Williams Mug Shaving Soap Review

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Falken

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I have 4 pucks of W.M. shaving soap,

I read well how to use this stuff.

Basically, don't try to baby the puck.

Let it soak in 5 tablespoons of water with a fully saturated brush while you shower.

I did this, whipped it like mad, and it pulled a colgate toothpaste lather in the center of the brush (Omega Syntex).

Anyway, after applying to a wet face, the lather was a touch shallow but slick like you would never believe.

Did a tripple pass shave with an Astra in a Merkur Classic (short thin handled one, still cant figure out the Model Number).

Finished off with Nivea aftershave balm, and it is like aliens removed the hair from my face. No irritation at all. None.

Will try soaking in some leftover Earl Grey Tea in the morning to add some aroma, but the Williams scent is great. A bit mild smelling though. But the scent is great.

Williams Mug is great soap, it is the most fun soap I own.
 
Modern Williams is still good soap, it just requires a little extra work, as you found out. If you can ever find any of the old version of Williams(unsure when they changed, maybe 10-15 yrs ago? search it out on the shaving forums) at a decent price, get it. Better performance with a lot less work.

About shaving soap age: Some of the fancier soft creams sold in tubs or tubes can go bad within a few years, a single year or even less. When it comes to hard puck shaving soap though, don't worry about how old it is. I'm still using an Old Spice mug & soap I bought on Evilbay some years ago. The soap itself is probably 30 yrs old, maybe older. The scent has faded to almost nothing- but it lathers & shaves great.
 
I have a green tub of Proraso menthol. It lathers with great ease, but that insane slickness is missing.

When I rinse my face between passes using Williams Mug, it is like thin bacon grease on my skin.

I have used Nivea Mens shaving gel in a can, and that is great too.

I bought a cheap tube of Nivea shaving cream in blue box and white box and will try soon. Heard that it is awesome tube shaving cream (Nick Shaves).

I'm still struggling to use the rest of my true canned goop, Gilette shaving cream, it works ok, but I feel bad to toss it in the garbage. Good for quick shave I guess, but not very slick.
 
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Some tips with Williams mug:
Place puck in a coffee mug, fill up mug with water, and let sit for a day. This will make it swell up in the mug. Empty the old water and fill up with as hot as you can get from the tap and place your brush in it as well. After about 10 minutes dump out the water, give your brush a shake and load the brush with soap. Build lather in a bowl, add a splash of water if it doesn't make enough lather.
 
Originally Posted By: Falken
I'm still struggling to use the rest of my true canned goop, Gilette shaving cream, it works ok, but I feel bad to toss it in the garbage. Good for quick shave I guess, but not very slick.

I've got travel size cans of this stuff that I use when I go on business trips. Not great, but it works.

At home, I alternative between Aveeno Shave Gel and Proraso Ultra Sensitive Skin soap bar. Proraso smells better, but if I use it for too long, I sometimes develop skin rash. That's when I go back to Aveeno, which is oatmeal based - very gentle.
 
Thanks for the review! I'm use shave cream myself (Taylor Of Old Bond St) and if I ever get the itch to acquire a stiffer brush I'll be sure to give this soap consideration.
 
Just shaved with it again tonight before bed... Even better later than before.

Gave myself my classic chin face weeper (the skin there is a bit rough and prominent, always cut there even with a disposable).

But again, great shave. This is with an Astra on shave 4 I believe (I have a medium beard).

Had so much lather left over, washed my whole face and top of my head with it (I have an almost shaved head).

I feel new after this. The smell is great.

Darn weeper though... Would have been perfect! It is so close the shave it feels like it was with a new Sensor Excel blade used ATG from when I used cartridges a long time ago.
 
To me, Williams shaving soap is okay, but not as good as VDH Deluxe. VDH seems to offer better cushion, lasts longer (I think), and costs something like $1.98 at any Publix around Gainesville, FL. I haven't used Williams soap in more than 5 years, though, and may have to try it again.

Lately I've been using C. O. Bigelo shaving cream and really liking the results. It's very similar to the old Proraso green tub soap I used to use years ago with menthol and eucalyptus. Sometimes I even drop a dab of the cream into my VDH soap and mix the two just to change things up.

FYI, Merkur HD (34C), Feather blades, and Omega boar brush. DE shaving for the last 11 years.
 
Williams is always nice and cheap at Walmart or Shoppers, so it's one of my go-to options. I do like the Wilkinson Sword bowls, too. The Gilette gel in a tube (branded with whatever name they use for their latest 1000 blade razor) works quite nicely, too.
 
I would like to try Cella but looks pricey for a lot.

I need to get through this stash before I can buy more stuff.

Arko sticks are probably next.

Would like to find a cheap source of Proraso soap bowls that are Sandalwood (10$ a bowl is max I would pay).

Nivea shave tubes are a great value up here in Montreal, have two of those. Smell amazing!
 
The Proraso green menthol bowl I got was at Pharmaprix (Shopper's) and I paid 10$, the Sensitive is also 10$.

I'm just not getting amazing lather with Proraso.

I am going to make a project of using Proraso this weekend and make a peanut butter thick lather with it.

I find the slickness of Proraso is like Gilette Foamy in a can.

Nivea in a can, the Gel, is the best canned product I have ever used. I keep it sparingly if I am in a true rush to shave.

I would love to try Colonel Conk, just cause the name is great!!
 
I do okay with the Proraso green bowl. I do have soft water, and really beat it. I used to like the GIlette stuff in a tube, but that's disappeared. Fortunately, the Nivea tubes are still available.
 
Just picked up a red bowl of Proraso Sandalwood shave croapa tonight at a Centre du Rasoir in the Fairview Pointe Claire mall.

It said 10$ on the box, I was in a rush and slapped down a 10$ bill, and they let me have it for $9.80. Must have been on sale.

MUCH cheaper than amazon.ca. After tax, Amazon would be North of $18 shipped. So I am very happy about the price!

Now I am just deciding on the smell. I have it beside me and it has a very distinct barbershop smell. I must have smelled this as a kid, but this product didn't exist all the way back then.

Maybe it is the Talc they used on the back of your neck that smelled like that?

As it airs out, I really enjoy the scent. Smells almost like green pine or something, can't figure it out but I really like it.

My next shave will be Monday and I'll try this out, on scent alone it has made it into my rotation.

Love the red tub it comes in. So anyone looking for Proraso in Montreal, Pharmaprix has White and Green, and Centre du Rasoir carries the Red.

Very happy with this purchase.
 
Originally Posted By: Falken
shave croapa

Shave what?
grin2.gif
 
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