I've been wet shaving for about a month using only creams. It's been great so far. I want to expand and try some soap. I do not know where to start. I would like to use something that is easy to use, works up a lather easily, and has a smell that isn't overpowering. I currently use TOBS eton college cream and proraso Red(sandalwood) cream. Any suggestions as to which soap to try first or which ones to avoid ? thanks in advance for your help.
which soap for a newbie
- Thread starter mj0829
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Tabac is exactly what you are looking for, it will spoil you for other soaps though. Enjoy your shave!
Tabac.
Soooooooo many choices! I would start with D.R. Harris, myself. Next question is scent. If you want something that is not overpowering, D.R. Harris almond has an almost imperceptible scent. My personal next favorite is their lavender.
Buy an inexpensive but well thought of shaving stick. Arko, Palmolive, Valobra, Wilkinson Sword etc. If the soap idea doesn't appeal so much to you, the stick can be easily relegated to travel duty.
Van der Hagen Luxury or Glycerin. They are high quality and very inexpensive. Some like the Deluxe too, but it has lanolin so I cannot use it. This way, you can see if you even like soaps before you pay US$25-30 for Tabac or Cella. (VDH is $1.50-5.00 and very good.)
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I never considered a stick. It makes a lot of sense. I'll give a stick a go, and see how I like using a soap. Thanks for the feedback. I appreciate everyone's input.
I only use soaps but can't stand sticks. The two sticks I've tried (speick and Palmolive) I have grated into pucks and now they are among my favorites. If you don't like the sticks, try grating or smashing them into a small container and use them as a puck. Also, I'd wholeheartedly recommend either speick or Palmolive sticks. Both are cheap, easy to lather and have nice mild scents. Tabac is better though (the puck--haven't tried the stick, though I hear it's the same stuff just in the wrong, oops I mean different, shape)
Since you're already using the Proraso Red cream (good stuff!), why not try the soap (also good stuff!)?
Cella. Because, Cella lathers up very easily. Just look up Marco's Method and give it a go.
Go ahead and get some Tabac.
You're going to want to anyway.
You're going to want to anyway.
Can't believe it too so long for someone to say Cella.
Tabac. It's the best.
Ben
Ben
Tabac for sure. As long as you don't mind smelling like creepy old man. Proraso is pretty easy to lather too.
Once you fall in love with Tabac, you'll be buying the Mitchell's Wool Fat. Make sure you hit up Garry's sample shop first so you don't go out and drop a ton of money that come later.
Once you fall in love with Tabac, you'll be buying the Mitchell's Wool Fat. Make sure you hit up Garry's sample shop first so you don't go out and drop a ton of money that come later.
I don't have any trouble lathering the Fat.
It's great stuff. But some seem to.
It's great stuff. But some seem to.
My main stays are MWF, Cella, Tabac, and ProRaso which I must buy on-line. I also like Mama Bear's glycerin soaps.
VDH is cheap, works well, and is readily available in stores.
The italian soft soaps (Cella, ProRaso, etc.) are the easiest to mold and lather. MWF performs best on my face, but the puck shrinks a bit and hairline cracks in the mug between uses. The cracking is a visual annoyance, but it does not hurt performance. Tabac is hard and does not mold to shape or crack between uses, lathers well, shaves well, and the puck seems to last almost forever.
I do not think that I have paid more than $ 20 for a puck, including shipping. There are so many soaps and they last a long time. It could take years to try and use up most available soaps.
HTH
VDH is cheap, works well, and is readily available in stores.
The italian soft soaps (Cella, ProRaso, etc.) are the easiest to mold and lather. MWF performs best on my face, but the puck shrinks a bit and hairline cracks in the mug between uses. The cracking is a visual annoyance, but it does not hurt performance. Tabac is hard and does not mold to shape or crack between uses, lathers well, shaves well, and the puck seems to last almost forever.
I do not think that I have paid more than $ 20 for a puck, including shipping. There are so many soaps and they last a long time. It could take years to try and use up most available soaps.
HTH
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