Finding the art in a mundane activity like shaving is a great way to start the day. I just got the Merkur 34C to start my new shave experience. I will try the Van Der Hagen soap to start. For years I've been on auto pilot to get the chore done already. Going through life like that, we miss a lot of possible good experiences. Thanks for the video, I found it informative and it gave me direction to start with in finding what works. Some of the comments below were a bit unnecessary, but not everyone was taught manners. Cheers.
If you’ve just found this review. Let me give some advice for using the Van Der Hagen soap. Works best with less moisture. I wet my brush to soften it. Then shake as much water out until the bristles are just damp. Then lather the soap into almost a paste like consistency. Also recommend you DON’T use a very aggressive blade like Feather or Astra. Paired with the Van Der Hagen blades I get good results with it.
Great shave review. Have you tried the Luxury version of the Van der Hagen shaving soap? It has more moisturizers (glycerin, shea butter, mango butter, cocoa butter) and I feel it's a bit nicer on the face. It's also has widespread availability at many stores.
wow its been a few years now since i seen this video for the first time it was when nick posted this video like right afyer he did so i was a newb like he was i remember i used this soap and it was my first soap ever and comimg from those canned foams and gels wow i learned to use shaving brushes thanks to this soap and after all this yearscand been a pro and a vet wet shaver. and having used many many other soaps and cteams artisan and non artisan i can say for sure and 10p0%%% sure that this soap still one of my favorites of all time for many reasons here is why. 1 the price 2.ease to find anywhere 3 .easy very easy to load 3.great smell at least to me and im sure to most who try it 4.. very very protective 5 and contrary to what mr nick says its very slick ok not like super super sleek but to me not far behing to a artisan or very expencive soap 6 overall a great soap it has all to please any wet shaver no matter how new or old this soap i actually like it over the more expencive van der hagen the luxury one it does cost more but i do prefer this one i don't know why it does has great ingredient list my favorite shea butter so just imagine how good this is and you can find it al any drug store pharmacy in walgreens is 2 for 5 bucks and you can get it at cvs for 2 bucks a puck and wow this soap is crazy good. i noticed that nick didn't load enough soap in his brush with this soap in both the lather simulation video and on this shave video thats why im 100% sure he didn't get the slickness he liked also at this time he was living in chicago where he had horrible hard water he even mentions that on other video using another soap after he moved and re did a test on another soap in his new place where he had better softer watter and he got way better results on that soap so im sure it woyld of been the same with this soap he should do a test on this soap again now to re visit other soaps he didn't like too much in chicsgo. like he did recently with the de blades he re visited some that he did not like when he begin wet shaving than now he love them so to all please try this soap and nick i can assure him he will like this soap better now when he uses it with soft water
Beginning my journey in this new world of shaving....still learning and wanted to drop a line to say I appreciate the videos. Learning a lot, but still have a few videos to catch up with. Thanks for the solid reviews!
Hey nick in the video the VDH puck appeared to be pink. The pink puck is the deluxe soap. The scent is very similar to the eau de toilette "Gray Flannel" by Geoffrey Beene. Figured I'd let you know as you seemed to like the fragrance ! Happy shaves - WSR
This is what ive been using, works great, doesn't need a lot of water to work. No skin irritation with this soap, if I cut my face it doesn't hurt at all. This is my 1st shaving puck. I also use the nivea balm after as well.
I used Col. Conk for years. I would melt it in the microwave to pour it into my shaving mug but after they changed their formula, you can’t do it anymore so I went with Van Der Hagen and am completely satisfied. Van Der Hagen won a customer and Col. Conk lost one. To Col. Conk: you don’t change what your customer likes.
Thank you Nick. I just purchased my first shave soap and it happened to be the one you reviewed. I'm new to DS safety razor shaving and found it to be an art form that I truly appreciate. I've used electric razors first and moved over to cartridge razor shaving. Found that my skin would get irritated after using cartridge and multi-blades. But, im happy to know and experience that safety razor shaving is far more superior and better for my skin. Thanks for the video. Subscribed.
