Why Should I switch to Soaps?

[The Boston Blade]

I LOVE my Creams. but i have never tried a soap other than Williams. I know, I know I should just buy a puck and try it but i want to get your views on why soaps are better than creams.


Thanks all.

[Must Dash]

Putting aside the issue of better, just for a moment, think how many additional purchasing opportunities are available to you when you include soaps in your rotation.

As for reasonable reasons:

I find that creating lather from soaps is more challenging and therefore more satisfying.

The consensus appears to be that you use less product with soap, so you get a lot more shaves for your $.

It's probably easier to take soaps than creams when you travel.

Some claim greater slickness from soaps. My experience is that you can get a fine shave from a good soap and from a good cream.

Cheers and happy new year.

Jeremy

[Belegnole]

YMMV of course..

Soaps may not be better, for me or for you. Some like them because they have no expiration date...Some like them because it feels more manly or original to use a soap. Most would agree though that a soap gives up some cushion for a bit more slickness. I currently am collecting more soaps than cremes purely because there are gobs and gobs of soaps out there. Name your favorite flavor...you can find it! Lime, Chocolate, Coffee-Mocha, Vetiver, Bay Rum, Lavender, Many Mentholated, Frankincense and Myrrh, Rose, Patchouli, Vanilla, Apple Cider, Tobacco, Almond, Mint, Earl Grey Tea, Musk, Coconut, Lavender, Violet, Rose, Sandalwood, Tea Tree.....and on and on

[Big_E]

It's easier to stack up pucks of soap in your linen closet then those tubes. Hard to stack the tubes, they keep falling over.

[daveesq]

I don't know whether they're "better" than creams, but they can be really, really nice. I'd say pick up a puck of QED glycerine soap (I love the lime and sandalwood that I have), and a puck of Tabac tallow soap. Neither is prohibitively expensive and there's always B/S/T. From there, just experiment. I'm quite taken by both, though I still love my Proraso, Nancy Boy, and TOBS creams. You can get both at QED and Charles is in RI, so shipping is really quick for those of us in New England.

[mental]

"Best" is subjective rather than objective. I use both soaps and creams. The other folks posting in this thread have done a good job of laying out where each product excels, but ultimately it is a matter of personal preference.

I currently do not limit myself to one or the other. If I'm in a hurry, I usually use a cream because I can get a decent lather more quickly. I use my soaps when I have more time, because I'm still working on my soap lathering technique. It really just depends on the situation, and what I'm in the mood for.

There are some really good values in soaps out there, especially from some of the small soapmakers, such as Honeybee Sue... So, trying them out is an inexpensive proposition. I tried soaps when I first got started wetshaving, had a tough time lathering then and decided I was a "cream guy", then decided to give them another shot. Now I like both.

[Sabledog]

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

The best reason:

Because you can!

I have more soaps than creams and just find it more satisfying to lather from the soap. Creams are good and I have several that I use occasionally (Taylor's Avocado, Wars, Tom's Mint) but the soaps are my staple. Perhaps the lather and scent are just more satisfying.

For reference, my favorite soaps are Mitchell's, C&E Sienna and Sandalwood, and Mama Bear's Mint (in the summer). For travel or just ease of use, a soap stick is excellent!

[badgerman]

Soaps are harder to lather and the lather they make is less forgiving if one makes a mistake with the razor. I would advise a beginner to stick to creams until he has some months of experience with brushes, razors and all. On the other hand, soaps are still one more morning pleasure and they more than double the arsenal which one can count upon. They also are one more step back from today's n-bladed 'systems' and canned goo.
I found that soaps demand a less exact water ratio compared to creams.

[JerimiahC]

Soaps are harder to lather and the lather they make is less forgiving if one makes a mistake with the razor. I would advise a beginner to stick to creams until he has some months of experience with brushes, razors and all. On the other hand, soaps are still one more morning pleasure and they more than double the arsenal which one can count upon. They also are one more step back from today's n-bladed 'systems' and canned goo.
I found that soaps demand a less exact water ratio compared to creams.

Mark, I'm not sure what soap you are using, but I find them fairly easy to lather once you get the hang of it. I also don't agree that they are less forgiving, but that is more the type and/or FO versus EO you are using. Most of my soaps are just as forgiving as my creams. Not arguing, just my (limited) experience. Hmmm......maybe I'm doing something wrong with my creams.:tongue_sm :lol:

They are easier to start out with for a newbie and as most have mentioned they are not better in a lot of cases, just different. I'm starting to migrate to soaps as I have a lot of fun with them, but I still use cream and most do, although just in smaller proportion (75% soap/25% cream for those of you who want the numbers. :lol: )

Again, YMMV and all that.

