I've been DE shaving for a month, and have only used creams. I really like them, but I want something new to try. What would be a good, high quality soap to start with. It doesn't necessarily have to be cheap but I'm also not paying $30 for a puck.
Good soap to start with?
- Thread starter STJ529
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Thankfully the price range for great soaps are all over the map.
Cheap (less than $10.00) - Palmolive shave stick, Arko shave stick, Proraso or Omega (in the tub)
Mid Level (less than $20.00) - Tabac, Mitchell's Wool Fat, DR Harris, Cella, Pre de Provence, Provence Sante, Cade
Expensive (over $20.00) - Art of Shaving, Martin de Candre
All of these are excellent performers for the price!
Cheap (less than $10.00) - Palmolive shave stick, Arko shave stick, Proraso or Omega (in the tub)
Mid Level (less than $20.00) - Tabac, Mitchell's Wool Fat, DR Harris, Cella, Pre de Provence, Provence Sante, Cade
Expensive (over $20.00) - Art of Shaving, Martin de Candre
All of these are excellent performers for the price!
Adding to the "cheap" tier: Van der Hagen Deluxe ($2) or Luxury ($4). Both are cheap, fail-proof lathers available at a store local to you.
Speick is under $6 and awesome
MWF is great, but it can be tricky to lather, especially for someone new to lathering soaps. Tabac is easy to lather, and has a strong following, but the scent is somewhat polarizing. I'd highly recommend D.R. Harris soaps (Arlington is my personal choice). Easy to lather, lots of tallowy goodness, and about $15 for a triple milled puck that will last you a good long while.
+1 Very good advice
Cade is usually locally available, and it is one of my favorites as well, but I wouldn't recommend it for a beginner for the same reason I wouldn't recommend MWF: too finicky
Any shave stick rubbed on your face is probably the absolute easiest option available to learn what great soap lather can feel like. Tabac or any of the European sticks would work well and are good values. I haven't tried Arko yet but it's been said to be probably the easiest and cheapest and there's a whole cult around it.
I thought Cella (and other soft soaps) are incredibly easy to lather up using Marco's method and a boar brush. Harder soaps can also be harder to load up and lather (for me anyway). Coming from only creams, it may be good to go with something soft first.
If you'd like to go the glycerin/veggie route, then colonel conk or mama bears are great starting soaps. My first soap was conk as it didn't cost much and I like the smell.
I thought Cella (and other soft soaps) are incredibly easy to lather up using Marco's method and a boar brush. Harder soaps can also be harder to load up and lather (for me anyway). Coming from only creams, it may be good to go with something soft first.
If you'd like to go the glycerin/veggie route, then colonel conk or mama bears are great starting soaps. My first soap was conk as it didn't cost much and I like the smell.
If you have a target nearby, they may carry the VdH Luxury, which at $4 is a very easy and inexpensive way to start.
I wouldn't recommend a stick for a first shave soap. Some guys love them but I can't stand the things, which with fill disclosure could be part of the reason I don't recommend them.
I wouldn't recommend a stick for a first shave soap. Some guys love them but I can't stand the things, which with fill disclosure could be part of the reason I don't recommend them.
Tabac!
MWF, Tabac, or DR Harris
i started a thread a while back about this soap. then, the other night i was clicking links other members were putting up and i found this site that that has it, but for less than where i found it (amazon)
http://www.classicedge.ca/index.php?route=product/category&path=49
parker sandlewood shea butter. great scent for summer. used it this morning, got a bbs on the first pass, but kept going because i didnt want to waste all that lathery goodness.
http://www.classicedge.ca/index.php?route=product/category&path=49
parker sandlewood shea butter. great scent for summer. used it this morning, got a bbs on the first pass, but kept going because i didnt want to waste all that lathery goodness.
I'm gonna say VDH Deluxe. Why? because it's readily available, cheap, easy to lather, and gives great shaves. Would be great to start with and practice. Then move onto fancier stuff-cella, mwf, pdp, tabac, etc.
My feeling is you should focus on the type of soap first, while selecting a decent, balanced product that represents the category. If you're not strapped for cash, here's my recommendations:
tallow: tabac
melt & pour: Mama Bear
vegetable: uhm... I'll let someone else comment
Those soaps are widely regarded and often compared against others, so you'll have a good idea where you stand when you read comparison posts. Even if you don't take my recommendations, consider at least one of each type, and try to stay away from unbalanced soaps that aren't liked by the majority of folks. Just for your first pick.
Later on, you can try soaps with additives: Pre de Provence or Mitchell's Wool Fat (or Kent's Wool Fat) are good choices -- this category is really a bunch of subcategories of their own: lanolin, shea butter, interesting oils, clay, etc.
tallow: tabac
melt & pour: Mama Bear
vegetable: uhm... I'll let someone else comment
Those soaps are widely regarded and often compared against others, so you'll have a good idea where you stand when you read comparison posts. Even if you don't take my recommendations, consider at least one of each type, and try to stay away from unbalanced soaps that aren't liked by the majority of folks. Just for your first pick.
Later on, you can try soaps with additives: Pre de Provence or Mitchell's Wool Fat (or Kent's Wool Fat) are good choices -- this category is really a bunch of subcategories of their own: lanolin, shea butter, interesting oils, clay, etc.
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Forget fancy packaging, wooden or ceramic bowls. Get puck refills and put them in Gladware containers.
Easy lathering is what you want for your first soap. MWF is great, but leave the finicky latherers for later.
Razorock Artisan line, Provence Sante, Proraso green tub, Arko, cannot go wrong and value is fantastic.
Easy lathering is what you want for your first soap. MWF is great, but leave the finicky latherers for later.
Razorock Artisan line, Provence Sante, Proraso green tub, Arko, cannot go wrong and value is fantastic.
+1 for Tabac. A monkey like me can make awesome lather from it, so even if you don't like the scent, at least you know going forward if other soaps are making decent lather
cant recall anyone finding C&E tricky, I certainly had no trouble with it, and i bought it fairly early on in my soap ventures, the sienna scent is outstanding i would have a look at that
In ascending order of price: RazoRock, Institut Karite, or I Coloniali.
Tabac or Razorock artisan. Both seem full proof to me. Tabac was my first soap and is an excellent performer. Razorock is really nice, slightly below tabac in performance for me but is very nicely priced.