Hi! I'm currently using this brand for shaving and it's great, but I recommend that you buy the glycerin version of this soap, which leaves a much better condition on your face than the regular soap. The glycerin Van Den Hagen has a nice amber-orange color to it, which appeals to me quite a bit, and, if you have sensitive skin like me, the glycerin version is the way to go. 😀
Walmart in my neighborhood had the best price and I also found it at Walgreens. I like this soap and bought the Van Der Hagen "shave-set" which included boar brush, soap mug and the soap "puck" at Walmart for $20.00. Very nice lather and mild scent. Your advise as to "breaking in a brush " helped greatly with my first experience. It is far better then the can shave cream and very soothing. I highly recommend the shave brush and soap for a "traditional shave" . It is worth the extra time and effort.
This mused to be my everyday soap. I don't have a problem with slickness or dryness because I use two drops of pre-shave oil that I drive in with a warm wash cloth. With that, post shave feel is excellent, otherwise, post shave feel is poor.. It lathers very nicely in a bowl with a boar brush. As someone else said, it is also a very good, "I'm in a hurry" face lather soap for a double pass shave. One of its strengths is its mild scent which will not interfere with your favorite after shave lotion. I keep it in an old fashioned ceramic shaving scuttle which is a convenient way to warm up the soap and soak the brush at the same time. It used to be sold under the old Surrey brand so it has been around a longs time. One of the best of the very, very cheap soaps.
I've been using this for years with dual blade disposable razors...before I got into wet/DE shaving of course. It isn't all that great, but I found it left my skin feeling better than canned shaving cream or gel did. I never had any issues with it, but now with a DE and feather blades I am finding that it does not provide sufficient protection or lubrication to prevent nicks.
It's actually made for dry skin with Aloe Vere and Shea Butter so I've never had a problem with it being too drying myself but everyone is different. I always use a splash of Clubman with a dab of Aveeno AF lotion post shave anyway. My main everyday soap is white tub Proaso Green Tea & Oat (love that stuff) and you know how dry Proaso comes off, I honestly don't think VDH comes off any where near that dry. The smell I think is of the Aloe and Shea Butter. I really like the scent, I've seen other people say they don't, that its smells bad but I think its a very clean refreshing scent that's different from anything else I have ever tried. Since its a hard puck soaking it for a minute or two can help it load easier and it melts nicely into a mug or small bowl for much better loading. Something I like to do with it at times is lather it in a bowl with a dab of Kiss My Face or some other cream soap for a Super Lather that's just amazing. It's a great soap to experiment with like that, thanks for reviewing it.
I like the scent too, its very pleasing! I just got a tub of the white Proraso soap and will be reviewing it soon. Good call about soaking the puck first, I bet that really helps and the drop of lotion
nick shaves Ya I'm in the habit of always prepping my soap that way no matter what it is, even my proaso's and cella tubs I wet and let some water sit on for a bit to make a soft kind of thin gooey layer to put my brush too.
Hi, Nick! I've seen a lot of your videos and they've helped me settle in to this new art of shaving with a safety razor. I just wanted to comment/tip on the harder shaving soap pucks. If it comes, or you have it in some sort of container like Van Der Hagen, you can pour some warm/hot water on the top of it and let it sit for a couple of minutes and it will soften and make it easier to load. You may already know this tip, but I thought I mention it just in case.
Hey, Nick. Very helpful review. I just shaved with this soap for a second time. I ended up with 3 tubes of creamo, which I do not like. Added a little to the puck along with a drop of glycerine and it definitely improved! I would describe it as a "musk" scent. With sandalwood creamo it almost smells like Jovan Musk, which I really like.
Good assessment. Much better than the canned gel that I had used for decades prior to my getting into traditional wet shaving. Locally, you can get a puck of this for $3.99 at Wegmans. I like that the smell is basically mild/neutral/ not flowery. I prefer unscented soaps and shampoos. So this works with my preference.
