Continuing my shave soap and cream reviews; This is my review of Van der Hagen Deluxe Shave Soap. Products used during the shower and shave were as follows; Duru Olive Bath Soap Stirling Soaps Unscented Prshave Face Wash Dollar Shave Club Shampoo Dollar Shave Club Conditioner Van der Hagen Deluxe Shave Soap Van der Hagen Shave Bowl Fine Lather Bowl Van der Hagen Boar Shave Brush Rockwell 6S (R6 - R3) Derby Premium (4th use) Gentleman Jon’s Alum Block AAFES Brisk Aftershave Old Spice Endurance Deodorant Babaria Royale EdC The following process is what I used for my SOTD with the Van der Hagen Deluxe Shave Soap. This is also the same process I use with most of my shave soaps; While I brushed my teeth I made sure the soap bowl ran under the hot water I filled the soap bowl and the lathering bowl with hot water Rinsed brush with hot water Placed brush in lathering bowl Took shower Dumped water from both soap bowl and lathering bowl area Took out brush and rung out excess water Loaded damp brush from puck creating a cream Started working the cream in the lathering bowl Added hot water via finger tips until desired lather is produced Lather my face Cleaned my glasses with finger tip of lather Waited another minute to let the lather work its magic Pass I WTG (R6) Lather face Pass II XTG (R5) Lather face Pass III Chin to Ear (R4) Check for pick ups (None Needed) Scrub face with some of the leftover lather (Kevy Shaves style) Lather Underarms Shaved Underarms (R3) Rinse face Rinse Underarms Apply alum to Face Rinse Alum Block Apply Alum to Underarms Rinse Alum Block Clean equipment Rinse off Alum from face Rinse off Alum from Underarms Dry off Apply Aftershave Apply Deodorant Apply EdC Now for my thoughts. Just a heads up. Due to my process of bowl lathering unless the soap/cream is just horrible I always get a great lather. It takes longer, but the control of how much water is used really helps dial in the lather just right. Some soaps/creams take longer than others. So it is hard for me to find a soap/cream I dislike. Time to Lather Extremely quick You can really control the thickness of the lather via amount of water you add. If you want a real thick lather, don’t add much water If you add a good amount of water the lather is still thick but less so Quality of Lather As thick or creamy as you want Cushion Fantastic Slickness Whilst lathered Like snot on ice After Pass (Bare Wet Skin) It’s there Good slickness Great slickness once the area is moistened again You could get away with just wetting the skin for pick ups Scent It’s a very neutral Any aftershave or cologne will pair with this soap Rinse Rinsing Clean takes a bit of time Post Shave Fantastic Still need some post-shave attention I’ve used this soap twice. Once just to face lather before bed to wash my face, and the next to do an actual shave. For a cheap soap it’s pretty darn good. The soap itself is made in the USA. I’m shocked there isn’t more talk of this soap on the boards. It’s a really good soap. It provides plenty of slickness and plenty of cushion. There’s really no scent to speak of, maybe just a hint of Shea Butter. Post shave you can use any aftershave/cologne. So, if you have a one off scent that doesn’t pair well with your other soaps, this is a good soap to have. I have bought some more of these soaps, but not a lot. I think they are good to have in your shaveden for when you need a good non-scented soap to pair with an odd fragrance you have in your cabinet. I do recommend this soap for beginners due to the ease of lathering and being able to experiment with how much water you can use to get different consistencies of lather.
