Shaving Soap versus Regular soap?

[Knockahoma]

What is the difference between regular bar soap and shaving soap? I was talking to the soap lady at the farmer's market and asked her if she had any shaving soap. She said that someone had just asked her about shaving soap. She mentioned that she was going to try to make some in a mug. I think she was just planned on making her regular soap fit in a mug. There is more to making shave soap than that right? Then my kid knocked over her display and we had to leave.

Warren

 

[shave/brush]

Shaving soap will produce better and more lather. You can get it cheap at Wal-Mart so why even consider hand soap?

 

[JBLA]

Amateur soapmaker here (although maybe I'll get my act together soon and get some ready for sale).

When you're making a soap, you're generally looking for oils that will provide the desired properties for your finished soap. Generally speaking, you want your bath bar to be cleansing and moisturizing, and you're not all that concerned about the thickness/stability/slickness of the lather, while with shaving soap, you're not particularly concerned about the cleansing property, but the thickness and slickness and stability of the lather are pretty key.

Some people, myself included, have tried using generic homemade bath bars as a shaving soap, and it does work, kinda, but it doesn't work nearly as well as a shaving soap designed as a shaving soap.

Also note that many homemade soapmakers will take their bath bar recipe, add in bentonite clay, and call it shaving soap. This is suboptimal at best.

 

[Nick Danger]

There is a pretty big difference between shaving soap and regular soap. The lathering qualities are different, and regular soap lacks the slickness and protection you get from a good shaving soap.

The artisan soap makers here on the forum, like Michelle from Mystic Waters, have said that some amateur soap makers have trouble figuring out how to make good shaving soap. She made many batches and did a lot of testing before she came up with her formula.

Given how long a puck of shaving soap will last, I don't think it's worth trying to save a few bucks by using regular soap. You don't necessarily need a shaving soap that comes in a fancy bowl, but it's worth getting one that will lather well and provide more protection to your skin.

EDIT: No insult was intended against JBLA, who happened to cross post with me. As a B&B member, he's much more qualified to make a good shaving soap than the type of amateur soap maker he describes who just add clay to their bar soap thinking that's all that's required for it to be good for shaving.

Nick

 

[Luc]

If the husband has a beard, don't buy it! This is based on my previous experiences...

 

[KindestCutofAll]

If the husband has a beard, don't buy it! This is based on my previous experiences...

Funny

OK, I won't get in to details explaining, but grab whatever bar of soap you usually use on your hands. Give that baby a run for a week. We won't have to explain.

 

[Songwind]

I can't look it up while I'm at work, but there's a video of a woman making "shaving soap" for her husband in a pump bottle using liquid castille soap, some glycerin, some fragrance, and maybe a couple of other things. I was horrified.

 

[mharris127]

Amateur soapmaker here (although maybe I'll get my act together soon and get some ready for sale).

When you're making a soap, you're generally looking for oils that will provide the desired properties for your finished soap. Generally speaking, you want your bath bar to be cleansing and moisturizing, and you're not all that concerned about the thickness/stability/slickness of the lather, while with shaving soap, you're not particularly concerned about the cleansing property, but the thickness and slickness and stability of the lather are pretty key.

Some people, myself included, have tried using generic homemade bath bars as a shaving soap, and it does work, kinda, but it doesn't work nearly as well as a shaving soap designed as a shaving soap.

Also note that many homemade soapmakers will take their bath bar recipe, add in bentonite clay, and call it shaving soap. This is suboptimal at best.

I have to agree with this post. Surprisingly most shaving soaps last a long time. You can take a look in the 3017 thread to see actual numbers but most tallow shaving soaps last for at least 45 shaves. Melt and pours last from between 18 and 45 shaves. Both types have their fans, there are many brands of both types that will do the job admirably. That is with me making enough lather to wash the rest of my face with after shaving and throwing away a small amount of lather. I used to lather on the puck but lately have been gravitating to bowl lathering (I have the bowl in the bathroom for cream use days anyway), the latter is more time consuming but easier to get the consistency of lather that you want. Washing your beard area before shaving also makes the blade have to do less work -- cutting down on weepers and irritation. I have been using the Dollar General branded form of Noxzema (less than $2 in Michigan), a 16 ounce can should last months. You could also just make enough lather and wash your face (including beard), let sit for a minute, then wipe off and rinse off face before lathering up for your shave. At least wet your beard down good before shaving if you don't have time to wash it thoroughly, that will help a lot.

 

[mharris127]

I can't look it up while I'm at work, but there's a video of a woman making "shaving soap" for her husband in a pump bottle using liquid castille soap, some glycerin, some fragrance, and maybe a couple of other things. I was horrified.

That may actually work better than many of the "artisan" crapapucks that comes off of Etsy and FleaBay. I am not trying it but I can think of worse to use as a base than castille soap (Olive oil, come on down to claim the shave soap murderer prize).