Soap vs Cream

[gdollard]

I started out DE shaving using TOBS soap. Seeing as it was my first foray into DE shaving I just got on with it.
Since then I've tried Geo F. Trumper's Sandalwood cream.
Now maybe I've improved my technique but since using Trumper's cream
I've had less nicks and seriously, I love the stuff!

Last night I shaved with TOBS again and I noticed, apart from a few tiny nicks that the lather started drying on my face!
Now I had a pretty damn good rich lather built up but after a few minutes on my face I noticed some dry/flakey parts from the soap.

Has anyone noticed this tendency in soap over creams or was it something I did?

[LooseCard]

I'm still a newb with this stuff, but...

I started with AOS Lavendar, which turns out to be a cream soap.
I've since picked up a Tabac, which is a solid soap. And now I've picked up some others, that are also a hard soap.

I get pretty close to the same event, but the Soap requires more moisture to get there. From my limited experience, I'd question if you're getting enough water involved to get the full lather going...?
(again, this is from my limited experience)

[delisle]

I started out DE shaving using TOBS soap. Seeing as it was my first foray into DE shaving I just got on with it.
Since then I've tried Geo F. Trumper's Sandalwood cream.
Now maybe I've improved my technique but since using Trumper's cream
I've had less nicks and seriously, I love the stuff!

Last night I shaved with TOBS again and I noticed, apart from a few tiny nicks that the lather started drying on my face!
Now I had a pretty damn good rich lather built up but after a few minutes on my face I noticed some dry/flakey parts from the soap.

Has anyone noticed this tendency in soap over creams or was it something I did?

In my experience soaps do take more water because they are harder than creams, a few drops every 10 or so swipes on the soap will help get thick and rich lather.

[Optometrist]

With the exception of 4 creams I own, my preference is for soaps. Once you have mastered the lather from a soap, there is that little bit extra to soap lather that offers better protection and slickness. You need to try both, and only you can decide what works best. Ideally, you need both!

[Perkus]

I've used EJ Sandalwood soap and found that I got better glide and protection when rubbing some oil into my skin before lathering, because the soap somewhat dries my skin out. I've also noticed that the EJ soap lather tends to give a harsher feeling to the shave, overall.

When using Palmolive shave cream, I have found the extra oil part unnecessary.

It could be that the Palmolive contains palm oil, or that it has additives that makes a better lather (quicker, easier, longer lasting), or that I haven't mastered the soap lathering completely, but I must say I get a thick, slick lather from the soap, much like the cream lather, but it just tends to dry off quicker.

[Desertrat]

Trumpers Sandalwood was the only Trumpers I tried....I didnt seem to have a good shave with it.....maybe when I order again....I will give it a second look....thats the fun of this hobby.

[gdollard]

thanks for the replies folks, the adventure/fun continues.

[LinuxMintyFresh]

Sounds like you were just too light on the water. I try to avoid broad generalizations about the difference between soaps and creams, but given that creams are already moist, I would say that in general you need more water with a soap.

[Blaser0217]

I also think you need to work a soap a little longer than you do a cream. If you're face lathering, I'd recommend bowl lathering until you get a good feel for lather making. I think the bowl gives you a little more control over your product:water ratio. It certainly helped me in the beginning. I face lather almost exclusively, now, and can usually get about the same results from any product. Good luck, and keep at it!

[gdollard]

more water it is so!
Yes, I use the bowl for lathering.

[wknicholas]

I also think you need to work a soap a little longer than you do a cream. If you're face lathering, I'd recommend bowl lathering until you get a good feel for lather making. I think the bowl gives you a little more control over your product:water ratio. It certainly helped me in the beginning. I face lather almost exclusively, now, and can usually get about the same results from any product. Good luck, and keep at it!

