Cushion/protection

[Emanon]

Which type of soap has better cushioning/protection? Glycerin or Tallow. Tallow is fat isn't it? I would think that a fatty substance would be heavier and more protective. I've always stuck to the same cream pretty much since day one with one back up so I don't know much about soap. So I'm just trying to round out my basic knowledge since switching to soap last week. Before last week I never even knew there were different types of soap, I thought soap was soap.

Thanks

Tommy

 

[Gabacho]

Tabac for me!

 

[DFSDAILY]

I've got both tallow and veggie and either type deliver a great shave. From my expierience the tallow soaps do provide a thicker lather though, at least with the brands of soap I have bought.

 

[chrisf8657]

I've found that for me Tallow soaps provide much better cushioning/protection.
There was a reason they were (and still) used for so long w/ shaving.

 

[Mad Man]

Current rotation is:

Lea (tallow stick)
Palmolive (tallow stick)
Irisch Moos (tallow stick)
Cella (tallow)
MWF (tallow)
Proraso Green tub (old form - non tallow).

Looks like tallow for me...

 

[CryptoDave]

I've found that the best cushion/protection for me is the result of using a good pre-shave oil. I even reapply the pre-shave oil in between passes.

 

[franz]

Neither -- I have been lucky enough to find a number of superb tallow and non-tallow soaps. In my experience, tallow isn't a magic ingredient (although it is harder to find a poorly performing tallow shaving soap).

When you say "glycerin" soap I think of soaps made from a melt-and-pour base (e.g, Mama Bear's). I am less fond of those as far as cushion/protection.

 

[Teddyboy]

I used to automatically think that tallow soaps gave the best lather, but I no longer think that is a given. Some non-tallow soaps are my faves: Klar Kabinett, Institut Karite, La Toja stick, RazoRock's shea butter formulas, the Italian soft soap 3P. Others are highly regarded although I have not tried them, e.g., Martin deCandre.

 

[Shave_Rat]

Neither -- I have been lucky enough to find a number of superb tallow and non-tallow soaps. In my experience, tallow isn't a magic ingredient (although it is harder to find a poorly performing tallow shaving soap).

When you say "glycerin" soap I think of soaps made from a melt-and-pour base (e.g, Mama Bear's). I am less fond of those as far as cushion/protection.

+1... this...

The one ingredient doesn't make or break the performance, there are quality soaps of both types. The reason the tallow soaps look to come out ahead most often is that there aren't many badly formulated tallow soaps in comparison to average so-so performing non-tallow stuff.

 

[gash]

I used to automatically think that tallow soaps gave the best lather, but I no longer think that is a given. Some non-tallow soaps are my faves: Klar Kabinett, Institut Karite, La Toja stick, RazoRock's shea butter formulas, the Italian soft soap 3P. Others are highly regarded although I have not tried them, e.g., Martin deCandre.

Have you tried Valobra soft soap? If not, you should.

 

[coolbus18]

Tallow , ah yes. I have Panna Crema Mike's Natural, Mystic Waters, P-160, RazoRock. Once you go fat there's no turning back! of course ymmv, but I get the most lube ,cushion , moisturizing,etc. from tallow soaps. Yes there are fantastic non tallow soaps, but this is what works the best for me. Give it a shot!

 

[njpaddy]

I don't go by ingredients, just performance and results. There are tallow soaps that wouldn't make my top 10. While the lather may look or feel a little different, I get the same cushioning/protection and closeness of shave from my non-tallow favorites as I do my tallow favorite. However we each have to find what works best with our technique, hardware and water softness/hardness.

 

[mharris127]

Tallow is not necessary for a good performing soap. However, traditional shave soaps tend to contain tallow (DR Harris, TOBS). I think almost all decent (probably about 90 per cent of) shave soaps have a form of fat in them whether it be saponified tallow or vegetable based oils. There are exceptions such as VDH, Honeybee, Brambleberry or Mama Bear that work well but it is difficult for someone to make a non-fat soap that gives a decent shave telling from all of the glycerin soaps on Etsy that don't work.

 

[dparish1952]

Would it be accurate to say that, in general, [edit] very good tallow soaps can be found at a lower price than very good all vegetable soaps?

 

[Janitor]

I've never been able to sort out what people mean by "cushion/protection" in a shaving soap.

It seems that if a lather were actually able to cushion my face from my blade it would also be protecting the whiskers from being shaved off too close to the skin.

 

[Shave_Rat]

I've never been able to sort out what people mean by "cushion/protection" in a shaving soap.

It seems that if a lather were actually able to cushion my face from my blade it would also be protecting the whiskers from being shaved off too close to the skin.

For me, at least, when I think about cushion with a lather, it's the micro thin layer between the blade and the skin that protects the skin during the shave. Slick is how well that layer helps the blade get smooth strokes with no pressure/effort.

 

[Riff Raff]

I don't go by ingredients, just performance and results. There are tallow soaps that wouldn't make my top 10. While the lather may look or feel a little different, I get the same cushioning/protection and closeness of shave from my non-tallow favorites as I do my tallow favorite. However we each have to find what works best with our technique, hardware and water softness/hardness.

I couldn't agree more! I continue to use Tabac, MWF, Haslinger, and Cella (which all have tallow) with great results. I also use Jabonman, La Toja, and Proraso that use glycerine. It all depends on your face, your tools, and your technique. The tools and technique can be obtained by anyone. But every face is different. That is where the YMMV comes into play.