Problem with Harris Arlington

[jiggahertz]

This is my first attempt at using a shave soap. I usually use one of the TOBS shave creams. So I put some hot water on the soap puck while I was in the shower and soaked my brush in hot water, shaked off the brush and built up a lather on the puck for about 30 seconds. I first tried face lathering, but wasn't getting much so I switched to a bowl and started adding water a little at a time.

I got a really nice foamy lather, but when I went to shave it really didn't seem to lubricate at all. I would compare this to how I felt with T&H cream which I was disappointed with. Is this just how the harris soap is all soaps? Or am I doing something wrong? Tried adding more water to the lather, but didn't help. Any suggestions.

 

[djh]

Arlington doesn't give the richest lather but it sounds as if you need to use more soap. Shake most of the water out of your brush, tip the water off the soap puck, start scrubbing into the soap and really load your brush. Once you have lots of heavy, creamy soap on your brush it is time to add a few drops of water and really start lathering.
Just remember that if you start with too much water you will always have problems- it is, however, very easy to add a few drops of water as you go!

 

[htownmmm]

30 seconds of loading won't do on a brand new soap puck. Load your brush a minimum of a minute. After you have broken through the initial layer, 30 seconds might work in the future.

Load until the brush seems to stick to the puck.


marty

 

[takeshi]

Not really adding anything but as the former two replies indicated, you really need to spend more time loading your brush -- especially with a new puck. Pay attention to how the brush drags across the surface.

 

[ramon]

Dont be afraid to waste your soap , DR Harris survive for very long time on your mug.

 

[Tom Ford]

+1 on more product.

D R Harris products last for ages, load it up without fear of wastage and you'll get a great lather.

Enjoy

 

[ssultan]

Agreed. I ran into this in the beginning before heavily loading my brushes...great lather and a year later the soaps are still there...

 

[DunEdinRanger]

How many shaves do you gents get from a puck for Harris?

 

[Ru4scuba?]

This is a common problem. I recall last year Jeremy (JKH) had some significant problems with Arlington (as I had with MWF). I'm fairly certain his resolved as mine did...he'll probably jump on here eventually and post about it.

 

[ouch]

I find that my Arlington doesn't perform as well as the lavender, but with a little extra work (not as much as the MWF, mind you) it's still great.


And that scent!

 

[TheChefs]

Use more product. Also I find Dr Harris sub par compared to some other soaps which I rate highly.

 

[rosborne]

I'm going to go against everyon here saying use more product. I say, use less water!

My experince with Harris Arlington has been great. Even bought some for my brother as his first soap and intro into wet shaving. He took right to it. I love TOBS too although I am a soap man and TOBS is the only cream I will use on occassion. Two completely different animals though so expect a learning curve when switching and give it some time. You have a great soap there. Don't miss out on it's potential by giving up too soon.

 

[Gustav]

Add a tablespoon of hot water on top of the soap and let it soak for 5 minutes, then dump the excess and start lathering. Too bad my face reacts to something in this soap because the scent is out of this world.

 

[Rusty Jackknife]

I'm going to go against everyon here saying use more product. I say, use less water!

My experince with Harris Arlington has been great. Even bought some for my brother as his first soap and intro into wet shaving. He took right to it. I love TOBS too although I am a soap man and TOBS is the only cream I will use on occassion. Two completely different animals though so expect a learning curve when switching and give it some time. You have a great soap there. Don't miss out on it's potential by giving up too soon.

+1. I have nearly tried every mainstream soap there is. Harris & Tabac provide the thickest/heaviest lather out of any soaps I have tried.

Creams like TOBS are such a no-brainer to lather. Every soap has a lathering learning curve. Personally, I put my Arlington in a shaving mug and cranked on it with a brush until lathering nirvana appeared.

IMO, Harris soaps are best in class.

 

[Born2bwire]

I usually need to work the soap for a bit longer than others to get enough soap in my brush. But the lather is thick, dense and creamy. I've got soaps from Trumpers, DR Harris, MWF, Taylor's and Truefitt and Hill and I think that the DR Harris Arlington and the Trumpers and DR Harris are easily the best of the lot.

 

[Augustiner]

Just remember that if you start with too much water you will always have problems- it is, however, very easy to add a few drops of water as you go!

Listen to this line. It is the best and most essential advice to learn about soaps.

 

[Greglam]

Wow, I, too, am making my first foray into triple-milled soaps, Arlington and MWF, specifically, and I REALLY got a lot out of this thread. Thanks to the OP and all of the respondents.

I guess the only thing that I have constructive to add is to suggest that anyone with the same struggles check out the "soap sticky" at the head of this topic.

Cheers!
-Greg

 

[Tom Ford]

How many shaves do you gents get from a puck for Harris?

I still have my original puck 6 months on, and I've hardly made a dint in it. I'm not sure how long it lasts?

Although mine is part of a rotation, I'm thinking a good 2 years or more. While D. R. Harris is a little more expensive than other soaps on the market, when you get that kind of mileage it works out cheaply IMO.

 

[DunEdinRanger]

I still have my original puck 6 months on, and I've hardly made a dint in it. I'm not sure how long it lasts?

Although mine is part of a rotation, I'm thinking a good 2 years or more. While D. R. Harris is a little more expensive than other soaps on the market, when you get that kind of mileage it works out cheaply IMO.

This may very well be my next soap purchase.

 

[Jim]

How many shaves do you gents get from a puck for Harris?

At least a million.



Load your brush like you stole the puck!