Use correctly??

[weirdohappy]

So, after reading about this amazing thing called "Tabac", I broke down and ordered some. Many months ago I had asked if there was any difference between something like that and the $.99 puck I've been buying at Wal-Mart, and it was suggested I try Tabac.
Now that I finally got around to ordering a (jar?) I want to ensure I use it correctly. Currently it works for me to fill my coffee cup (which contains my wal-mart soap) with warm water and let it marinate while I soak my face. Does Tabac work the same way? I've heard some people talk about soaking the whole bowl in water. Any how, as highly recommended as this comes I want to ensure optimal performance. Thank you for any suggestions

 

[mdunn]

DONT SOAK IT!

I dont know where this thing started from, but you'll ruin the soap if you do. Just put a couple of drops of water on it to soften it a little.

Also, with tabac it sometimes takes a few shaves with it before you get to the good stuff, so make sure not to judge it too soon

 

[Leche]

I wouldn't soak any of my soaps as I feel it really cuts down on the life of the soap unnecessarily. At most, and I feel this is still overkill, a small amount of hot water on top of the puck to soften it up a bit is all you need. I use Jim's Technique minus the water on the puck and I face lather.

 

[SiBurning]

You don't want to wet tabac too much. The structure falls apart. It's specific to tabac. If you let any water run down the sides to the bottom of the bowl, it'll fall apart. Other soaps don't do that. But you don't really want to soak any soap like that--at leat not regularly. Some need a little soaking to start, but not if you use it regularly. Just do the teaspoon on top, and be careful not to let it run down the sides with tabac.

 

[deshaveman]

DONT SOAK IT!

+1

I am guessing the .99 puck you've been using is Williams and that one is hard as a rock and needs the soak before use. Pretty much every other soap out there does not need to be soaked at all. In the case of Tabac, because it is so special, it actually punishes you for soaking it by falling apart. Don't do it! Just attack it with a damp brush. As mentioned it sometimes take a few lathers to get the outer layer off but once that happens...

 

[Bertilak]

Echoing the others -- don't soak.

Whether this is more true for Tabac than other soaps I can't say, but it certainly isn't needed and can cause your soap to turn into a mess over time.

I know it is popular to put a few drops of water on the puck and let that sit for a few minutes. I have never done even that, finding it unnecessary. Perhaps people that have many soaps in their rotation find that their pucks develop a dried out surface layer between uses. Doesn't seem to happen to my soaps.