rotation that are special to me, but everything else is very acceptable.

 

[shavefreak]

Making a perfect lather to each soaps full potential does not mean it will perform the same. Full lather potential of say Proraso or a TOBS selection does not equal the performance of ADP, Tabac, Panna Crema or Strope Shop special edition just to name a few.

 

[ouch]

 

[brucered]

Making a perfect lather to each soaps full potential does not mean it will perform the same. Full lather potential of say Proraso or a TOBS selection does not equal the performance of ADP, Tabac, Panna Crema or Strope Shop special edition just to name a few.

I don't think he meant they will all perform the same. But if you can learn to make the best lather possible with each product, you will enjoy them more then if you can make mediocre lather with them.

 

[Marcos1]

For me personally once i grasped good "soap mechanics" I can try multiple products and get good results. Understanding when to add more water, when to add more product, and how to decifer what went wrong with a mediocre lather have all helped me regardless of what product I am using.

 

[oc_in_fw]

Just to add to the confusion, not everybody likes the same kind of lather. I worked with a man about a month ago who likes his lather rather thin and he applies only a thin film of that to his face. He says it's so he can "see what he's doing". To each his own. I like my lather to be slick and I don't need to apply a ton of it to the point where I'm looking at Santa Claus in the mirror.

As a straight razor shaver, a lot of foamy cushion isn't optimal- slickness is. Our lathers tend to be wetter.

 

[SiBurning]

Soap mechanics? How 'bout mechanics soap.

And if it doesn't work out, you can have it for breakfast.

...

Personally, my lather looks like sloppy wet homemade yogurt. And I like it that way. Gave up completely trying to make anything fluffy or that explodes. I agree that it's important to be able to make a good lather that works for you, but it's a lot easier to get better lather by using a more appropriate soap than climbing that asymptote. A soap that's missing something is always going to be missing it no matter how awesome you make lather.

 

[brothers]

. . . if you can learn to make the best lather possible with each product, you will enjoy them more then if you can make mediocre lather with them.

Bruce, I nominate this for post of the decade.

 

[MrMoJoe]

I agree completely.

I do have my favorites, and soaps that I like better than others, but having said that, I have never used a soap that I could not get a good lather from with relative ease. For me, when comparing the lather and performance of all the soaps and creams I've tried, the difference between the best and the worst is not that great. By no means am I saying that all soaps are the same, as each has it's own character and nuances, but I just haven't run across one yet that I hated or could not get a good shave with. I know scent is a very subjective thing, and some scents can be a big turn-off, but when I read about people that just can't get a particular soap to "work", I just scratch my head. While I don't doubt anyone's experience as related here, I think that perceptions and expectations created in this forum definitely influence perceptions to some degree. As always, YMMV!

 

[oc_in_fw]

I don't think he meant they will all perform the same. But if you can learn to make the best lather possible with each product, you will enjoy them more then if you can make mediocre lather with them.

I learned to lather modern Williams- once you can do that, it is all coasting from there

 

[Kentos]

You forgot to factor in the importance of a good Boar brush

 

[JamesBlades]

Kingfisher, in a world without da fat, I would agree with you. Fortunately, we don't live in that world

 

[oc_in_fw]

You forgot to factor in the importance of a good Boar brush

very true. I have owned two brushes in my life- a VDH boar and a Semogue 1460. You can have my Semogue (boar) when you pry it from my cold, dead fingers

 

[mctmatt]

The Fragrance of the soap has become my number one factor in deciding if it stays in the den or not. I can produce great lather from Williams all the way to MdC. I will admit that my technique for lathering Williams is much different that what is needed for MdC ....but a great shave feels just as great as a great shave with MdC. So, as stated earlier for me it is all about the fragrance now days.