I started my safety razor experience some years back by purchasing a Merkur razor, badger brush, and Omega hard shave cream in the tub. After using the Omega for a while I ventured into the world of glycerin shave soaps.
I have recently gone back to creams and now consider the years using soaps as wasted. Put simply, I find a good cream beats hell out of a good soap. YMMV.
I still think the Omega is a good cream and I enjoy the scent.
I have used Cremo and it may be the best cream for most users since it seems to be sold everywhere, at least in my neck of the woods. Although it can be worked into a lather in a bowl, I feel it gives better lubrication and razor glide when applied with the fingers per the directions. I purchased the Cooling and the menthol was so strong it brought tears to my eyes first few times I used it. That passed with use.
I ordered some Palmolive Classic cream from the old country as it is not sold in the US. This stuff gets good reviews on the shave forums as it is apparently cheap in Europe. Royal mail shipping ups the cost to almost the same per ounce price as Cremo. If this stuff was available for cheap in the US then I would give it a thumbs up. At the shipped price it is only so so.
I am wanting to give the Pacific Shave Company cream a try. Also their after shave balm.
I have tried the Proraso in a tub. Despite this stuff being darn near universally recommended on the forums, I found it meh.
Did you try any tallow-based soaps? I like Stirling quite a bit. Haven’t tried any glycerine soaps yet, but when I do, I’ll start with Col. Conk’s lime.
Cremo is great stuff. If menthol isn’t your thing, their citrus and sage is very good.
I haven’t tried Proraso, but at some point I’ll feel like I have to, given how prolific it is. Same thing with Arko and Taylor of Old Bond Street, at different ends of the scales price-wise.
______________________________________________ “There are plenty of good reasons for fighting, but no good reason ever to hate without reservation, to imagine that God Almighty Himself hates with you, too.”
I use a DE safety razor (Feather AS-D2 with Feather blades). I find I get a LOT more razor burn and nicks using cream (including Cremo) than with even a really half-assed lather using Proraso soap.
Posts: 6320 | Location: CA | Registered: January 24, 2011
Originally posted by clayflingythingy: I started my safety razor experience some years back by purchasing a Merkur razor, badger brush, and Omega hard shave cream in the tub. After using the Omega for a while I ventured into the world of glycerin shave soaps.
Is Omega shave soap tallow based? If it is, is it the only tallow soap you've used? I'm a soap guy who spent too much time on glycerin soaps before discovering the tallow soaps.
Posts: 7555 | Location: MI | Registered: May 22, 2007
"And gentlemen in England now abed, shall think themselves accursed they were not here, and hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks that fought with us upon Saint Crispin's Day"
Posts: 2746 | Location: The Shire | Registered: October 22, 2011
Originally posted by DoubleAdobe: One word fellas. Tabac. You will be pleased. Tobacco and leather, beautiful scent. These things are arbitrary,but this is perfect to me.
I quit smoking nine years ago. Tobacco scent isn’t a selling point for me. *shrug*
______________________________________________ “There are plenty of good reasons for fighting, but no good reason ever to hate without reservation, to imagine that God Almighty Himself hates with you, too.”
