The Williams Way!

[Jacob Robertson]

Well, I finally got to shave with the stuff today.

Prep: Hot water splash (yeah, I was lazy)
Razor: Full Hollow JR Torrey


I swirled my brush on top of the puck for about 15 seconds, and went to the bowl. Lathered nicely, but a little dry, so I added about 2 teaspoonfuls of water and it perked up. I decided it was adequate for shaving, and took it to my face.

This stuff is slick. Really slick.

Did three passes, 1 WTG, 2 ATG, and ended up DFS. I figured by the way you guys complain, I would have horrible irritation, so I brought out the yardstick: Skin Bracer. Splash it on, wincing, and..... nothing. No burn at all. None. First time I have ever had that result. Just the menthol rush.

 

[seventhirteen]

Williams is tricky, but for the price...

Once I figured out how to lather the stuff, I decided to keep using Williams. When it runs out, I'll gladly give something else a shot, but I have a feeling I'll keep a puck around.

 

[chuck81]

I love Williams. I just discovered superlathering, and it is awesome as the base. Got a CCS/DFS with very little irritation this morning.

 

[DC_MPA]

Bought a puck of modern Williams, worthless as a shave soap but amazing as a shower soap. Rips the oil off my face like nothig I've ever used before.

 

[OldGreyGuy]

It is threads like this that make me feel proud to now live in a country where Williams is generally unavailable.

 

[Debrushman]

Williams is no Arko. The vintage Williams was far superior to the product that is manufactured today. For the money, pick up some Arko. Arko is super slick, extra cushiony, and a $2.00 stick will last you almost a year of daily shaves. Did I mention that it lathers so easy, that it completely eliminates any challenge?
Of coarse the gas mask you need to wear while opening a fresh stick takes a little getting used too.

 

[The Kiwi]

Williams is no Arko. The vintage Williams was far superior to the product that is manufactured today. For the money, pick up some Arko. Arko is super slick, extra cushiony, and a $2.00 stick will last you almost a year of daily shaves. Did I mention that it lathers so easy, that it completely eliminates any challenge?
Of coarse the gas mask you need to wear while opening a fresh stick takes a little getting used too.

I find that I have few clear memories of my soap choices back before the era of cartridges. I know that I had and used Old Spice soap, but I cannot recall ever using Williams soap. What are the differences? (Modern Williams vs. the Classic pre- Cartridge era?) Most of the time, I used a canned foam, whatever the razor was, with "real soap" being for the best and closest of shaves. In the 1980s, still using DEs frequently, I was much more likely to use a cream in a tube than a soap, but it was a VDH soap that was still in my mug from 2000 or so, when I last bought a soap (during the years of mostly cartridge shaving, and mostly canned gels).

Was Williams ever sold with its own mug, like Old Spice was?

 

[chuck81]

I find that I have few clear memories of my soap choices back before the era of cartridges. I know that I had and used Old Spice soap, but I cannot recall ever using Williams soap. What are the differences? (Modern Williams vs. the Classic pre- Cartridge era?) Most of the time, I used a canned foam, whatever the razor was, with "real soap" being for the best and closest of shaves. In the 1980s, still using DEs frequently, I was much more likely to use a cream in a tube than a soap, but it was a VDH soap that was still in my mug from 2000 or so, when I last bought a soap (during the years of mostly cartridge shaving, and mostly canned gels).

Was Williams ever sold with its own mug, like Old Spice was?

I've looked for one on eBay...haven't seen it. Doesn't mean it's not real though....

 

[dgold]

I just used Williams for the first time today and it was perhaps one of the best shaves I've had yet. I found the soap to be very slick and protective. I'm now adding it to my normal rotation. For the record, the other soaps I am using are MWF, Cella, Tabac, Arko so I'm comparing Williams to those. From a pure performance standpoint (albeit based on just one shave at this time) williams is certainly for me as good as those other soaps. But I do enjoy the scent of the other soaps (especially MWF). The Williams has very little scent, to me it smells like plain soap.