What shaving soaps work well in hard water?

Discussion in 'Shave Soaps' started by Fly2High, Aug 1, 2017.

  1. Fly2High

    Fly2High Breaking Frugal

    TSD gang,
    I will be traveling to a location with hard water - lots of dissolved minerals.

    What brands of soaps have you found that work well in hared water?

    Which do you find do not?

    Please limit to lines of soaps or brands not individual soaps.

    Thanks

    Frank
     
    RaZorBurn123 likes this.
  2. swarden43

    swarden43 "It's your shave. Enjoy it your way."©

    No idea about soap brands, but I've heard distilled water works well for lathering in hard water areas.
    May be an easier, cheaper solution.
     
    RyX likes this.
  3. Norcalnewb

    Norcalnewb Magnanimous Moos

    I've used Stirling and Arko in hard water areas without any problems. In reality, I guess I have used La Toja and Palmolive shave sticks with similar success. I have not tried any of my other soaps in hard water.
     
    RaZorBurn123 likes this.
  4. RyX

    RyX DoH!

    Mystic Water soaps were recently reformulated for better hard water lathers. I think citric acid (lemon juice) was the added ingredient.

    Tapatalk Via Kyocera
     
  5. PLAla

    PLAla Bit Shy of a Full Puck

    My water at home is hard, although I'm not sure the specific statistics. I've never had problems lathering any soap I've owned.
     
  6. dustmite

    dustmite Well-Known Member

    I have hard water at home, and don't have issues with any soaps. I just make sure I have enough loaded, and add water a little at a time.
     
    PLAla likes this.
  7. John Beeman

    John Beeman Little chicken in hot water

    These work well for me in hard water:

    Arko
    Derby
    Gold Dachs
    TSD Lanolin
    Vintage Williams (pre soaked)
    Vintage Old Spice (pre soaked)
    DeVergulde Hand
    VDH Luxury
    Dr Ditmar

    These do not:

    Truefitt & Hill
    GFT
    Penhaligons

    Then there are several that fall in the middle for me.
     
    Last edited: Aug 1, 2017
  8. Bama Samurai

    Bama Samurai with Laser-like Focus

    I have the hardest water in the nation. I've looked it up. Only Williams suffers. It won't be a big deal, just use whatever you like. You will notice more residue.
     
    PLAla likes this.
  9. Kaladin

    Kaladin Active Member

    I live in Arizona, which has very hard water. There's a company here that makes soap which I find work very well with hard water, which is called Wet Shaving Products (WSP). They have a fair assortment of scents as well as a great lather despite hard water.
     
  10. BigMark83

    BigMark83 [...........] this space intentionally left blank

  11. Eeyore

    Eeyore Well-Known Member

    Just buy a Palmolive stick and stop worrying
     
  12. gwsmallwood

    gwsmallwood Well-Known Member

    All of them work, given a properly loaded brush.

    If you want something that loads more quickly in hard water, go with a cream or a PAA or Crown King soap. Quickest lathering soaps I have.

    If you want something that has good residual slickness for buffing and repeat strokes, even in hard water, Stirling, Mystic Water, and WSP Formula T. This is where most of the highly regarded soaps seem to fall short for me in my hard water area.
     
  13. RaZorBurn123

    RaZorBurn123 waiting hardily...............

    Hard water here!! Or is it no water.. I treat all of my soaps the same, lather like it owes you money.
    I haven't found an artistan soap that was hard to lather.
     
  14. Linuxguile

    Linuxguile dating an unusual aristocrat

    All of the soaps that I have work well in hard water.

    Stirling
    Caties Bubbles
    Sir Hare
    Arko
    La Toja
    Tabac
    RazoRock
    TFS
    Blades Grim
     
  15. Kilgore Trout

    Kilgore Trout The Smart Bunny

    Arko works with sand.
     
  16. Triplemilled

    Triplemilled Member

    Lol so true. Arko is a tip top performer in any situation you throw at it. I'd say just about any of the stirling soaps also. Or like someone else said just buy a gallon of the cheapest distilled water you can find.
     
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  17. SpeedyPC

    SpeedyPC Well-Known Member

    Arko shave ttick
    Barrister and Mann
    Haslinger Schafmilch Sheep Milk & Lanolin (very similar to MWF)
    La Toja
    Mitchell's Wool Fat
    Palmolive Classic shave stick (european version)
    Pre De Provence No. 63
    Route 66
    Stirling
    Tabac
    The Body Shop Maca Root
    Wilkinson Sword shave stick (european version)
    Wholly Kaw
     
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