I just bought this at fred meyers (super market in the pacific north west) and i love it although i have a 3.5 oz puck and its white but oddly i love it smelled fantastic it was only 5$
A cheap preshave is using that facewash tubes you get and then run a glycerine based bar of soap over it (pare's soap, bee's wax soap) and then lather & shave. Ive also found cocnut oil (5% glycerine so it wont harden in cool months) and light oils like macadamia nut oil work EXTREEMLY well as preshave and cost very little to make at home too. Thats my TIP and like nick, a cheap moisturiser to finish up (+spf if your going outside too). Just scored myself 12 bars/$23 from amazon from nicks link too. Makes a cheap present if given in an oversized coffee mug for a bowl)
I found if I add the water slowly in a bowl. After the lather is built I put a little bit (about a small almond) of Cremo Cream and whip that in. Still very inexpensive, smells better and much slicker!
I know dont feed the trolls but damn rude people annoy me!, thanks for reviewing this "cheap" product. I just recently got into straight razor shaving so rather than spend an arm and a leg before knowing i was gonna like it, I bought this soap. it came with a brush and bowl and i picked up the Micro Touch one razor.. I screwed up and took the puck out of the plastic holder and tossed it. next time ill keep it in it. this soap seems to dry up on me quick but i think its because i wasnt loading the brush up well ill make sure to try a little bit longer thanks for this and all your other videos! much appreciated.
This is what I have been using since I started a month ago. I had trouble getting a lather going at first but I think that's because I'm new to wet shaving. Also noticed my skin was dry like you mention. Good review!!
I have been using only Van Der Hagen products since I started getting into shaving and I want to try other things, but the scented shave soap smells great and I think it provides a decent amount of protection over and above canned shaving creams and gels. I would be willing to try other things if I didn't have to order everything from online.
Thanks for the review Nick. VDH Luxury was my first soap. I followed the instructions from the kit and removed the soap from the plastic container and put it in the mug. Now I wish I hadn't. The plastic cup combined with the stiffer nature of the puck could easily make this a nice travel soap. For two bucks, I might buy another bar just for that purpose.
nick shaves I got the luxury soap from Target. They have both the luxury and deluxe versions of the VDH soaps. But I literally just started wet shaving, so still working through the process. . .
Thanks for the great review !. Will have to try VDH. New to DE shaving. Using Merkur 34c, Personna Blades, Omega Boar Brush, Williams Puck with a little pure glycerine added. Gives a decent shave. No more cartridges for me. And I no longer have a 9 AM shadow!
The VDH is my everyday shave soap, or my stand by, or my "damn, I'm in a hurry shave soap." It isnt the worlds greatest, but for the price and and quality, its actually very good and you can find it just about anywhere. MUCH better than the Williams as an everyday shave soap and certainly better in terms of latherability. It doesnt have the best glycerin properties and as such, doesn't glide the greatest, but it certainly is good for an everyday shave soap.
Don’t know if you still do videos? Thnx been wanting to try this soap. You covered my concerns. Great because one can get readily, secondly I for one usually get what I pay for. Thnx
Much appreciated. I'm going to make a recommendation on a soap for a full shave review. I've found the Van Der Hagen glycerin soap to be noticeably more slick and hydrating than the deluxe version. In terms of protection, slickness, and hydration I've found it, in my opinion of course, to outperform Proraso Blue, which costs 3x as much per ounce.
thank you for the review, i use this soap all the time. as i am on a budget and i find some of the other soaps very high priced and i dont know where to really start. but the scent i could not tell you either, but i like it. thank you for the review again happy shaving.
Im new to DE shaving but i enjoy the VDH soap ive tried it soaked warmed pre shave etc etc i get the best results with a well soaked brush shaken out loaded then face lather took a number of tries to get it right but not bad will be using it with my first SE shave tomorrow. My Gem G Bar is waiting.
I think I am going to get this just to practice my lathering. I have samples but have not had any luck getting a good lather with them. Hopefully practice will make perfect.
I used this for the first time and with canned shave cream the soap would make my skin itch afterward, but this didn't! (I used a cartridge razor) it does dry out your skin a bit, it's obvious it's on the cheaper side. But for a beginner set that solved the issues I had with other shaving cream, I'd recommend it
I got into safety razor wet shaving a while ago and ditched my old cartridge razor. Doing so, I interested my stepfather into using better shave products as well, but he doesn't want to go all out on shave products just yet. He saw the van der hagen set in Target and thought about trying that out first. It comes with a brush, stand, and soap. You can also purchase a safety razor separately (also sold in Target I believe). I didn't know how to answer him but this video definitely should help him decide if he wants the soap or not! Thanks @nickshaves and I was wondering if you could do a review of that set, or other inexpensive beginner sets/products that would be worth a go. Thanks again, and great videos!
