Inexpensive Shaving Soaps
A comparison of three inexpensive soaps:
Williams, Arko, and VHD deluxe
By Paul Merlino
By Paul Merlino
I
decided to do a quick comparison of three inexpensive shaving soaps.
These are easy to find either online or from your local drugstore.
Let's look at the following factors:
1 Cost
2 Type of soap
3 Prep
4 Fragrance
5 Lather
6 Slickness
7 Finish
5 LATHER: This is where prepping the soap is important, especially for the Williams. Melting the VHD and molding the Arko to the bowl is mainly for convenience in lathering but grating the Williams really helps the lathering process in that it allows the water to penetrate the soap. The best tip for all the soaps is to leave a thin layer of water on top overnight, the upper part of the soap puck will absorb it and soften and slick up, making it easy for your brush to load up next time. The Williams and Arko really benefit from this. I did use a couple of different boar bristle brushes and one synthetic.
1 Cost
2 Type of soap
3 Prep
4 Fragrance
5 Lather
6 Slickness
7 Finish
1 COST: The
price of these soaps are all under $2.50. With the Williams between
$.99 and $1.49, VHD at $ 1.49 at WalMart and, Arko from $2.00 to
$2.49 on line.
2 TYPE: Williams is a hard milled type, Arko is a soft soap, and VHD is a glycerin base.
3 PREP:
2 TYPE: Williams is a hard milled type, Arko is a soft soap, and VHD is a glycerin base.
3 PREP:
- VHD can be melted into a bowl by microwaving for a short time, 10 to 20 seconds.
- Arko is soft enough to be molded by hand into a bowl.
- Williams is a different story, I found that grating it with a cheese grater and compressing it into a bowl works well. This is important for the Williams to lather easily.
4 FRAGRANCE:
- To many, Arko has a detergent smell, I find it fresh and clean, a nice change once a week.
- VHD has a mild pleasant scent, flowery perfume like.
- Williams has a very light scent, at least to me. Maybe a slightly citrus scent.
5 LATHER: This is where prepping the soap is important, especially for the Williams. Melting the VHD and molding the Arko to the bowl is mainly for convenience in lathering but grating the Williams really helps the lathering process in that it allows the water to penetrate the soap. The best tip for all the soaps is to leave a thin layer of water on top overnight, the upper part of the soap puck will absorb it and soften and slick up, making it easy for your brush to load up next time. The Williams and Arko really benefit from this. I did use a couple of different boar bristle brushes and one synthetic.
6 SLICKNESS: At first VHD seems the slickest, because it is easier to lather than the other two and has glycerin. However I found once the Williams and Arko soaps hydrate they are just as slick.
7 FINISH: Again VHD finishes best because of the glycerin, both the Williams and Arko leave my skin on the dry side when done shaving. Not a big deal as a little moisturizer takes care of that.
7 FINISH: Again VHD finishes best because of the glycerin, both the Williams and Arko leave my skin on the dry side when done shaving. Not a big deal as a little moisturizer takes care of that.
For the money all three of these soaps can deliver great shaves by producing abundant thick lather.
Yes it does take a little more work than with more expensive soaps and creams, but once you get the knack you will be very satisfied with the results. If you are on a budget you can do very well with any of these soaps.
A last note on "super lathering", i.e.: adding a bit of shave cream to your soap to get a super slick lather. I used to do it, but now I don't see the need as much. Once the soap is hydrated is becomes easy enough to get a good lather, I'll just add a bit of cream if I want a little added scent but its really not necessary. But then again it makes your cream last a long, long time.
Yes it does take a little more work than with more expensive soaps and creams, but once you get the knack you will be very satisfied with the results. If you are on a budget you can do very well with any of these soaps.
A last note on "super lathering", i.e.: adding a bit of shave cream to your soap to get a super slick lather. I used to do it, but now I don't see the need as much. Once the soap is hydrated is becomes easy enough to get a good lather, I'll just add a bit of cream if I want a little added scent but its really not necessary. But then again it makes your cream last a long, long time.
© 2008 by Paul Merlino - All Rights Reserved by the Author