As you can see, there is no ANSWER. Its clearly a matter of preference. I tend to use mostly creams, but find that soaps typically give me a slightly closer shave. Enjoy the hunt.
I started off with cream, b/c that's what came in the "starter" kit I bought from an experienced shaver. I'm anxious to try a soap though (and have some samples on the way). I agree with others, it seems to better fit the "ritual".
Majority of creams are easier to lather, whilst soaps will more likely ask for some confident moves. There is a belief that creams are slicker than soaps, but soaps allow you to cut closer. Well, depends. But in overall, that's true. At least for me.
I say soap AND cream. I like both. Just depends on my mood and how much time I have. Cream lathers faster. Some days I have time to whip up a good soap lather, other days I don't. I can't decide between them. Some days, I use clear, slimy shave gel from the Dollar Tree. It's a buck a tube. You wet your face and rub the gel on/in. It's for those days when I don't have time for a good lather and just need to shave for effect.
I'll agree with the replies I read, get both and lots of them. I really got into this hobby for the same reason I got into craft beer...there's so much out there to try and find your favorites.
I prefer creams, well no, soaps, actually I do like the creams better,, but then again soaps are a bit more fun, but creams are faster, but then again, Oh I don't know if there is one better than another. I just use them all depending how I feel that day. And I still love it. I was just given a stick of Arko, I'm not sure exactly how to use it, rub it in a bowl, on my face, on the brush, a combination of all of the above but still it's a whole lot better than pushing a button and getting some goo out of a can. Really , where is the fun in that? BOOOOORING. They all make shaving interesting in different ways.
Although I use more creams than soaps, I enjoy using soaps also. I suppose the reason I use creams more is, because I'm mostly in a rush in the morning.
The answer IMHO is both soap and cream. Why limit yourself to one or the other? There are both great soaps and great creams. Neither soaps nor creams are particularly messy if used correctly. Soap can be messy if it is in a shallow bowl, scuttle or tin and too much water is in the brush. If that happens, just use less water. Gel or foam in an aerosol can is a lot messier because you get it all over your hands.
I shave at night. I'm in a hurry in the mornings. Plus, back when I used to get irritation(when I started wetshaving), it gave my face time to recover from a bad shave before going to work. Sometimes, I like to make superlather, so I need cream and soap. The way I use an Arko shave stick(which I like a LOT, BTW) is as follows. I wet my beard with hot water and let it soak in. I dip the tip of the shave stick in hot water and then rub the stick around in circles, all over my face. While this is happening, I leave my brush soaking in hot water in the sink or in a mug full of water. Then, I shake out the excess water from the brush and proceed to running the brush around in circles, all over my face. Once I have a thick, creamy (not foamy) lather worked up, I use paint brush strokes to apply and even out the layer of lather on my face. Then, I proceed to shave my face. That's how I use a shave stick. It may or may not be the technically correct method for using a shave stick. I've only been shaving with a DE for a year. But it works well for me. I have to echo the recommendations here for trying both. When I started, I didn't want to spend money on creams. I figured soaps were all I needed. Then Manish from Maharaja Shave started selling Indian made creams and soaps for very reasonable prices. So, I bought some Godrej, Palmolive, and Old Spice creams and Godrej shave rounds(soap) and Cinthol lime bath soap. Now, it's too late for me. I'm hooked on soaps and creams.
Amen. I haven't used gel or cream from an aerosol can since I started DE shaving a year ago. I never liked the stuff, but didn't realize I had other options until I started researching traditional wetshaving. Soaps and non-aerosol creams work much better, and are much better for your skin. I used to have problems with eczema at the corner of my mouth. Then I started shaving with DE/SE/Injector razors and using traditional shaving soaps and creams. Problem went away. There are way too many things in aerosol gels and creams that are bad for your skin. If I can't pronounce it (and I'm a well read man), I don't eat/drink it or put it on my skin.
It took me a while to get the hang of getting a good lather with soaps, but now that I have I have to say I prefer them to creams. I do still like creams, though, and use one cream every other day with a 3-soap rotation. Just to let you know how much I prefer soaps, I just ordered the sample pack of creams from Truefitt and Hill, which is one of the highest-end shave creams. Used one of the creams one day, then my cheap puck of Conk's the next day. Enjoyed the Conk's shave so much better. But, as they say, YMMV. There's no right or wrong with shaving products--it's ALL personal preference.
So I'm not the only one who gets a kick out of Conk's? I like the Bay Rum. Seems to lather well, gives good lubricity and seems work up easily. Their sandalwood takes a bit more effort but for some reason doesn't seem to shave as well. The lime ,thinking it might be nice during summer,, well,, meh,,,, Reminds me, I have to get more BR. Now there is a product I'll replace regularly.
"The" answer is try them out for yourself to determine your preference. If one was universally better than the other then we'd all use whatever that happened to be.
When I use soap it is only for the vintage feel of holding a wooden tub in my hand while I lather the brush. I tend to use cream 95% of of the time. I don't expect that to change until The Body Shop starts making Maca Root Shave Soap. I do use shave soap while traveling. Because it is a solid, TSA guidelines don't require you to pack it into that 1 quart bag with all of your other liquids and gels. Maca Root Shave Cream is "the" answer for me. Of course I still try other stuff on a regular basis, after all, there might be something better out there. Like Trumper's Limes Shave Cream. But that's in another category labeled sublime scents!
Nice analogy That's funny, I do the opposite.. If I am in a hurry, it's dip the brush in some cream and go right to a face lather.. Yet another clear indicator that YMMV.. I use all forms.. hard soap, soft cream, semi-softs (croap?.. that doesn't sound appealing..), stick... depends on my mood. As others have said, hard soap is a bit more of a ritual. The creams are much easier to lather IMHO, whether bowl, face or palm. Sticks are interesting and again, IMHO, are not to be overlooked as they are an easy way of lathering hard soaps. I have a chunk of MWF in a twist up container and actually prefer the stick delivery over the puck. This all said, my preference is for the semi-softs.. P.160, Cela, Razo Rock, Tom's of Maine.. I like to lather a dab using brush and palm to get it going, so it doesn't slide all over the inside of the bowl, then wipe what I have started in my hand onto my face and continue with a face lather.. There are so many variables.. Some days the brush choice dictates cream or soap, other days it's the other way around...
