Favorite Soaps/Creams to Use w/ Straight As Opposed to DE?

[OldSchoolYoungin]

Just wondering if anyone else has noticed a change in their preference for soaps/creams they use with their straight as opposed to soaps/creams they like to use (if) they use a DE.

I don't think there's much argument that a straight shaves noticeably closer than a DE, atleast mine sure as hell does. In my mind, it makes sense to choose a shaving medium that's a bit more protective than something that simply "gets the job done" when shaving with a double-edge.

In this case, tallow-based soaps really do the trick for me. Sure, I was a tallow lover when I shaved with a DE, but that's become even more true since switching over. Glycerin soaps are fine and dandy and work great, but tallow gives me that extra protection and lubrication I love/need when holding an open blade to my neck.

And the winner is...















Tabac

Have you noticed any difference? If so, what're your favorites?

 

[Leche]

I have significantly gravitated towards tallow soaps. Speick, Arko, Tabac, and MWF get a lot of use. I'm pretty happy with the MB and every once in awhile Conks Almond. My C&E soaps sit bored and neglected. My TOBS Rose and Avocado and Proraso only get the occasional DE use.

 

[BigRich]

Have you noticed any difference? If so, what're your favorites?

Not really, but then again, after using both for a couple of years I get just as good of shaves with either DE or straights. I discern no edge (non pun intended) one way or the other.

 

[DM.Aelis]

Well, I've only got one soap to share experience with. DR Harris Arlington shave soap. I love it. The smell, the way it lathers, everything.
It's not as good with my DE I have to say, but it still works.

With my straight it absolutely sings. I couldn't want any more in a soap.

Does anyone have any other DR Harris products to recommend? Or any soaps they know of that are superior? i'd love an excuse to try something new

 

[Venom8431]

I tend to use creams a lot more when I use the DE. The extra cushion it gives really helps keep the irritation to a minimum, whereas soaps seem to fall slightly short. With the str8 I tend to use soap more often since I don't really need that cushion. A nice slick surface is all I really need.

 

[BEAR DEN]

I also notice a big difference...for st8s it's Tabac, Irisch Moos, MWF. As far as non tallow soaps go for str8s I've had pretty good sucess with MB.

 

[leighton]

Tallow based soaps. Triple Milled.

DR Harris > Tabac IMHO. Just got some GFT in. May try it out this week.

 

[StillShaving]

This is probably way down on the list of most folks complaints, but I find myself paying much more attention to how sticky the lather is. I rinse the blade by swishing in a sink full of water, so a stickier lather requires more energetic rinsing and much more danger of banging the edge as compared to a DE. Generally I find the creams to be sticker so I use more care when shaving with them than with soaps, but I still enjoy using them in rotation.

 

[professorchaos]

Sho' nuff have. Before switching to straights, the tallow & lanolin v. glycerin debate was wholly irrelevant to me. After switching, I distinctly prefer tallow and lanolin based creams and soaps.

Also, I used to aim for a different lather. Been too long to recall the difference.

 

[joshmpdx]

it's pretty interesting to me that most (myself included) prefer a dense tallowy lather for Straight shaving, but that the only soaps SRP offers are made of Glycerin.

 

[chainfire]

it's pretty interesting to me that most (myself included) prefer a dense tallowy lather for Straight shaving, but that the only soaps SRP offers are made of Glycerin.

that is funny...while i like the smell of glycerin soaps, even with de shaving, i never got super results with them. i still use the ones i have for just a quick de shave where i'm rushing and kind of want a unique smell, but i can't even imagine how rough straight shaving would be.

i just used krissy's prarie-creation tallow old spice and really liked the shave i got with it. considering her prices and available scents, i'll probably stick with her for any future orders...and pick up scs colognes when i need to restock.

 

[OldSchoolYoungin]

it's pretty interesting to me that most (myself included) prefer a dense tallowy lather for Straight shaving, but that the only soaps SRP offers are made of Glycerin.

Ya know, I never thought about that