[JerimiahC]

Putting aside the issue of better, just for a moment, think how many additional purchasing opportunities are available to you when you include soaps in your rotation.

Cheers and happy new year.

Jeremy

This is my main reason for going to soaps. :thumbup: :biggrin: :w00t:

[norman931]

Soaps are cheaper and a lot more fun than creams. These days, if I use a cream at all, I'll superlather it with Williams Mug Soap.

Norm

[Norman]

Good information, I'm learning quite a bit. :wink2:

[biomesh]

Don't forget that if you use soaps, and you don't like it for shaving, you can always use it in the shower (if you don't want to sell/trade it in the B/S/T forum). I think creams might be a bit difficult to use in the shower.

[badgerman]

Mark, I'm not sure what soap you are using, but I find them fairly easy to lather once you get the hang of it. I also don't agree that they are less forgiving, but that is more the type and/or FO versus EO you are using. Most of my soaps are just as forgiving as my creams. Not arguing, just my (limited) experience. Hmmm......maybe I'm doing something wrong with my creams.:tongue_sm :lol:

They are easier to start out with for a newbie and as most have mentioned they are not better in a lot of cases, just different. I'm starting to migrate to soaps as I have a lot of fun with them, but I still use cream and most do, although just in smaller proportion (75% soap/25% cream for those of you who want the numbers. :lol: )

Again, YMMV and all that.

That must be kind of personal. My first attempts with soaps were terrible, while I learned how to lather creams quite easily. That may well depend on what particular creams/soaps I was using then.

[OldSaw]

I'll go out on a limb here and say that soaps are in fact better... for me. :biggrin:

I've been using soap for so long, (over 20 years), that lathering is a breeze. Of course I don't think it takes 20 years to learn how to make good lather, probably a few tries will get you going on the right path.

Until discovering B&B about 2 years ago, (I did a lot of lurking before joining), I never used a cream. Since then I have tried several and like some of them very well. But here are my thoughts on soaps in random order they are:

Simple
Easy to use
Very lubricating
Required for super lather
Easy to store
Long lasting
Less expensive per shave
Fun

These are generalities. There will always be some that just don't work well for you. As far as lathering goes, I think the sticky tutorial is a great way to lather, but I also think that lathering right on top of the puck is very quick and easy.

[OldSaw]

I forgot to mention that soaps are also easier to travel with in your carry on bag. But you'll have to pack a cartridge or a BIC disposable if you want to shave during layovers.

[JerimiahC]

That must be kind of personal. My first attempts with soaps were terrible, while I learned how to lather creams quite easily. That may well depend on what particular creams/soaps I was using then.

I hope I didn't offend you, that was not my intent. I did have problems at first and I'm sure I could still learn a bit. I was just sharing my experience so far.

[drumana]

I thought soaps weren't for me until I got my GFT Sandalwood shave soap. I've gotten my best shaves using this soap with my Merkur Slant.

[OldGrowth]

I LOVE my Creams...

Maybe you shouldn't...

I love my soaps, but I will still try out different creams from time to time. Use what works best for you and provides the best shave.

[OldSchoolYoungin]

Soaps are cheaper and a lot more fun than creams.

Norm

+1

And to anyone that dare demeans the lather quality of a shave soap :mad3:
I assure you that once you start to learn to correctly lather with soaps, they will produce a possibly even better lather than high-end creams. I always get my best shaves with soaps, which is why I'm starting to use soaps almost exclusively again. IMO, nothing beats the shave from a well-constructed lather of a high-end soap.

[piperjason]

now I am still a newbie and all, but I did both, creams and soaps. I had a terrible time lathering soaps at first and was about to give up. I then gave up on lathering in some vessel and went straight to my face from the puck, major difference.

I really wanted soaps to work because I travel a lot, and hate checking in luggage so soaps are a bonus. Also, as mentioned, they generally are cheaper. I bought a mess of mama bears soaps for like $30 which is nice considering the one tub of AoS cream was $22. I still use it from time to time because it smells awesome, and I do like Prorarso as well, but soaps are great for me!

[arcman]

Since creams tend to be more expensive I use them as a luxury item, for the shaves when I can take my time and relax. It seems like a waste to me to take that $30-40 jar of cream and just rush it through a quick morning shave. Not to say that soaps can't be just as luxurious, but I like to use the more inexpensive items for the everyday stuff.

[jss]

I am no lather master, rather a novice. It seems soaps are inexpensive enough to buy a cake or two and lather until you're satisfied. In a day or two one should be pretty close.

Lather-ability challenged,
jss
:wink: