What? Wait...my VDH is very nice, I used it today and like it alot. But I'll have to admit the good VDH boar brushes don't happen everyday.

I also have an Omega 10065 that's nice but no better than the VDH IMHO. Just goes to show that YMMV definetely applies in shaving.

Sorry, was using allegory!
(from the Greek: αλλος, allos, "other", and αγορευειν, agoreuein, "to speak in public")

But my offer still stands.
And, while my opinion of that brush remains low, it's certainly not crap, as it does get the job done.
If you break it in, it does feel great, and if you like a big knot, like I do, you'll prefer it to smaller brushes, like the 10065.
But you'll have to ignore the shedding and the stiff bristle because of all the glue holding it (mostly) in place in the cheap (but useful) handle.

See, I know it may seem like I'm looking down on your tools, but I'm not, I'm looking ACROSS at you; for another $4 over the VDH can have the $9 Omega #49, which I assure you, you will greatly prefer over the VDH.

I've tried over a dozen different soaps and VDH is still my favorite. I can relate!

YUPPERS.....

I tried Zach's lather method with the Williams today. No skin burning this time and a good shave. I just can't take strong concentrations of soaps like Williams, but that method works for me.

I used my VDH Deluxe SS today and once again got a wonderful shave. I don't know if it's the shea butter or what, but the stuff works as well for me as anything else I've tried to this point. Love it.

I get good shaves from it.. but I much prefer the Williams.

Fuzzy

I use and enjoy the VDH. Like several others have posted, if it works, I'm not going to look down on it just because it's not the most expensive. It's the difference between cheap and inexpensive. By my definitions, inexpensive means low cost, good quality. Cheap means poor quality regardless of the cost!


Williams, on the other hand - just can't get used to shaving with a skeeter candle!

I am cheap too? I like cheap soaps as the "monsavon" from France or "La Toja" from Spain......but the cheap price is relative...for instance a bottle of Clubman AS costs more than 18$ in Spain....not cheap stuff for the european people. A bottle of Floïd costs about 10$.

For me some cheap products work fine and I'll use them again and again...Cheap? ....not I am not a snob so I don´t need to use expensive and exotic products everyday...

I have seen the William's soap @
Wal-Mart.But never thought to try it.
Might just have to pickup a puck and
check it out.

Williams and VDH is good stuff...corn husker lotion makes for a good cheap aftershave

I'm fairly frugal myself, though I don't use blades from Wal-Mart because I figured out that by getting Derby's in bulk online, I pay less per blade than I was at Wal-Mart. I've been using VDH as my main soap for years (before I switched to DE). I'm using KMF and CO Bigelow creams and I get all of that locally. The most expensive items in my Shave Den are my Merkur Futur and my Altesse Pure Badger brush (which is the only brush I have), both of which were purchased with money received as Christmas and/or birthday presents. I've been a proponent of drug store aftershave's for years also. I do have Polo A/S, but that was also a gift from my wife.

I can see spending more money on shaving hardware because if you take care of it properly, it might last for quite some time thus lowering the overall cost when you consider the price over the life of the product. I had a VDH brush that didn't even last a year and I had to re-glue the knot twice, so when my b-day rolled around in Sept., I purchased a decent brush for myself locally so I wouldn't have to keep fixing the cheap brush.

superlather

Williams soap + Proraso cream = Blue collar superlather

Throw in a shot of glycerin if you're feeling sassy...

I like being sassy. So I've been trying to use glycerin with williams, but I never seem to get it right. How much is just right?

You know, I usually throw in a random squirt of the glycerin, sometimes more, sometimes less. Proraso & Williams is usually more than enough for me but clearly I am a fan of overkill...something I hope my children don't inherit.

I would reccomend adding a good 5 drops at a time until it's just right. Pretty strong stuff, you shouldn't need much.

I think the same way. The key thing for me is getting good value for the dollars I spend.

I used my VDH brush and soap this morning (as I do every morning) and got the best lather I have ever got! I was able to do my first 4 pass and it was, can you say, BBS?

BULLY!!!!!

I got the Omega brush in today from Zach.. have not used it yet but it is a nice looking brush. thanks a milliom Zach.

Fuzzy

Just purchased a couple pucks of VDH Deluxe. This and Williams are fast becoming the backbone of my rotation. I have absolutely no complaint with either. I'll still keep a jar or two of TSD on hand for date nights with my bride or days when I just feel like luxuriating.