so i just started yesterday using a Mekur DE razor .. my wife bought me some Poraso shaving soap..so my question is ...is there a big difference between the soaps & the creams??? or is it just preference?? i wanted to try different brands just not sure which way to go..and suggestions or advise would be greatly appreciated
newbie question
- Thread starter jervid
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Hi jervid,
Welcome to the best shaves of your life!
I am a newbie, too, but I've ready found that there are differences in the soaps and creams. Anything will give you a great shave, with the proper prep and technique, but your experience can be very different from the soap or cream you choose.
I also use Proraso - I like the green because I like the cool feeling of the menthol. I've also used the puck that came with my starter set, and it works well, too, just more subtle. I've found that the puck works better as my lather making technique gets better.
You could get a sampler from shave den or another site and experiment to see what skin feel and scent you both prefer - remember, she has to smell you, too!
Welcome to the best shaves of your life!
I am a newbie, too, but I've ready found that there are differences in the soaps and creams. Anything will give you a great shave, with the proper prep and technique, but your experience can be very different from the soap or cream you choose.
I also use Proraso - I like the green because I like the cool feeling of the menthol. I've also used the puck that came with my starter set, and it works well, too, just more subtle. I've found that the puck works better as my lather making technique gets better.
You could get a sampler from shave den or another site and experiment to see what skin feel and scent you both prefer - remember, she has to smell you, too!
Welcome to B&B!
If you compare ingredients on your favorite creams and soaps, you'll see that they're pretty much the same. Basically, creams are soaps with extra water.
If you compare ingredients on your favorite creams and soaps, you'll see that they're pretty much the same. Basically, creams are soaps with extra water.
Welcome aboard! IMHO, soaps take more effort to lather than creams, however, soaps last much, much longer.
Creams are generally a bit easier to lather. I like both creams and soaps. Sometimes I use both at the same time. Its called a super lather. Lately I've benn mixing Wm Neumann lime soap and Proraso blue cream and its a real nice lather.
There are tons of great soaps and creams out there, enjoy trying as many as you can.
There are tons of great soaps and creams out there, enjoy trying as many as you can.
I have tried Green Proraso (which a lot of vendors will label as cream, but the container identifies it as soap - as does the review section on this site) and Old Taylor of Bond Street (cream).
I think I get a better shave when using Proraso. But my wife thinks I smell better using Old Taylor of Bond Street (esp. Almond). So I use Proraso for everyday use, but Old Taylor during vacations.
Frankly I find the soap vs. cream product labeling as confusing and inconsistent. Look at the ShaveWiki for "official" definitions of shaving soap and creams. Regardless of what it is called - just as some razors work better for my face, I am sure some soaps/creams will work better for my face. It's just one more option to explore during the quest to find the best shave possible. I agree with Emanon: you have to try them to make informed decisions. Welcome to the world of acquisition disorders!
I think I get a better shave when using Proraso. But my wife thinks I smell better using Old Taylor of Bond Street (esp. Almond). So I use Proraso for everyday use, but Old Taylor during vacations.
Frankly I find the soap vs. cream product labeling as confusing and inconsistent. Look at the ShaveWiki for "official" definitions of shaving soap and creams. Regardless of what it is called - just as some razors work better for my face, I am sure some soaps/creams will work better for my face. It's just one more option to explore during the quest to find the best shave possible. I agree with Emanon: you have to try them to make informed decisions. Welcome to the world of acquisition disorders!
Part of the fun as a new wet shave... trying a lot of different soap and creme products and finding the ones that work the best for you (slickness, smell, budget). I like both, and tend to bounce around between soap and cremes. Lots of good stuff out there. reading the soap and creme sections of B&B will give you lots of useful info from shavers who have used different products, which will help if there are scents that appeal to you or not (eg, I avoid avocado scents... and like citric scents). But the best judge is always yourself.
Get yourself some good quality soaps and you will see the difference. Mitchells wool Fat, RazorRock Artisan, Tabac, & Cella are just a few I would recommend to try.
Happy Shaving..
Happy Shaving..
DE shaving is a ritual I enjoy, and I find using a soap adds to the experience somehow. I also think the shave is slicker and more comfortable than with a cream, but that might just be more justifying the bit of extra time and effort using a soap involves.
Welcome aboard!! Newbie question or not, ask away!! And for me, it's simply dependant upon the type of experience I am searching for that day. You'll see what I mean sooner than later and how they lather and feel a not differently, neither one better than another...just a bit different is all. Enjoy the journey!
There's chocolate and vanilla and fanatical advocates of each. That said, there are some great soaps and creams and some that are not so great at least in my experience - and I consider the ability to allow a razor to glide over my skin to be the number one essential criteria. There are two products that are very reasonably priced that I'd recommend trying: for a cream it's Cremo and I think the company is still offering a full refund on your first purchase after that it's about 8 bucks and it's sold in CVS and probably many other "drug" stores; for a soap "Mike's Natural Soaps" sells a nice size tin of shaving soap for about 11 bucks plus shipping and the website is mikesnaturalsoaps.com.
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Welcome to the forums. I think it all comes down to what you prefer. I'm a soap guy myself, but if need be I can get a nice shave using creams. Try a few of both, and decide for yourself.
