American shaving products

[Alfredo Becerra]

Hey guys,

Maybe you can be of some help. I've been shaving with Proraso soap and cream for years. The price has gone steadily up here in the U.S. since import taxes keep going up. So, I thought I'd shop around for American made shaving products to save a couple of bucks and, maybe, support American jobs. So far, I've had no luck.

First, I tried Williams Shaving Soap --- Strike 1

Then I tried VDH --- Better than Williams but still, strike 2

Then I tried Burt Bees shaving cream --- Strike 3, the most uncomfortable shave I've ever had.

I guess I wanted to play an extra inning and ordered a tube of Cremo Cream, I haven't received it yet but, going by the other products I tried, I am not expecting it to be any good. If Cremo Cream doesn't work then I guess I'll just happily pay the import tax and stick with Proraso.

Is there anything made in the U.S. that's as good or better than Proraso??? Any suggestions?

 

[MWS]

From what I hear, Nancy Boy shaving creams from San Fran. are quite good and worth a try. I'll be ordering some soon...

 

[kp217]

are you ordering the legit proraso? why dont you just go to bath and body works and get a tube for 10 bucks?

 

[DougK]

are you ordering the legit proraso? why dont you just go to bath and body works and get a tube for 10 bucks?

Agreed, that's probably the best way to get Proraso here.

 

[_JP_]

You switched from a cream to soaps. Soaps are a little different to lather up. I dare say that you probably had the same problem with Williams and VDH that most people do, which is not using enough soap to create the lather.

Kiss My Face shaving creams are made in the U.S.A. and I think that you'll like them. If you want to try some American made soaps, then check out our soapers here, such as Mama Bear and Saint Charles Shave.

 

[Sterling Cooper]

Hey guys,

Maybe you can be of some help. I've been shaving with Proraso soap and cream for years. The price has gone steadily up here in the U.S. since import taxes keep going up.

I don't think this one can be blamed on taxes. I'd have to check the specific customs data for soap and beauty products, but any price increases in
European shaving goods are going to be the result of the dollars steady decline over the last decade against the Euro.

Producers (and possibly a 3rd party importer) can only hold the line on pricing so long before he needs to revalue his dollar sale price into his Euro manufacture (purchase) price.

 

[timmy]

You switched from a cream to soaps. Soaps are a little different to lather up. I dare say that you probably had the same problem with Williams and VDH that most people do, which is not using enough soap to create the lather.

This is the method I use on my VDH, works well.

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIsj58fqVjY[/YOUTUBE]

 

[Leche]

If you want to try some American made soaps, then check out our soapers here, such as Mama Bear and Saint Charles Shave.

 

[JPM]

if you want to try some american made soaps, then check out our soapers here, such as mama bear and saint charles shave.

+1,000.

 

[Marco]

Hey guys,

Maybe you can be of some help. I've been shaving with Proraso soap and cream for years. The price has gone steadily up here in the U.S. since import taxes keep going up. So, I thought I'd shop around for American made shaving products to save a couple of bucks and, maybe, support American jobs. So far, I've had no luck.

First, I tried Williams Shaving Soap --- Strike 1

Then I tried VDH --- Better than Williams but still, strike 2

Then I tried Burt Bees shaving cream --- Strike 3, the most uncomfortable shave I've ever had.

I guess I wanted to play an extra inning and ordered a tube of Cremo Cream, I haven't received it yet but, going by the other products I tried, I am not expecting it to be any good. If Cremo Cream doesn't work then I guess I'll just happily pay the import tax and stick with Proraso.

Is there anything made in the U.S. that's as good or better than Proraso??? Any suggestions?

A real pity Proraso products are becoming expensive in the U.S.A..
Here in Italy they are extremely cheap: € 1.70 for the 150ml cream in the tube and € 1.50 for the soap in the bowl.
Anyhow, why not try J.M. Fraser's shaving cream?
Like Proraso, it's a traditional and inexpensive barbershop product with a lot of fans.
I've never had the pleasure to try it for myself, but, among wet shavers, it seems to be a very popular and appreciated product.

 

[Deltaboy]

CO Bigelow is at Bath and Body and the Big tube is 10 bucks.

 

[troy1979]

I agree CO Bigelow at B&B $10 bucks a tube, i also like cremo crem and KMF

 

[ateace]

eShave makes great creams. My fave is the green tea.

 

[Ray-Vigo]

This is the method I use on my VDH, works well.

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIsj58fqVjY[/YOUTUBE]

Is that method workable with a badger brush too?

 

[Empty Words]

I find Mama Bear, Honeybee Spa, and Prairie Creations soaps to all be as good as Proraso. Kiss My Face creams are very good.

 

[airplanedoc]

Here in Italy they are extremely cheap: € 1.70 for the 150ml cream in the tube and € 1.50 for the soap in the bowl.

Wow, that is $2.40. Shipping on a container of Porasso must be really high to justify a $8 markup.

 

[Ray-Vigo]

The VDH "cream method" in that video is indeed workable with a badger brush. I had a low end Tweezerman I used on it and it did well. I actually think this method should be taught to beginners as it went fast for me, and wasn't difficult. I wish I'd seen this when I was first starting out-- it would have saved me time.

Just drain the brush to the point it isn't running water out anymore, then set to the soap and start stirring. Keep going until it's really thick. Then apply to the face. I did find I needed a little water from the basin every so often to keep it wet, but it was easy.

I have to say I like the VDH soap and I love the fact I don't have to pay direct shipping on the stuff (get it at the local drugstore). If anyone has tried VDH and found it too "thin" then using this cream-like method right off the puck might be worth a look. It's good to be able to buy locally.

 

[David6Eagle]

I enjoy Saint Charles Shave products. Great lather, cushion and slip.

 

[knlgskr]

All the above should serve you well plus Alba/Trader Joe's.

 

[kingfisher]

I enjoy Saint Charles Shave products. Great lather, cushion and slip.

+1.


But, on the other hand, I really like VDH Deluxe, as well, and don't think it is inferior to Proraso in any way. You have to know how to lather it. I get every bit as good a shave with VDH Deluxe as I do with Proraso. YMMV.