What Next?

[RedsFan75]

I've gotten pretty good at getting a decent lather with my VDH soap from the VDH starter kit. I get a good shave, nice lubrication, and do pretty well with it.

Problem is, I've almost used it all up. Now I could just run out and get another puck and keep going, but I thought I'd take a chance to look around a bit more and try some other stuff. The local shops where I've found shave soaps have the VDH pucks and Williams pucks... That's all I've found so far. I used a KMF creme this morning and wasn't used to it, so I didn't get much lubrication or protection... first time I've had to use that much alum in a WHILE.... Lots of weepers! DOH!

Frankly I don't know where to start?

I prefer more natural ingredients, and I'd like a little more moisturization than the VDH gave me if possible... but other than that I don't know what to try and frankly the compendium at the top of the forum is a bit daunting when it comes to choosing where to go next???

Any advice or good location where I can get a bunch of samples to try?

Thanks.

 

[mblakele]

As you say, there are many options. If you want to stick with local retail, you can probably find Real Shaving Company cream, maybe Art of Shaving if you have a local outlet, maybe even Godrej from an Indian grocery or Arko from a Middle Eastern shop.

If you are planning to order online... well, the next logical step is Tabac soap. You could get the stick if you think you might like to try face-lathering with it. The bowl looks nice, but a refill puck lathers just as well.

For samples, check http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showth...op-December-2012-Update-amp-Back-To-Work-Sale

 

[stryker4526]

If VDH works for you, stick with it! Don't worry about acquiring a bunch of different soaps, as they largely shave the same way with minimal differences. If you want scents, you could always look into purchasing EOs or FOs and adding them to the VDH after melting it. It's hard to beat the value of VDH with how cheap it is!

 

[mistercitizen]

Once you start down this road, there's no going back.

Ben

 

[nemo]

As suggested, Tabac and perhaps an English soap like DR Harris or Mitchell's Wool Fat. Yes, it's a slippery slope from here.

 

[Graybeard57]

I prefer the small shops that make their own. These three are above reproach (and offer samples): Mama Bear's - glycerine, Mike's Natural Soaps and Queen Charlotte Soaps - tallow. Happy hunting.

 

[PFP_Dad]

I agree with the above, Gary's sample shop is a great resource as are the Queen Charlotte Soaps samples you can order from their site. Try a bunch before committing to a puck, even a sample will last you a while.

 

[clk]

I prefer the small shops that make their own. These three are above reproach (and offer samples): Mama Bear's - glycerine, Mike's Natural Soaps and Queen Charlotte Soaps - tallow. Happy hunting.

You can't go wrong with any of these. Mystic Waters is also great.

 

[PMT]

I prefer the small shops that make their own. These three are above reproach (and offer samples): Mama Bear's - glycerine, Mike's Natural Soaps and Queen Charlotte Soaps - tallow. Happy hunting.

I started with VDH too, now I use mike's exclusively, I'm not one to buy soap after soap, I tried mike's and it smells great and functions in every way I need from a soap, but have heard great things about the others mentioned as well!

 

[blzrfn]

Sample, sample, then sample some more lest you end up with a drawer full of soaps that you may never use. I prefer RazoRock, Queen Charlotte and a few others to a slightly lesser extent.

 

[cpcohen1945]

As suggested, Tabac and perhaps an English soap like DR Harris or Mitchell's Wool Fat. Yes, it's a slippery slope from here.

+1 on Tabac and MWF. I started with Proraso, but it's not as good as those two, IMHO. "Premium" stuff would be Taylor of Bond Street (never tried it) and Truefitt and Hill (expensive and very, very good lather).

There's no end to it. I have sworn off new soaps until I use up the the 5 I have now. MWF lasts forever.

. Charles

 

[RedsFan75]

Thanks for all the suggestions, I'm definitely going to order some of these samples.

 

[Jcabbage]

Tabac is my favorite then Speick stick. MWF is also nice.

 

[Nagash]

As you say, there are many options. If you want to stick with local retail, you can probably find Real Shaving Company cream, maybe Art of Shaving if you have a local outlet, maybe even Godrej from an Indian grocery or Arko from a Middle Eastern shop.

If you are planning to order online... well, the next logical step is Tabac soap. You could get the stick if you think you might like to try face-lathering with it. The bowl looks nice, but a refill puck lathers just as well.

For samples, check http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showth...op-December-2012-Update-amp-Back-To-Work-Sale

Thanks for that link! I'm a new wetshaver and started out with a tub of ToBS Avocado that I LOVE and have some MWF on the way. I'd love some more ToBS, but don't want to spend $100 on scents I might hate. I also keep hearing about things like Pinaud Clubman, Sandalwood, or Bay Rum etc but don't have any idea what these scents smell like lol. Just put in an order for a dozen samples of stuff I keep hearing about on the boards. Probably saved me a couple hundred.

 

[RedsFan75]

Got my samples in from Garry, and several others, although I don't have my Queen Charlotte samples quite yet.

If VDH works for you, stick with it! Don't worry about acquiring a bunch of different soaps, as they largely shave the same way with minimal differences. If you want scents, you could always look into purchasing EOs or FOs and adding them to the VDH after melting it. It's hard to beat the value of VDH with how cheap it is!

Here's the thing stryker.... VDH worked, but it never really worked that great, I could using it, and it would be adequate for a long time, but it has never performed as well as when folks talk about their lather and it's slickness and protection. It was far superior to any canned goo, but still not anything to really get excited about, and it's not about the fragrances, I could care less about that. Unscented is fine, but it's about the protection.

Thanks for that link! ... but don't want to spend $100 on scents I might hate. Just put in an order for a dozen samples of stuff I keep hearing about on the boards. Probably saved me a couple hundred.

^^ What he said! The sample shop is awesome. Gave me a chance to order and try some better soaps. I ordered a lot of what was suggested, Dr. Harris Windsor, Mitchell's Wool Fat, Tabac, and The Strop Shoppe Bay Rum Tallow, plus some from QCS, and others.

I've only tried the DR Harris Windsor sample so far the last two mornings and all I've got to say is... WOW!

I now know what it means when everyone talks about thick luxurious lather. Something I never got with my VDH Glycerin based soap. Don't know if it was my hard water making it tough to get that type of lather with the VDH, or if it was the Glycerin, cause I use the same water and brush. I didn't have to work near as hard to get a great lather with the DR Harris. With the VDH I was soaking the puck before loading and then having to add some of the KMF creme to get a 'super lather'. Heck maybe it was just a bad batch of VDH, who knows how long it sat on the Walmart shelf before I bought it...

If the DRH is any indication I can't wait to try some of the others.

 

[stryker4526]

Now I'm wondering if you maybe did get a bad puck of VDH, because that was never my experience with it. I always got it to work great even with a floppy brush, no pre-soaking or anything like that.
Well either way, glad you found something that works for you.

 

[RedsFan75]

The more I think on it, I'm almost certain I had a bad VDH puck, cause there was a much darker color in the bottom ring, almost like it was separated, and getting much lather at all from the top of the puck was a challenge, but it really started to perform great as I neared the bottom.... May have to pick up a new puck of VDH when I run through these samples. The Walgreen near my house has the deluxe and the luxury there.

On the other hand... I'm absolutely loving the DR Harris Windsor, and if the MWF, Tabac, and others perform like it, I may stay with one of them. I've only used one of the QCS soaps so far, the Vostock, and WOW... It performed great, but I may save that one for summer... very BRISK!