Well I finally got around to try an Arko sample I got in the mail as a PIF. My first impression was, you guessed it, the smell! But I really enjoyed the clean lemony scent. It is less strong when you actually shave with it than when you smell if out of a bag or wrapping. I noticed that it was quite thirsty for water so I ended up adding a lot more than I usually do. It took some time to build up a thick enough lather after I got the ratios semi-correct. One thing I noticed immediately once I started. BOY THIS STUFF IS SLICK! I couldn't get it very thick and pillowy like the guy on the wrapper, so I was a bit skeptical but after the first pass, my razor slid across my skin VERY nicely even with a Shark blade I had previously used. While I did like the smell and slickness, I need the pillowyness. That was a mistake on my part. If you guys are wondering, I bowl lathered.
First shave with Arko.
- Thread starter The Shaver
- Start date
Yup. Arko with a shark is asking for a damn fine shave! Try face lathering next time, just to work it into your beard a little more.
Am I missing something? How do you bowl lather if you used the Arko as a stick?
As one approach, I--having hard water--face lather after applying 15 seconds or so of Arko to my face and then using a very wet (HJM synthetic) brush (just one shake). I commonly then rub a tiny amount of Arko on the tip of the brush (but I'm not sure that doing so matters). After a minute or so of face lathering it never fails to provide a rich, moist lather that's as thick as I decide to make it. If you're okay with the scent, which I am, Arko's a great product and great deal.
I always use Arko as a stick and lather it on my face...it only takes a few seconds to build a Santa Claus lather.
- Thread starter
- #7
Well the sample I got was about a nickel thick and a quarter in size so getting it on my face proved difficult.
Very good affordable product.
So Shaver, you think you'll be getting more?
fcdiscus, you can smoosh it up in a mug, grate it & pack it in a mug, or do what most of us do - just rub it on your face straight from the stick!
~Frank
fcdiscus, you can smoosh it up in a mug, grate it & pack it in a mug, or do what most of us do - just rub it on your face straight from the stick!
~Frank
- Thread starter
- #10
I'm still unsure as to whether I would buy it. I do like how small and convenient the sticks are though.
i face lather arko. I mashed it into a tupperware bowl, air dry for a few hrs, dropped some essential oils of lemon, eucalyptus, some water, and good to go. scoop some up with the brush with a few swirls, face lathers like a champ. Fluffy cream but I don't like mine too fluffy.very very slick. one of the best products in shaving when u consider the price.
Arko as a sample? That's just confusing. Anyway, just get an entire stick & either face lather or mash it down into a bowl or mug & wink at it. If it doesn't lather, you're not just doing it wrong...you must not be doing it at all.
I get fluffy mounds of pillowyness. You have to shake out all the water from the brush, swirl in the bowl, then dip your brush in water as needed. Takes like 20 seconds.
