Captain's Choice

Is shaving soap better than shaving cream?

As you might expect, the answer is “it depends”. When you want to whip up a lather quickly, a shaving cream is often a good choice. However, a shaving soap has a base that allows for many more ingredients. So, if you are looking to get a good moisturizing, protective, long-lasting lather, then you will probably want to stick with shaving soaps. It might take a little longer to get a good lather, but the time spent is worth it.

Is shaving soap necessary to wet shaving?

Some sort of protection is vital to a wet shave. You will really do a number on your face if you attempt to take a blade to your skin without the benefit of some sort of lubrication. Many classic wet shavers will choose to lather up a shaving soap, but you could use a cream, gel, or even an oil. However, your results are definitely improved when you choose products that are designed for the specific purpose of shaving.

Can I shave with regular soap?

The short answer is yes. However, as stated above, your results with wet shaving are greatly enhanced when you use the products designed for it. Shaving soaps are formulated to create thick, rich (protective) lathers that stay on the face and loaded with ingredients to moisturize and nourish your skin post-shave. A regular soap might produce an airy, bubbly lather that doesn’t provide much protection and a post shave that leaves you dry and cracked.

Do you leave shaving soap in the mug or bowl?

Many artisans today are loading their soap into containers/tubs that are perfect for lathering. They are wide-mouthed and over-sized just for the purpose of lathering. If you are using a puck or refill, then there isn’t any reason why you couldn’t leave it in the bowl or mug. With any shaving soap, however, it is important to rinse off the excess lather and leave it out to dry as much as possible. This will increase its longevity and reduce waste if it sits wet.

Will shaving soap get too old to use?

Unlike a shaving cream, a shaving soap generally does not get too old to use. Like a bar of soap, shaving soap can last and last. Technically, the biggest thing happening over time is that more water evaporates from the soap (but that can actually improve the soap, this is what triple-milling does). However, the scent will gradually fade over time so you don’t want to hold onto your soap forever.