Arko question

[WVUfanMG]

I got a tub of Arko from a soap lot I purchased from a B&B member here and finally got around to trying it this morning. Horrible shave. Lots of drag and felt like very little protection from the soap. Is there a "trick" to using this stuff? More water, less water? More product, less product? What did I miss? It seemed like I had a good lather density and water ratio, but it just didn't perform the way I thought after reading all the rave reviews about it here. So, gents, what's the secret?

 

[ackvil]

I am only familiar with the Arko shave stick. In fact, I did not know Arko soap came in a tub. I wonder if the stick has been grated and put in a bowl. The shave stick produces fine lather but some find the smell offensive. Does the label indicate that this is a shaving soap?

 

[SteveWY]

Maybe check with who you got it from for tips? I find Arko (stick) very easy to lather. Not knowing what you are used to, what your lather looked like, etc. it is hard to diagnose. But a good standard answer for lathering problems is: More product + More Water + More Time= More/Better Lather. Try loading more soap on the brush. Too sticky? Add some more water. Too thin? Add more soap. When you get a good visible "proto-lather", either face or bowl lather until you get to the thickness and slickness you want. Arko can do it.

 

[Luc]

I did not try the tub so I cannot really comment on the quality of the lather but yes, Arko comes in a tub or stick. I only used the stick version. What comes to mind is that you did not load your brush enough. If you can post a picture of what you got, that would be great.

 

[redrako]

I too haven't tried the Arko bowl, bit it's reported to be the same great stuff as the Arko shave stick.

...a good standard answer for lathering problems is: More product + More Water + More Time= More/Better Lather. Try loading more soap on the brush. Too sticky? Add some more water. Too thin? Add more soap. When you get a good visible "proto-lather", either face or bowl lather until you get to the thickness and slickness you want. Arko can do it.

+1, This is everything that one needs to lather soap.

 

[WVUfanMG]

Thanks folks! I was rushed this morning and probably just didn't load enough onto my brush. I just wanted to make sure there wasn't some finicky thing about the soap (like Mystic Water being picky with water/heat). It is Arko brand in the red plastic container with the logo on the lid, so it's genuine Arko. I guess bowl would be better to describe it than tub. I'm going to go home and make another test lather, because I refuse to be beat by any soap. Plus, it smelled great, so I want to make it work.

 

[grinbergs]

I have used Arko a couple of days and found that it takes more water than anticipated to get it going, also found it less protective than the Palmolive cream I used before that but I might not have lathered the Arko to its full potential yet

 

[wheelhouse]

I was having trouble with the Arko stick, but after the rave reviews I knew it had to be me. I read a few people saying how thirsty it was, so I grated it into a bowl so I could make a nice wet sloppy lather. Made all the difference, now its one of my favorites.

 

[Redzone]

I am a fan but have been using others for a change and when I went back to Arko it was a fail on the lather front. Just takes some getting used to and if you like the scent the lather wont dissapoint.

 

[California Cajun]

I have the Arko tub and think it works great. Soaps differ in the amount of water you need to add and people have different expectations based on what they've tried before.

 

[Klondike]

The stick is all I know and yes it's thirsty. With enough water it does an awesome job and I like the smell. It's an honest no perfume soap smell.