I started using this inexpensive soap with the Van der Hagen Deluxe set when I first started wet shaving. The $1.99 (or two for $3 at my local drug store) makes wet safety razor shaving even less expensive, compared to cartridges. I only have two complaints for the Deluxe Shave Set: >The bowl does not hold the soap puck very well, and I find loading the brush to be difficult as the soap spins. An elliptical motion instead of circular when loading the soap using the bowl (or leave the soap in the plastic). >The soap, as you pointed out, leaves my skin dry post shave. A little moisturizer works, but I'm glad I'm not the only one to have this issue. Van der Hagen Deluxe soap is the inexpensive option of choice, as well as a quick option if you find yourself out of soap.
nightwalker2830 I actually found a video that helped. Rub the soap through a cheese grater, then use a straight-sided glass to tamp it into a container. Worked perfectly, but wad a little labor intensive. I'll try out the microwave and see how it works, thank you
VDH Deluxe is great, I've used it for years, though I haven't been seeing it around lately.. I like to melt it into a mug, you can because it's glycerin based. The scent reminds me of Grey Flannel cologne.
Microwave. 8 to 10 second blast. A little more depending. Better to be safe than cook it. Then let it cool. Note do not try this with tallow based soaps!
New to wet shaving been using a cordless for years never really happy with the shaves. My wife got a great deal from a review site on a DE safety razor. Your videos have been a great resource for getting started. I'm on a budget and have been experimenting with different soaps. Though I will say I kind of like the Van Der Hagen deluxe that came with their shave kit. The price is good and I seem to get a good lather. I was wondering if you've had any experience with the Van Der Hagen Luxury soap and what your thoughts are on that one. Both are sporadically available at local drug stores.
Jim Stull im going have to agree with you. I can buy a puck of van Der hagen for a about $1.99 a pack at my local supermarket. I never knew wet shaving was a hobby I just got sick and tired of paying up the ass for razor blades. I find it relaxing
I`m so so on this puck. Seem to take for forever to load the brush and work up a lather. One thing that seemed to help was I ran hot water over my mug and then placed the mug in a bowl of hot water for about 20 minutes. After that I got some pretty good lather.
I got some Van der Hagen stuff for Christmas and I used it today. I already like it way more than a cartridge razor. I always got too much gel shaving crème and the cartridge razor would always get so full of hairs and not do a good job. I also didn't like the small strip that gave my skin that slick feeling. I like the smell of the puck. It isn't too sharp or in your face.
I have the whole kit! I like the bowl and the brush but cant stand the soap! No matter what I do I can not get a thick lather. My brush has to be bone dry. As soon as the brush touches the water on my face it gets super thin and soapy (no matter how thick the lather is prior to contact) It also sucks the moisture right out of my skin at the end of the shave. I will be investing in The Art of Shaving's cream or Proraso.
It’s weird I love the scent but nothing else about it. I still use it from time to time I have had the same puck since 2014. I would suggest try it then get a good soap and then that will be it for it
I'm a beginning wet shaver and I thought the van der hagen set would be good for a beginner but I'm really having a lot of trouble with the lather. I really don't know what I'm doing so I don't know if I'm doing something wrong, but using the bowl to get a lather going, I can get it nice and thick, but then when I go to put it on my face, the brush just kind of pushes the soap around. It's also extremely bubbly. I can feel it bubbling and it runs off my face. I've never been able to get the lather as thick as you have it in this video. Adding more water didn't seem to help and neither did more soap. Adding more soap got rid of the bubbly problem, but then it still just didn't lather on my face properly, I was pushing it around with the brush and the brush didn't seem to be letting any of the soap off of itself. Is it a bad brush? Bad technique? No matter how light or hard I am with the brush it just doesn't seem to be working like I thought it would. The hair on my brush does seem to be very hard and uncomfortable to touch my face with. Feels like it's stabbing me if I use too much pressure.
