Gave Mike's another shot, still not very good.

[ODJ]

I have been really wanting Mike's Natural Soaps to work for me. I have revisited them several times, and sadly, every time they disappoint. The scents of these soaps are probably some of my favorite, but they really lack in performance. I had a sample of the Bay Rum that just smells absolutely unbelievable, so I figured I'd give it a go. I am a fan of QCS crops and VDH soaps, and also use Proraso Red and Dr. Selby's currently, all with awesome results. Lately I've either been using a 37c or an R41/Weber Bulldog handle with Astra SP blades. Always get amazing, irritation-free, super close shaves.

Yesterday I DId the same prep that I always do, and whipped up a really nice looking and smelling lather with Mike's Bay RUm, but no matter how I create my lather, be it drier, wetter, thicker, thinner, it just does not offer any glide. This, in all honestly was the first shave where I got quite a bit or irritation in a very long time, and was reminded of it through out the day, despite my Nivea ASB, which is great at soothing razor burn. The shave was not that great either. One could attribute this to just random bad shave, but these seem to be the same results I get whenever I use Mike's. The do not moisturize my face at all, and offer no glide compared to the results I get from the other products I listed earlier.

By no means is this a bashing on the product. Like I mentioned, Mike has the absolute best scents out here right now in my opinion, and his customer service is top notch. I just wish that his soaps worked for me! I just think it's nice to have other's experiences out there, both good and bad. Sadly, I am one of the minority since there are scores of others out there who get wonderful results with these soaps. Too bad I'm not one of them .

 

[Balj86]

Do you load the brush like MWF? I get the best lather results that way.

 

[ODJ]

Do you load the brush like MWF? I get the best lather results that way.

i get an awesome lather, but jsut offers no glide/protection for my face.

 

[Dirk-Lerxst-Pratt]

i get an awesome lather, but jsut offers no glide/protection for my face.

That's really odd for that soap. I don't have a good answer for you.

 

[BeeSeeDub]

I got a bar of the Rose and Cedarwood and mashed it into one of those small reusable ziplock tubs. Before shaving, I run a little water into the bowl and let it sit while I shower...drain it off, load my brush and face lather.

To be fair, I probably do load Mike's a little more than MWF...but both work we'll for me.

 

[SEnSE]

You (more than likely your water) is an oddity for sure.

 

[Gruder]

My results have been similar to the OP's. The two scents I own, though great-smelling, take more work for less protective lather. YMMV, of course.

 

[Neognosis]

i get an awesome lather, but jsut offers no glide/protection for my face.

I feel that the lather is not awesome if it does not offer glide/protection for your face.

I have good results with mike's. I do what Beeseedub does, although I only let the how water sit on the soap for as long as it takes me to get my brush ready, so 2 minutes or so. I seem to get good shaves with it. I don't know what the different factor is, perhaps your water, as suggested above.??

 

[CharlieFoxtrot]

A bad batch maybe? I like Mike's stuff, but I prefer a bunch of other soaps over it. It's a solid performer, don't misunderstand me, but I feel there is better out there.

 

[El Generico]

That's really odd for that soap. I don't have a good answer for you.

I couldn't agree more...

 

[SEnSE]

A bad batch maybe? I like Mike's stuff, but I prefer a bunch of other soaps over it. It's a solid performer, don't misunderstand me, but I feel there is better out there.

I'm curious as to what you find to be better.

 

[OccamsBadger]

I use Mike's a lot. Our water is a little hard and occasionally I have a problem with soap scum forming on the surface of the water in my sink where I rinse my razor. If I dip the brush tips in that water to incorporate more moisture into my lather, the scum ruins the lather and causes skips and catches with the razor. I started putting some water in a dixie cup to drip into my shave bowl or onto my brush when I face lather. That way I avoid the scum and the lather provides great glide and cushion.
You might be having a similar problem if you have hard water. Try using fresh water during the shave for lathering. Good luck!

 

[PMT]

I only use Mike's these days as I am a loyal creature of habit, but you need to find what works for you, I find Mike's very slippery and a fine product!

 

[john parker]

I just received some Mike's samples and have only used them a couple times. Get good glide and protection, but have yet to create a "photo-worthy" lather. Still working on that.

 

[ODJ]

I'm curious as to what you find to be better.

My go to is QCS. I have the Mysore Sandalwood, Esquire, Lavendar, and Hanami creams/croaps. Van Der Hagen Deluxe is another that always gives me a great slick, rich, protective lather. Proraso red is another cream that I love the scent, and although it falls behind VDH and QCS as far as performance/protection, it's much better than the Mike's I have tried. Also on occasion use GFT Coconut oil cream, which is awesome.

I don't think it's a bad batch. I ordered a few full size tins in the past on separate occasions, same results for both of them and they were given away to friends. Some time later ordered some samples to give Mike's another shot, and same results. Put the samples away for several months, revisited the Bay Rum the other day, same results.

So, although I am not getting great results with Mike's, at least my results are consistent! I find it interesting because QCS and Mike's have very similar ingredients, and for me at least, QCS blows away Mike's as far as protection and performance.

 

[Jefebadskin]

I had trouble at first, but using a lot more water did the trick, now it's a top performer for me. Honestly, If I tried it that many times with poor results, I'd think it's not good either. Your other options are great.

 

[k2clones29]

I use Mike's a lot. Our water is a little hard and occasionally I have a problem with soap scum forming on the surface of the water in my sink where I rinse my razor. If I dip the brush tips in that water to incorporate more moisture into my lather, the scum ruins the lather and causes skips and catches with the razor. I started putting some water in a dixie cup to drip into my shave bowl or onto my brush when I face lather. That way I avoid the scum and the lather provides great glide and cushion.
You might be having a similar problem if you have hard water. Try using fresh water during the shave for lathering. Good luck!

Couldn't agree more. I have hard water as well. For whatever reason, Mike's is susceptible to it. My best results with Mike's is when I warm up distilled water in an electric kettle. Mike's is an exceptional soap. My best shaves are between Mike's and MW.

 

[celestino]

Wow, that is unfortunate as i find it an amazing soap with great protection, glide and post-shave properties!
Have you ever tried distilled or purified water with it?

 

[stryker4526]

I tend to have the same results with Mike's... Poor later that offers no glide and little protection. Seems like no matter what I do I can't get it to work. I have an almost full bar of Orange, Cedarwood, and Black Pepper just sitting in my den going unused. I get the same results with melt 'n pour soaps like Mama Bear and Honeybee Spas. I just can't get good lather out of any of them. And when there are such excellent and easy soaps out there like RazoRock, Tabac, D.R. Harris, and others, I say what's the point? I've been trying to unload all these soaps but nobody seems to want them, either! I know I for one am going to be sticking with the big guys and staying away from the artisan soaps after my experiences with them.

 

[SEnSE]

I live in an area where our water is classified as very hard and Mike's lathers easily for me. Again, I think this is an oddity and not just a water hardness issue. Maybe it's the type of mineral in the water.