+1 :thumbup1:

[Chiro75]

I get a MUCH better lather with soap than with cream. I am using Kiss My Face cream right now and I just can't seem to get the water right, and the KMF feels "dry" on my face (i.e. the razor catches my skin, rather than sliding). Someone suggested I'm not using enough water, but this AM I added a few drops of water as I was lathering in the bowl and the lather broke down immediately upon applying to my face. I get MUCH, MUCH better and more consistent results with a cheap puck from Walgreens. I think I am going to swear off creams and stick with soaps from here on out.

[Blaser0217]

I get a MUCH better lather with soap than with cream. I am using Kiss My Face cream right now and I just can't seem to get the water right, and the KMF feels "dry" on my face (i.e. the razor catches my skin, rather than sliding). Someone suggested I'm not using enough water, but this AM I added a few drops of water as I was lathering in the bowl and the lather broke down immediately upon applying to my face. I get MUCH, MUCH better and more consistent results with a cheap puck from Walgreens. I think I am going to swear off creams and stick with soaps from here on out.

I wouldn't be so quick to swear off creams. There are a lot of high quality creams out there that give excellent results. I haven't used KMF, but it generally gets pretty good reviews from the folks who have used it. I don't know how much of a scent-oriented chap you are, but I believe you get more concentrated scents from creams than soaps, which I enjoy.

Just my $0.02. There are so many excellent soaps out there you could probably never touch a cream and be happy as a clam.

[BlackBard]

sounds like you were just too light on the water. I try to avoid broad generalizations about the difference between soaps and creams, but given that creams are already moist, i would say that in general you need more water with a soap.

+1.

[SliceOfLife]

From a quick glance at cream making techniques, one of the primary differences that will affect lathering is that creams have more unsaponified fat in them. This will keep them from drying out on your face. Soaps have very little fat left in them. They will dry out if you don't use enough water when lathering. Hence the "scales" picture I recall seeing recently (I believe it was with Cade soap) where the lather dried onto the users face like a mud mask.

That said, in my experience creams quickly and easily create a nice looking lather, but it's functionally inferior to the lather I get from soaps.

[LinuxMintyFresh]

That said, in my experience creams quickly and easily create a nice looking lather, but it's functionally inferior to the lather I get from soaps.

That's not at all my experience. There are a plethora of both good soaps and creams out there, and I generally don't prefer one over the other, but my favorite products have turned out to be almost exclusively creams. In my experience the best soaps just can't hold a candle to the best creams.

[Greyfox]

I find that both make excellent lather and give great shaves..

[Blaser0217]

I find that both make excellent lather and give great shaves..

+1 :thumbup1:

[Foyle]

Most people who are new to traditional shaving make the mistake of not using near enough water in both their creams and soaps. I recommend making a couple batches of practice lather of each. Keep adding water until the lather falls apart and gets soupy. Then you'll learn how much water your lather will really hold. You'll find that you can use far more water than you would have thought and your lather will be richer, more cushioning, and more lubricating than you ever thought.

[mftoms59]

I started out DE shaving using TOBS soap. Seeing as it was my first foray into DE shaving I just got on with it.
Since then I've tried Geo F. Trumper's Sandalwood cream.
Now maybe I've improved my technique but since using Trumper's cream
I've had less nicks and seriously, I love the stuff!

Last night I shaved with TOBS again and I noticed, apart from a few tiny nicks that the lather started drying on my face!
Now I had a pretty damn good rich lather built up but after a few minutes on my face I noticed some dry/flakey parts from the soap.

Has anyone noticed this tendency in soap over creams or was it something I did?

Sounds like your lather is a tad dry, next soap lather add a bit more water after you've reached your "Normal" soap lather and see if it solves your flaking.

[oc_in_fw]

That said, in my experience creams quickly and easily create a nice looking lather, but it's functionally inferior to the lather I get from soaps.

It seems that way to me, too. My soap is DR Harris, and my creams are from the T&H sampler pack. The creams are okay, but I will NEVER give up the Harris.

[maierar]

You may want to try a few drops of glycerin on the wet soap before loading your brush. It will make a considerable difference in the ease of lather building.