What does tallow do exactly?

**gull** · 11-17-2010, 10:21 AM

Some people have posted how they wish certain soaps contained tallow. My question is, what does tallow do for a soap? Does it add more cushion or slickness? Does it do a better job of softening hair? Does it smell nice!?

**professorchaos** · 11-17-2010, 10:27 AM

It simply shaves better!

**mmack66** · 11-17-2010, 10:42 AM

Tallow isn't an ingredient added to soap, it is mixed with lye to create sodium tallowate, which is the main ingredient in a cake or bar of soap. A lot of folks like the quality of lather generated with a soap that is made in this manner.

**rickboone1** · 11-17-2010, 10:43 AM

Tallow simply kicks ass.

**guenron** · 11-17-2010, 10:48 AM

Originally Posted by gull

Some people have posted how they wish certain soaps contained tallow. My question is, what does tallow do for a soap? Does it add more cushion or slickness? Does it do a better job of softening hair? Does it smell nice!?

Great question.. The slavish loyalty expressed by some of the membership to tallow-based soaps is probably more indicative of the individuals proclivities than the qualities of the product. Having a bar of 100% tallow-based soap I can attest to the fact that the only thing it really brings to the table is the slickness (GREASINESS) of the soap while not stifling the latherability as is the common occurrence with shea butter enhanced soaps. As far as fragrance, get ready to kiss a can of Crisco!

A well formulated cocoate, olivate, palmate or combination is every bit as good and efficacious.. BUT, that's what makes horse racing!

**ouch** · 11-17-2010, 10:54 AM

Originally Posted by guenron

Great question.. The slavish loyalty expressed by some of the membership to tallow-based soaps is probably more indicative of the individuals proclivities than the qualities of the product. Having a bar of 100% tallow-based soap I can attest to the fact that the only thing it really brings to the table is the slickness (GREASINESS) of the soap while not stifling the latherability as is the common occurrence with shea butter enhanced soaps. As far as fragrance, get ready to kiss a can of Crisco!

A well formulated cocoate, olivate, palmate or combination is every bit as good and efficacious.. BUT, that's what makes horse racing!

-1

Yes!

**guenron** · 11-17-2010, 10:56 AM

Originally Posted by ouch

-1

Yes!

I can now unequivocally stand by my statement given the source of the comment.

**rickboone1** · 11-17-2010, 11:01 AM

Originally Posted by guenron

Great question.. The slavish loyalty expressed by some of the membership to tallow-based soaps is probably more indicative of the individuals proclivities than the qualities of the product. Having a bar of 100% tallow-based soap I can attest to the fact that the only thing it really brings to the table is the slickness (GREASINESS) of the soap while not stifling the latherability as is the common occurrence with shea butter enhanced soaps. As far as fragrance, get ready to kiss a can of Crisco!

A well formulated cocoate, olivate, palmate or combination is every bit as good and efficacious.. BUT, that's what makes horse racing!

What? I thought horses and tracks made racing. I have never had to look up so many words in a single sentence.

**guenron** · 11-17-2010, 11:04 AM

Originally Posted by rickboone1

What? I thought horses and tracks made racing. I have never had to look up so many words in a single sentence.

Sorry, I misspelled palmitate.. (Salt of NAOH or KOH) when reacted with palm oil.. )

**bythbook** · 11-17-2010, 11:09 AM

Originally Posted by guenron

... The slavish loyalty expressed by some of the membership to tallow-based soaps is probably more indicative of the individuals proclivities than the qualities of the product. ...

that is absolutely true.

...and I loyally proclaim my slavish proclivities...!

**Crisp** · 11-17-2010, 11:10 AM

It is a well kept secret that Winston Churchhill added dashes of Tallow in his Gin Martini's as a substitute for Vermouth.

**rickboone1** · 11-17-2010, 11:45 AM

Originally Posted by Crisp

It is a well kept secret that Winston Churchhill added dashes of Tallow in his Gin Martini's as a substitute for Vermouth.

Never took Churchill to be a Martini guy. The secret is no longer well-kept. I'm telling the world.

**mretzloff** · 11-17-2010, 11:47 AM

Because tallow is high in stearic acid, it makes for a creamy lather. Also, tallow will make a bar rock-hard.

**Seraphim** · 11-17-2010, 12:11 PM

Tallow does for shave soap what bacon does for breakfast.

Palmate, etc, etc are like tofu and "eggbeaters", they keep telling you it tastes the same, but you and I know better.

Bacon, butter, tallow, lanolin.

Word to your mutha!

And as far as horseracing goes, TABAC is the Seabiscuit of the shaving world.

**Confilo** · 11-17-2010, 12:36 PM

Si tiene sebo tiene que ser bueno!

**kingfisher** · 11-17-2010, 12:47 PM

Whatevs.

Some good soaps are tallow soaps, and some good soaps are vegetable-based soaps. Some bad soaps are tallow soaps, and some bad soaps are vegetable-based soaps.

**vitaman** · 11-17-2010, 01:01 PM

Originally Posted by confilo

si tiene sebo tiene que ser bueno!

+1

**Seraphim** · 11-17-2010, 01:18 PM

Originally Posted by kingfisher

Whatevs.

Some good soaps are tallow soaps, and some good soaps are vegetable-based soaps. Some bad soaps are tallow soaps, and some bad soaps are vegetable-based soaps.

OBJECTION!

Your Honor, I move that statement be striken from the record. Reason and objectivity have no place here in the soaps forum.

**DFrancis** · 11-17-2010, 01:20 PM

Originally Posted by guenron

Great question.. The slavish loyalty expressed by some of the membership to tallow-based soaps is probably more indicative of the individuals proclivities than the qualities of the product. Having a bar of 100% tallow-based soap I can attest to the fact that the only thing it really brings to the table is the slickness (GREASINESS) of the soap while not stifling the latherability as is the common occurrence with shea butter enhanced soaps. As far as fragrance, get ready to kiss a can of Crisco!

A well formulated cocoate, olivate, palmate or combination is every bit as good and efficacious.. BUT, that's what makes horse racing!

HEY! Them's ~~fightin' words~~ a well thought-out statement of your opinion actually, though to be fair when talking about fregrence you should say a tub or lard as opposed to a can of Crisco as Crisco is veg.

There are good and bad soaps in every variety. Among my favorites are both tallow and veggie-fat soaps.

**BladeRunner001** · 11-17-2010, 01:32 PM

Tallow is animal fat. It (kind of like lanolin), is not one type of fat but a mix of different ones.

Is the question what does it do for soap or for you?

If the former, then; 1) it makes the soap hard, 2) it undergoes less oxidation than common suet

If the latter, well...the only and best way is to give it a try. As most have said, it has wonderful "greasiness" to it providing for amazing glide. Not all tallow soaps have the same amount...so, not all will be equally great.