I've still got a fair sized puck I picked up locally when I first started wet shaving. It's good soap, no doubt. Guess I've found others with a more desirable scent. Bowl lathering helps me in fine tuning my lathers too. Once I figured out to not be stingy while loading my brush, all soaps got better lathers. You listed two different ones - Van der Hagen Shave Bowl & Fine Lather Bowl. The VDH is that dark blue outside/bright green inside? I found it good for holding and loading the VDH soap but too small to work up a lather. Much like an Old Spice mug it doesn't give me elbow room when using a modern large diameter boar brush. I currently use a device similar to the Fine bowl - a Japanese Suribachi. Like the Fine it's nearly cereal bowl sized, and has raised texture to aid in incorporating water and air into the soap. Rather that a couple of ribs and shiny glaze of the well designed Fine dish, the suribachi is a repurposed kitchen accessory. Meant to be used in accompaniment with a wooden pestle, the textured unglazed inner surface has fine grooves to grind spices or sesame seeds. It's help me make my best lathers ever!
I use the VDH Bowl, just like the one described, to hold the puck to load the brush. The Fine Lather bowl is where I build my lather, just like you described. If I wasn't clear on that, I apologize. Interesting use of the Suribachi bowl.
Love the VDH. I keep the sets on hand as starter kits. It does not cost enough for most to use it. A simple soap that works good is not trendy enough. That is why you do not read more about it. Maybe I will start a VDH shave thread across the street. Loved reading your review.
I have several pucks of VDH I like it. It's inexpensive and it lathers great. Also you can mix it with Williams Shave Soap and two mixed together makes a great shaving soap that lasts a long time and lathers great.
yeah it's good if you can find the puck with the shea butter in it that comes with the kit other wise vdh's other aren't that good I get a red rash from the others and skin dryed out not good remember the one with the shea butter
Not to be rude, but aren't that good based off your skin reaction is to a fair assessment. To say it didn't work out for you because of the allergy is fair, but the soap does work well, simply being allergic to something doesn't make it a bad product. I'm allergic to Vicodin, but that doesn't make it a bad product. I have tried the white VDH soap, it may be better for your skin. Also, I've heard good things about the Gillette pure cream.
@BigD great write up! Good details and seems like a for and scientific review. Looking forward to more. Perhaps I should break out the kit for a video shave one of these days!
first off I didn't say it was a bad soap yeah it works for others only one of vhd worked without a problem on my skin that's what I started with the clear one didn't sit well with me and the white on with the mango butter I had allergy only 1 of them worked for me yes they are good if they all work for you and others hey that's great that all and no I not mad or any thing and ordinaryshaver you need to put your word together a little bit better is to a fair assessment what? it sound like you were upset ok sorry if I made you upset it wasn't done on purpose.
I also use Williams Shave Mug Soap, by it's self. I like the way it lathers and I also like the shave it gives. I also like mixing it with VDH and Williams Shave Mug Soap. It also gives an excellent lather and shave.
Not upset in the least. Just simply stating that your analysis of the soap being "not good" because of your allergies" isn't a fair assessment. I tried to make my post as coherent as possible and you misconstrued my post, it is easy to do via only text, no hard feelings. Also, if you will re-read my statement, I didn't say that you either implied nor inferred that it was bad, but that you said it "wasn't good", we can play sentax and semantics if you'd like, but that's not the point. The point is, it didn't work out for you, and that's fine, but don't discount a product do to allergic reactions, that's neither fair to the soap, nor to the community as a whole.
I tried scenting some by grating it down and adding aftershave. It lathers great...but no real scent. Back to the drawing board.
now you putting words in my mouth that aren't there dude you guy's say you didn't like a soap because it didn't smell good and say it's bad because of that. so what your point? it mite the new stuff that I have the problem with when they came in a green box of 2.5 once pucks that was found in the kit with the blue and green bowls then as store do they quit carring it and the kit both and the new stuff came out well that when the problem started but i'm welling to forgive and forget if you are we cool ordinaryshaver I see the green box on the internet I may order one and see if it's the same old stuff and give it another shot and I my get Williams to try I fuzzy on youtube doing well with it
For what it's worth, I believe there may be a misunderstanding surrounding the semantics and syntax of this conversation. If you would like to, PM me. I'd love to help and if your looking for some Williams, I'd happily send you a box, as well as a few other samples that I think you may like.