I have been using creams exclusively but was going to broaden my experience. What would you guys suggest as an excellent first soap? Easy to lather, etc.
Best First Soap
- Thread starter fathom044
- Start date
Soaps are a little bit more difficult to lather than creams, for me, but I really enjoy Mike's Natural Soaps. He is an independent artisan and makes them on a smaller scale than commercial soaps like Van Der Hagen (which is a great soap that you can buy for $2-$3 at WalMart) and Proraso creams. You may enjoy Taylor of Old Bond Street soaps, which are approximately $15 online, (Amazon.com, WestCoastShaving.com, ShaveNation.com, etc). Try some samples on Mike's and test which scents you enjoy! You can't go too wrong with Mike's prices, either!
VDH because it's cheap and readily available. I found it easy to lather as well. I found the AOS soaps to be the easiest to lather but they are rather pricey. I have not tried their new formula.
You're going to get a lot of recommendations about people's favorites. To me, that isn't the point of your question. I understand it as you want to know what a good first soap will be in terms of technique.
I am personally not a huge fan of the italian soft soaps, although they do have a large following. Part of their appeal is they are very easy to lather. They are a soft soap, or firm cream really, and are extraordinarily forgiving with the amount of water you use, which makes them rather effortless.
Cella is a popular choice, or any of the RazoRock soaps also fit in that category.
I am personally not a huge fan of the italian soft soaps, although they do have a large following. Part of their appeal is they are very easy to lather. They are a soft soap, or firm cream really, and are extraordinarily forgiving with the amount of water you use, which makes them rather effortless.
Cella is a popular choice, or any of the RazoRock soaps also fit in that category.
CAnt go wrong with either Arko or Tabac. Both lather like crazy with any brush or water here in the UK.
Any of the RazoRock Artisan line. They lather quite easily and have great performance for a pretty decent price. They're about the same consistency as Cella.
CELLA, Crema Sapone Extra Extra Purissima gets my vote
X2 on Cella.
For the money, I would go with Razorock Classic, Fresco or Cacao. Either one lathers up well. Arko is cheaper, but I am not an Arko fan. That said, starting out with a shave stick is not a bad idea. If that appeals to you, I recommend La Toja or Spieck - two great easy-to-lather soaps.
PS Don't start out with too much water in the brush. I shake the brush and give a gentle squeeze. Then I add back the water as I need it.
PS Don't start out with too much water in the brush. I shake the brush and give a gentle squeeze. Then I add back the water as I need it.
Mine was Irisch Moos. I'd recommend Tabac. Same soap, different scent.
Ben
Ben
Tabac, Cella, RazoRock soaps in the black tub and Van der Hagen Deluxe are all soaps that I found very easy to lather up. The main difference is going to be in the loading of the soap, start with a full minute or so of swirling a mostly dry brush on top of the soap to get started and adjust from there. Add water in small amounts every 20-30 seconds until the lather is shiny and creamy. It takes a little adjustment time to get used to it, but it opens up a whole new world of performance that is different, yet just as pleasurable as creams.
Whichever soap you choose, use a lot if it each shave. That makes it easier to get the soap-to-water ratio optimized.
If you want a soft Italian soap, Cella or Proraso would be excellent choices.
Arko as a 1st stick (now in a tub too!) is a winner as well.
For hard soaps, I would recommend either Tabac or Benton Clay's Vetiver Paradisi (mmmmmmmmm).
Arko as a 1st stick (now in a tub too!) is a winner as well.
For hard soaps, I would recommend either Tabac or Benton Clay's Vetiver Paradisi (mmmmmmmmm).
I don't think there is an easier to lather soap than Martin de Candre.
I am sometimes on the fence about so called starter products or techniques. You have to be careful with these things. Why learn one way on one product only to have to relearn and a so called more advanced one? Why not skip the middle man and go right for the throat? Get the better soap and learn to lather it. Then there will be no learning curve if you move to cheaper/easier soaps. Why learn one technique only to relearn it later differently.
It always bothered me when "beginner" techniques were taught for something. Then after a long period of time and ingraining those techniques into you brain and CNS/muscle memory you are basically told "ok, forget that beginner stuff, Now do this!" What? Why didn't we just start there? I understand perfectly that in some things fundamentals need to be learned, but we're not talking about learning classical piano here.
You want to wear floaties and hang on the the side of the pool practicing kicking or you want to get in there and swim!!! Jump in man....jump in!!! And flap away.
It always bothered me when "beginner" techniques were taught for something. Then after a long period of time and ingraining those techniques into you brain and CNS/muscle memory you are basically told "ok, forget that beginner stuff, Now do this!" What? Why didn't we just start there? I understand perfectly that in some things fundamentals need to be learned, but we're not talking about learning classical piano here.
You want to wear floaties and hang on the the side of the pool practicing kicking or you want to get in there and swim!!! Jump in man....jump in!!! And flap away.
I am sometimes on the fence about so called starter products or techniques. You have to be careful with these things. Why learn one way on one product only to have to relearn and a so called more advanced one? Why not skip the middle man and go right for the throat? Get the better soap and learn to lather it. Then there will be no learning curve if you move to cheaper/easier soaps. Why learn one technique only to relearn it later differently.
It always bothered me when "beginner" techniques were taught for something. Then after a long period of time and ingraining those techniques into you brain and CNS/muscle memory you are basically told "ok, forget that beginner stuff, Now do this!" What? Why didn't we just start there? I understand perfectly that in some things fundamentals need to be learned, but we're not talking about learning classical piano here.
You want to wear floaties and hang on the the side of the pool practicing kicking or you want to get in there and swim!!! Jump in man....jump in!!! And flap away.
Thanks for posting this. I've been thinking many of the same things.
VDH Deluxe
spot on eamo, first and last soap tabac all the way
If you want an easy, inexpensive way to try soaps, get a shave stick. Sticks were my gateway into soaps. If you have hard water and are used to creams, some pucks of soap can be a challenge at first.
