Trufitt & Hill vs. C.O. Bigelow: do the Italians have it?

[Rex Anglorum]

Here's a question for you gentlemen. I've been slowly going through a Truefitt & Hill sample pack using about the same cream amount as a large pea on my cheapy VDH boar brush. My shaves (thus far with a Mach3, mind you) have been ok with T&H, but nothing to write home about.

Over the weekend I used one of the buy-one-get-one-free coupons (that someone at B&B had linked to) for Bath & Body Works to get 2 tubes of C.O. Bigelow cream (Proraso) for 10 dollars.

Well, I just tried Bigelow and it absolutely blew away the T&H cream for slickness, latherability, and lack of razor irritation. Granted, I did use more than a pea sized snurdle of Bigelow, and so here's the question: if I were to use as much T&H cream as Bigelow, would I get similar or better results from T&H?

I'm asking experienced people here because I don't have any more than a couple more tiny sample packs of T&H to test this myself. Furthermore, I don't want to waste my money on an actual tub of T&H for further testing if the collective B&B wisdom indicates that T&H isn't really going to perform as well as the much cheaper product anyway. I look forward to your advice.

All the best,

C.J.

 

[ChrisG]

I found T&H to be quite the opposite of what you have found. The only cream I have found that is some what in the price range that even competed with my T&H Grafton is Musgo Real. I will also say that I think you need more of an almond size of cream than a pea size to really judge them.

 

[pauls51]

I too agree that adding a little more cream would yield much better results. I have found that the T&H range have been, to this point, the best i've used thus far.

 

[lvsc10]

I am currently using T&H Ultimate Shaving Cream and am thoroughly enjoying the experience. It provides both great latherability and lubricity. But like many aspects of wet shaving, it ultimately comes down to personal preference and what works best for you. Good luck in your quest.

 

[thunderball]

I find Proraso (Bigelow) to be as good as the T&H creams.

 

[Blue-EyedSon]

I agree with the others who said to use more cream from the T&H. In terms of overall quality of lather, I think the two were quite comparable and you might have better results using more cream. Moreover, I found that the numbing sensation created by the Bigelow (Proraso) made me want to use more pressure because I couldn't feel the razor on my skin. Correspondingly, I find I get consistently worse shaves with a Bigelow. Of course, my adding pressure is no fault of the cream itself, but it is something I noticed that would probably make me lean towards the T&H creams.

 

[SRock]

I'd take T&H over Proraso any day. That said, both are fine shave creams. I have two tubes of Proraso Green and one of the Red.

 

[Rex Anglorum]

Thanks for your comments. I had expected T&H to deliver excellent results, and I'm glad that for most of you it does. I'll just use more cream on my brush in the future.

Also, thanks for the advice/warning on the skin-deadening effect from the Bigelow/Proraso. I have a DE razor arriving from QED tomorrow and I will avoid this cream for the first several shaves until I get used to using only the weight of the razor itself.

All the best,

C.J.

 

[cvac]

I can't think of a single shave cream I've tried where using a pea sized amount would be a good idea. Try an amount about the size of one or two whole almonds and see where that gets you.

 

[thecopilot]

Of all the creams I've tried I believe T&H is my favorite. I use about an almond sized portion and it works wonderfully. I do enjoy the C.O. Bigelow from Bath and Body Works and although it's a great product at a great price in my mind it's a notch below the T&H.

 

[opliko]

I started with TOBS shaving shop and CO Bigelow, and yeah they are good but T&H is easily better. Yeah and also, a tiny amount of cream like pea sized would never work, unless of course you're Mantic.

 

[bandit82ta]

I really like T&H and like CO Bigelow. I would say you may need to experiment with various amounts of sizes and water content till you get what works best.

but as always YMMV

 

[Emmett]

IME:

T&H: better "explosion" of lather, better cushion, way better scents, no menthol (a plus), tendency to be slightly dry unless I was insistent with the water additions and mixing

Proraso: better slickness, horrible scent, and menthol

Overall they both performed well, but I really didn't care for most aspects of Proaso that others consider features.

 

[HoratioCaine]

I can't think of a single shave cream I've tried where using a pea sized amount would be a good idea. Try an amount about the size of one or two whole almonds and see where that gets you.

Ditto.

 

[andrewinman]

I can't think of a single shave cream I've tried where using a pea sized amount would be a good idea. Try an amount about the size of one or two whole almonds and see where that gets you.

+1 and you might want to get a decent badger brush

 

[HoratioCaine]

...and you might want to get a decent badger brush

Yeah, that too.

 

[Cuttingboard]

I'm no T&H fan but I would rather shave with it, especially if it were 1805, rather than C.O. or Proraso. Like the gentlemen said above, larger amount with a better brush!!

 

[goby]

I can't think of a single shave cream I've tried where using a pea sized amount would be a good idea. Try an amount about the size of one or two whole almonds and see where that gets you.

I notice when I use a pea sized amount I get a "good" shave, but when I use more I get a "great" shave. More is better.

 

[crocto]

my thoughts on samples: THEY SUCK. samples are the absolute worst indicator of what a product will actually be like.

both truefitt and hill and c.o. bigelow make a fine shaving cream. purchase either one and you'll be happy.

 

[goby]

my thoughts on samples: THEY SUCK. samples are the absolute worst indicator of what a product will actually be like.

both truefitt and hill and c.o. bigelow make a fine shaving cream. purchase either one and you'll be happy.

Really? My Trumper's samples were amazing!