How did you decide which type of shaving cream to use?

I use some stuff from Trader Joe's in a tube but was thinking about changing to a shaving soap in order to help create less waste/trash in the landfills.

What do you use and why?

More importantly: Are you satisfied?

 

Tim, are you asking about soap or cream?

 

Either. I use a cream now but want to find something better. I am thining soap and brush.

 

I believe soaps need more friction n work to get em to lather..cream's lather up much easier and usually less mess

 

I read lots of reviews when I started out and tried several that intrigued me, including a couple I could get locally. Then I repurchased my favorites and try new ones occasionally that are liked by people who also like my current favorites.

FYI, I'm more of a soap guy and only use an occasional cream. Mitchell's Wool Fat is my absolute favorite soap. Arko Stick, TSD Shave Soap, and Provence Sante are the others I've found that are also VERY good. For creams I'm partial to T&H, Kiss My Face, and Connaught. Though I only have KMF right now and don't feel like I'm missing out.

 

Decide? We have to decide???

 

Its surprising to me how long, tubes, tubs of cream and soap lasts if, you like many on the forums have a large rotation. Since 2007 I've only finished 2 tubes of Proraso completely.Many of us stockpile our favorites so accumulate enough cream/soap to last for years without having to throw out anything.

I think if being green and serious about not adding to the landfill is the number one priority and variety is not a problem then the large barber shop 1 kilo quantities of P160 or Cella shaving soap would be the deal, they are quality products. They are large quantities in paper packaging and would last a shaver for years used singularly . Also Proraso cream comes in the big barber shop style plastic tube it would provide a shaver with a lot of cream and shaves before disposal worries.

 

Have been partial to menthol shaving foam for all my shaving life, so when I went to wet shaving tried almost all available menthol products. Now use Proraso soap when home and the cream when on the road, they are the best I have found to date. The cream seems to lather a little better without as much work.

 

:sihns011

 

"Trial n Error" for quality of various cremes n soaps

 

My thought exactly.

Tim, I think you will find that many of the guys (and gals) around here are soap/cream collectors of sorts. Part of the fun is trying out new products and sharing the info with others. I don't think you'll find many around here that stick to one soap or cream.

Try what you can. See what you like. If you're satisfied, stick with it.

 

I used what was readily available from the local drugstore for over thirty years. Back then, we had Old Spice and Yardley. When neither of those were available, I used Williams for several years. Then the internet opened things up. Settled on Tabac for a while until, thanks to Erik, I got seduced to MWF. Don't plan on trying much new in the way of Soaps. But I do have some TSD Wheat cream on order.

It's a bit like reading film critics, find one or two who view things the way you do and use their opinions as a guideline. You can do the same with shaving products and the reviews and opinions on these forums.

 

I didn't realize I was seductive. I'll have to share that with the wife .

 

. Uh oh.

Well, I was thinking in terms of the way Darth tried to seduce Luke to the dark side, except I lack all will power.

 

Thanks all. I often feel overwhelmed by too many choices. I like the advice of finding a reviewer or two who I like and sticking with that. Thanks Dennis.

 

When starting out, I stocked up on two of the cheapest soaps, VdH and Williams. I like them, but if I'd realized earlier on how long each puck lasts, I wouldn't have bought so much. Oh well, I'll probably live long enough to use up all my current stock. I have smaller amounts of quite a few other soaps and creams, again, enough for years.

That may be the biggest "gotcha" with soaps and creams. When you're new to this, you don't realize how little it takes to make a good lather, or how long a single puck or tube is going to last. So it's easier to have a larger collection than you really intended.

 

I have several creams Kiss My Face and Proaso have become my favorites. I also use a couple of soaps, Ogallala Bay and Proaso are the 2 I use the most. So the beauty of it is you don't have to have just one. A lot aren't that expensive so you can have several types and change around. Lately I've been doing the soap with a dab of cream in the center.

 

:sihns011

I haven't decided yet what soap to use..... They all are too great to have and there are still plenty of them out there to try :happy088

It's an ongoing process

 

I face lather so I'm a soap guy. Arko Shavestick, VDH Deluxe and just about any soap from TSD is hard to beat. This fall I'm planning on my initial try of some creams (probably begining with TSD English Fern, JM Fraser's Mosswood and TOBS Eton College.) Far and away though, I totally expect to remain a soap guy that occassionally dabbles in creams.

 

I prefer soap but I don't know which yet... I have some several types now but I actually prefer that pink soap from wal mart. I'm not sure what the brand is but it comes in a green box.