New To Shave Soaps

[TheBlueRose]

Hi everyone!

I'm currently using creams primarily to shave with and need advice as to which soaps I should try and overall what are the benefits of soap compared to creams

I would really appreciate any help you can offer

thanks!!!

 

[demaro]

I find I get a better shave from a soap vs a cream , also , most soaps will last longer than creams , I find them to be more economical.. As far as soaps I wouldn reccomend , My favorites are Tabac , Cella , and Arko , although some do not care for the scent , When first opened up , Arko has a strong soapy scent , If you are old enought to remember it smells like Ivory Snow Detergent from the late 60's early 70's..

 

[Throwaway]

Strop Shoppe - Special Edition soaps. You get 8oz of product, which is a lot more than your typical soap puck. For example Geo F Trumper Shaving Soap Refill is 2.8oz and costs the same.

 

[ricardo9505]

you'll save money with soaps so don;t be afraid to spend on quality. tallow is something you may want to consider and try.
here's my suggestions from the feedback and personal experience:

d.r. harris (i have lavender and love it)
mikes natural soap
queen of charlotte soaps
mitchells wool fat
arko

you should also see some great recommendations I received on my question:

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showth...ommend-a-new-soap-for-me-Avid-D-R-Harris-user

 

[lt114]

I find I get a better shave from a soap vs a cream , also , most soaps will last longer than creams , I find them to be more economical.. As far as soaps I would recommend , My favorites are Tabac , Cella , and Arko , although some do not care for the scent , When first opened up, Arko has a strong soapy scent , If you are old enough to remember it smells like Ivory Snow Detergent from the late 60's early 70's..

I agree with Paul. The only potential downside to soaps vs. creams is that some soaps tend to be a bit more difficult to lather. Tabac, Cella, and Proraso were my first soaps. All three of these great soaps almost lather themselves. Any one of these would be a great place to start. Van Der Hagen is another option that is widely available at almost any drug store in the US.

 

[david1201]

Mike's Natural Soaps
Cella
Stirling Soap (love the Almond Creme!)

 

[SamF]

Cella and MWF are currently my two favourites. MWF has a reputation for being a tough latherer, though I've not had a problem. Cella is fantastic, great stuff. Lathers easily enough, slick, protective, moisturising and smells great.

In short: get some Cella

 

[Luc]

Those might help:
http://wiki.badgerandblade.com/The_New_Guys_Guide_to_Inexpensive_Soaps_and_Creams
http://wiki.badgerandblade.com/Shave_Soap_vs_Shave_Cream_vs_Brushless_vs_Canned

 

[Marco]

Actually there are no real benefits of using a soap over a cream in terms of performance. Shave soaps tend to last longer (especially the hard triple-milled ones) and also tend to contain less preservatives. That said, it's all down to your personal preference on which to use.

 

[sixgun_symphony]

Van Der Hagen is really good. Consider getting the VDH Premium Shave set (brush, bowl, soap).

 

[mattdenicola]

I find the lather from shave soaps to be more flexible in terms of building it from the puck. Creams seem to just instantly explode into lather, and soaps you can build to suit your needs. The options are limitless, and everyone will have their .02 to contribute. When I recommend soaps to friends who are just starting, I recommend trying out at least one or two of the "brand names" (Tabac, DR Harris, Cella) along side one or two of the local artisan producers.

If you're in the US, my favorite "littler guys" are:

Mike's Natural - this is sort of a "must try" soap, and many - myself included - consider these soaps to be some of the best out there
Strop Shoppe - big containers of excellent soap - I prefer their special edition soaps with tallow
Stirling - you won't find a cheaper puck of soap that performs at this quality. can be a bit quirky to lather, but worth the extra effort.

 

[mwhitcraft]

Soaps seem slicker to me. My favorites are RazoRock artisan line and Cella. My absolute favorite is Tabula Rasa, but it is a bit pricier and a little trick to lather.

 

[campence]

Mikes, Cella, MWF

 

[attime6]

Mikes, Arko, VDH, MWF & Proraso are all good choices. There are no real benefits of soaps compared to creams, if used properly you'll get a great shave from both. As someone already said, soaps can be trickier to lather, however if you visit the link below you'll find some great tutorials on lathering soaps.

http://wiki.badgerandblade.com/Category:Lathering