Turkish Barber's Soap...

**stripermanx** · 07-17-2011, 11:01 AM

Hello All,

I have watched many Turkish Barber YouTube video's showing straight razor shaves. The majority of those barbers use a synthetic shave brush and a shave soap that comes in what looks like a "Robin's Egg Blue" tall ceramic dish with a matching cover. Does anyone know the name of this soap? It seems to be the Turkish professional barbers soap of choice for straight razor shaves.

Thanks for your responses.

**Bestarrkin** · 07-17-2011, 11:04 AM

The link of that video is much appreciated.

**Ozgun** · 07-17-2011, 11:35 AM

Its %99 arko stick soap, mashed into the bowl.

**stripermanx** · 07-17-2011, 01:04 PM

Hello Bestarrkin and Ozgun;

@ Bestarrkin - Here is a link to one of the many YouTube video's I have watched.
"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_e3jFbjc70Q&feature=related"
If you watch from 5:02 to 5:05 you will see the barber getting soap on his shaving brush from the blue dish I am referring to.

@ Ozgun - That may be true but in all the different YouTube videos I have watched, the barbers
all use the exact same bowl, like it was a prepackaged product. Why would so many different barbers use exactly the same bowl to mash his Arko into?

Thanks.

**Bestarrkin** · 07-17-2011, 01:55 PM

That is Arko, for sure. Personally, I use milk glass bowl for mine.

**Ozgun** · 07-17-2011, 01:55 PM

That looks like just a cheap regular bowl to me. They may be very common from barbers supply shops. I'm pretty sure he is using arko. Because as far as I know the only Turkish made shaving soap is arko in Turkey for the time.

I too, saw nearly all the foreign barbers have Rolex like golden watches, nearly every one of them. Have you ever noticed? Must be a nice job. :)

**wulfgar1976** · 07-19-2011, 03:28 AM

Originally Posted by Ozgun

I too, saw nearly all the foreign barbers have Rolex like golden watches, nearly every one of them. Have you ever noticed? Must be a nice job. :)

When I went to Turkey, there were shops openly selling fake Rolexes. They actually looked pretty decent.

**InHotWater** · 07-19-2011, 04:27 AM

I will be visiting my brother this August in Turkey. I will try to make it a point to get an old fashioned barbershop shave while I am there. Thanks for posting the video links :) I may have to bring back some Arko as well.

**wulfgar1976** · 07-19-2011, 04:28 AM

Originally Posted by InHotWater

I will be visiting my brother this August in Turkey. I will try to make it a point to get an old fashioned barbershop shave while I am there. Thanks for posting the video links :) I may have to bring back some Arko as well.

Bring an extra suitcase and fill it up with Arko shaving sticks and creams.

**InHotWater** · 07-19-2011, 04:41 AM

It does sound tempting, I just hope customs does not think it is dynamite :) I am wondering if La Toja is easier to buy in Turkey?

**wulfgar1976** · 07-19-2011, 04:44 AM

Originally Posted by InHotWater

It does sound tempting, I just hope customs does not think it is dynamite :) I am wondering if La Toja is easier to buy in Turkey?

Just tell them that it explodes with lather on contact with water

I didn't see any La Toja in Turkey.

**Bestarrkin** · 07-19-2011, 06:37 AM

According to my father, Arko had branded stick holder in '70s. Btw, La Toja isn't sold in here.

**Ozgun** · 07-19-2011, 07:03 AM

yep, no La Toja here :(

**Nicktheswede** · 07-19-2011, 01:02 PM

A good friend of my dads lives in Turkey. I really need to go by one time to get a shave from a Turkish barber. I find the process quite interesting. Especially the fire.