I just used it for the first time with great results. I honestly have no idea what the bowl is for, so just put that aside and do exactly what this guy did with the plastic container. Shake off a little water and lather the brush for close to a minute. Most of the lather is in the center of the brush so wrap your thumb and index finger around the brush and pull up to get a lot of the lather out. Good luck, you'll figure it out
kuhataparunks The only time I really had good results with this soap was when I used more soap than I thought was necessary. I ended up taking a pretty large noticeable portion of the soap out of the container. That kind of use would only last maybe a month with my shaving habits, and I often go 3 days without shaving. I ended up buying a new soap that I really like. I don't have to use so much lather that I can literally see it disappearing from the tin, but it still lathers up fully.
Fernando Arjona Ah, yeah, I'd forgotten about this post. The problem was the brush. I didn't know anything about preparing the brush, so I just kind of winged it. Anyways, the brush came from the producer way too stiff. If I had to recommend any tips for someone just getting into wet shaving with the Van Der Hagen set, I'd say let the brush soak overnight in really really hot water. The bristles are going to be way too stiff to lather properly and you're going to just push the soap around your face rather than lather at all. Anyways, I bought a better brush. It came much softer, and I was able to lather fully without any prior preparation.
Hi Nick, you said you liked this soap. Did you like it more because the value side or performance. I like to try new soaps and I actually have seen this one around thought I might pick it up. In are town we have a "fragrance shop" I wouldn't know about the place except its located near my job (same strip mall) well I walked in their they make candles, in scents, soaps and I talked to the man. He was thinking about making shaving soap. I really would like to try this product. He makes good quality items all from natural ingredients and oils. He even makes a candle that melts into lotion. My girlfriend enjoys it... Sorry for rambling on about non sense, would you recommend this product?
Clinton - very cool that you may have a local shaving soap maker soon! For VDH, I like it due to its price for performance. It is not a top contender, but its way better than the stuff from cans. I will be using VDH in my next ODS episode, with a pre-shave, and it performed excellently!
I tried the newer luxury soap. I bought it to keep as a back up if my other soaps didn't come in. I was surprised it was actually a pretty good soap. it is up there with arko. I am still shocked I bought a good shave soap at a grocery store
I bought the van der hagen luxury set and for some reason I cant get a good lather with the soap, Im pretty sure I am doing something wrong. Are there any pointer you can give a beginner to help?
Thanks! Oh boy, $33! Expensive indeed. I will be visiting London in May - do you know of any good shaving spots in London? I know that TOBS, T and H, and GF Trumpers are there
nick shaves there's also a shop called Carter and Bond that sells a good selection of shaving supplies. Oh I work in London, I'm sure you will enjoy your trip :-)
I see lots of people asking what your opinion on the van der Hagen safety razor is. I too am interested because I just got into wet shaving and that is the razor I bought. It is definitely way better than a cartridge razor but I would like to know how it compares to other entry level DE razors. I picked mine up from Walmart for $18 and it came with five blades.
Never mind. I saw in the comments section of your review on the micro 1 touch razor review, where someone said that razor and the van der Hagen razor were the same razor.
Williams' shave soap was great too but my local stores discontinued them so i had to buy this. the soap stunk like aloe (i hate that smell) so i returned it. that was the only kind we carried. are there other scents for van der hagen?
i know this is really old but Van der Hagen has revamped their soaps and everything. I dont like the soap they have in their new kits and actually I dont like the brush they include either. I am curious to see if anyone has used the Van Der Hagen Pure Badgerbrush that is sold separately for $20. It seems ok. Gets softer the more you use it, but I am curious to see what anyone else thinks of it. Lots of cheap brush reviews out their but I havent seen any on this one.
For the price you really cant complain about this soap. Its CHEAP!!! I think its a great buy, and unless you have really dry skin, it should work well for you. People that pay $25 for a puck are either rich or nuts...lol. I have a few pucks of this soap put away for daily use in my rotation.
Do you replace your razors after every shave? Also, I use Nivea Sensitive as well as an aftershave. Do you also use other products? What is your post shave routine?
