Continuing my shave soap and cream reviews; This is my review of Colonel Conk Natural Line Santa Fe Cedar Shave Soap. Products used during the shower and shave were as follows; Ivory Bar Soap DSC Face Wash Neutrogena Face Scrub Colonel Conk Natural Line Santa Fe Cedar Shave Soap Q-Shave Metal Shave Bowl Captain’s Choice Heavy Copper Lather Bowl Zenith E2 Shave Brush Rex Ambassador (R4-R2) Derby Usta (2nd use) Gentleman Jon’s Alum Block Pitralon Classic Aftershave Every Man Jack Cedar Deodorant Taconic Urban Woods Solid EdC The following process is what I used for my SOTD with the Colonel Conk Natural Line Santa Fe Cedar Shave Soap. This is also about 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 tin and the lathering bowls with hot water Placed closed soap tin in copper lathering bowl Rinsed brush with hot water Placed brush in Q-Shave metal bowl Took shower Dumped water from soap tin into metal bowl 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 brush tips from the metal bowl with bloom water until desired lather is produced Used Bloom water to rinse face Lather my face Cleaned my glasses with finger tip of lather Waited another minute to let the lather work its magic Pass I WTG (R4) Used Bloom water to rinse face Lather face Pass II XTG (R3) Used Bloom water to rinse face Lather face Pass III Chin to Ear (R2) Check for pick ups (None Needed) Scrub face with some of the leftover lather (Kevy Shaves style) Rinse face Apply alum to Face Rinse Alum Block Clean equipment Rinse off Alum from face 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. A little soap goes a long way You can really add as much water as you want 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 While 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 Much stronger than the Colonel’s original line A very Woody Citrus smell Any Woody and/or Citrus AS will go well with this including a Pine scent Rinse Rinsing Clean takes a bit of time Post Shave Fantastic Still need some post-shave attention The Colonel sent me the entire line of the Natural Shave Soap to me after I had posted I couldn’t find any for purchase online. Why they decided to discontinue this line is beyond me. It’s a superb soap. The scent was much stronger than their regular line, but performed just as well if not just a bit better. I’ve used this soap twice. The first time I loaded the brush as I would load most of my other soaps. I loaded way too much. I had to add so much water I had enough left over lather to clean the mirror, the glass shelf top, and tap. I know you can buy the creams of this line, but I am a soap guy. I do hope the Colonel is able to find a way to reintroduce this soap line in the future.
That step was hysterical! But seriously, CC is oft maligned, but I never had a bad shave with the product. Thanks for the review.
It's a trick I learned from my Uncle. Shave Soap is great for cleaning glass. Also helps keep fogging down. You should see the looks I get from others in the latrine/shower room. Of course I then I have to explain what I am doing. I've converted 4 people so far just on this post alone to traditional wetshaving.
