Walmart - deluxe Shave Soap?

Welcome to the Den!

I've used the VDH soap from Wal-Mart for years without problems and really like it. I did splurge recently on some Col. Conk (made by the same company, there are just more scents available), and some Tabac (great, great stuff!). I have no qualms about using VDH Deluxe again though, it's good stuff and very affordable!

 

Is it like a store's own brand?

 

No Jeff, this threads title may be a little confusing, the soap being talked about is Van Der Hagen Deluxe Shave Soap.

 

Thanks, Bill. As always, you are so helpful!

 

At the very least, you can break in new boar brushes with it.
Kidding aside it's an effective cost concious soap, also try the glycerin but avoid the select IMHO.

 

I just CANT get that kind of lather with my soap....I even added a bit of bakin soda to the bowl to sweeten the deal but no help. I went to wallyworld and got a new puck (I think I messed up the other soap) and did some good swhirling on the new one and face lathered - that helped a lot but it still wasn't enough hydration for a comfortable shave.

I've read every tutorial on lathering, but it just isnt coming together! Somebody help me!!!

TJ

 

Using the boar brush included in the VDH kit from Walmart using the VDH soap. I think the water is harder than it was at my parents' house (I could get a decent lather there) That's why I tried adding the baking soda. I've been trying to bowl lather but its just real foamy and bubbly. Sure hope I can figure out how to get the good stuff!

 

Here's the setup: fill sink and lather bowl with hot water and soak brush while I shower. I put some hot water on top of the soap too to soak. After the shower, I dump it all out and put the water from the soap in the lather bowl. Then I thoroughly squeeze the brush out so it's pretty dry then swirl and load that brush up for a good 20 seconds until I'm getting a little lather going on it, then move to the bowl. This is where it all breaks down...lots of bubbles and nothing that holds weight, when its on my skin it just "fizzles" (really sounds like that)

 

How much is "some"?

I am guessing that either you are leaving too much water in the lather bowl or you really aren't getting enough soap loaded onto the brush. But your lather is too wet (need more soap or less water)..

I have hard water and I ended up giving up on the lather bowl...

As an experiment..... skip the lather bowl, don't squeeze quite all of the water out of the brush and load the brush on the puck... then go right to your face. Build the lather on your face... if it feels too dry, dip the end of the brush in water for a half second. If it is too wet, work the brush on the puck some more...

 

Here is what I did, in case it helps:

1. Hold the shaving brush under the faucet a few seconds until it is thoroughly saturated with water.
   
2. Shake the brush a few times to get rid of the excess water. Exactly how many times depends on how much water you want in the brush. I varied the amount of water on successive shaves, eventually settling on an amount that gave the best lather.
   
3. Swirl the brush around on the soap, which was in a mug, to saturate the brush with lather.

The water around here is reasonably hard, but the Van Der Hagens always gave a great lather that provided a slick, comfortable shave. No lather bowl was used or needed. IMHO, Van Der Hagen soap is the equal of Institut Karite and Tabac, but far less expensive.

 

Ats some good soap, no worries.

BTW

Welcome Aboard Shipmate

 

Yay!! how's this for lather?! I did it on my hand last night, I think I took much more time to load the brush. I also lathered on my face this morning and got similar results, however my face felt real raw after I was done, probably due to the rougher boar brush. Anyhow, it works! Need to get me some badger...

pic in next post

edit: since when am I VP of the Lather Club?! lol

 

I too am new to traditional wet shaving, but so far I have tried EJ, Burt's Bees, Williams, Herban Cowboy, and VDH. For me, YMMV, VDH is the superior product thus far. I bought two more pucks yesterday, just in case WallyWorld decides to stop selling it or runs out. The lather is outrageous and fun to make. Slick and luxurious it makes even crappy blades less crappy, for me. Am I still gonna find and try other soaps, you betchur brush I'm gonna, but I have a favorite at the top of the hill and I'm gonna do my best to find something to topple it only for the sheer fact that it will mean I found a better one, and that will be a beautiful thing.

 

MAZEL TOV! I'm still trying to get anywhere near that good of a lather, between Proraso (Bigelow) cream and "Classic Shaving" soap. I've got some MWF on the way, due in on Wednesday.

Congrats on the custom title!

 

It looks like you got it. Don't be afraid to beat that brush up a little. Try lathering some bath soap or shampoo with it in a bowl for no other reason than to break your brush in and that will help you get more consistent performance from the soap too. Swirl AND pump up and down.

I too gave up on the lather bowl. I could get tons of lather but it was very weak like you said above; just kinda fizzled. But keeping it in the cup and working it gives me lather that is crazy. My wife was watching me shave and took some and was making/sculpting little animals out of a bunch of it, a duck, pig, dog, turtle .

But it looks like you got it figured out, but once you beat your boar into submission you should have a little better go of it. I use a boar brush too and it works great but I misused it for the first 6 years of its life too...


P.S. Sorry for my sort of vapid post above, I didn't read every post before