I have a video about my post shave - I wash with water, an astringent (alum or an aftershave), then add in nivea. I use my razors for about 3 shaves each
Are you familiar with the "shave kit" with this shaving soap? It comes with the bowl and brush? If so, is it common to lose some of the hairs out of the brush when loading and lathering for the very first time? Thanks
That boar brush is on the reddit "bad gear list" but I used it...it lathers but it's a little rough. The hairs themselves are clipped and can be fairly harsh. If I had that kit it would probably be the first thing I would replace.
The brush that it comes with really doesn't do the soap any justice. The brush lathers so poorly that I've had to resort to doing a semi-dry face lather, making the bowl completely useless, except for a pretty container to hold my soap. I would recommend getting a good brush. I have a new badger brush coming in the mail :)
Hey Nick nice video. But I have to disagree with you in one thing. The plastic packaging of that puck is not nice. It's bad for the environment. I would always prefer a tin or reusable material rather than plastic - unless it's a hard plastic tub that you can keep for many years.
Good point! I guess that I like that it comes with some sort of storage container, versus none at all. But obviously an upgrade to this container would be great!
nick shaves Ah ok. I see what you mean. Well, thanks for replying to my comment so promptly. You're such a gentleman :-) And keep up the good work, your videos are really nice. :-p
hey nick im new to wet shaving and shaving in general i use vander hagen and it leaves my face really dry what shaving balm to you recomend? and whats your opinion on paraso shaving cream? thanks nick
I use Neutrogena Triple Protect Face Lotion for Men, SPF 20. It works GREAT for post shave dry skin. The SPF is great since I live in the sun city. We have really hard water here (desert living) so I'm always struggling with dry skin and Neutrogena Triple Protect Face Lotion does its job, I apply it all over my face not just where I shave. You can find it at Target, walmart or amazon. Let me know of it helps.
You could add a few drops of glycerine to the bowl before lathering to slick it up a bit. For a good inexpensive buy on shave oil.....go to your local Walmart or drug store and look at the Africas Best oil. Its in a tall 5 or 6 inch bottle a bit over an inch wide and costs about $2. Some call it African 6 oil, or some other name. Its in the black hair section. Works just as well as the over-priced Shave Secret or Pacific or an other pre-shave oil.
travis perkins Perhaps you should not over water both the soap and the brush, because if you put too much water to both items, you will produce a watery lather for your face.
travis perkins Good. Also, use a little bit of elbow grease, meaning rub the brush against the soap a bit more vigorously for a more creamy lather; that should help you shave better. 😃
i'm a few months into wet shaving and for some reason i cant get this soap to lather like a cream i can get it to about the halfway point in between a foam and cream and i tried using a lot of water but it just breaks down afterwards. i usually bowl lather
+Jordan Avis use less water homie. I usually squeeze all that water out of my brush then load it up and gradually add water to it as I'm lathering on my face.
+Richard Armatino Put it in a mug or a bowl and microwave it for 15-30 seconds or until melted. Once it cools it'll conform in place. I hear this can ruin some soap so Google it first.
i typically need four passes fornthe closeness that i prefer. this soap will dry your skin out nearing the third pass by the fourth pass its a done deal. i say skip out and just buy a better quality soap
I absolutely hate that soap. The one I have is exactly that one and it is nearly impossible to lather, the smell just makes me gag, and after shaving my face just gets a very dry tight feel.
nick shaves I won't lie, it gave me a nice shave too. It's nice and slick. But I just wasn't able to get it to lather even after a solid 2 minutes of working it in the bowl. I'm guessing the puck I got had a manufacturing error.
Go look at his review of the micro 1 touch razor. Someone said that razor and the van der Hagen are the same exact razor, just sold by different companies.
Finding the art in a mundane activity like shaving is a great way to start the day. I just got the Merkur 34C to start my new shave experience. I will try the Van Der Hagen soap to start. For years I've been on auto pilot to get the chore done already. Going through life like that, we miss a lot of possible good experiences. Thanks for the video, I found it informative and it gave me direction to start with in finding what works. Some of the comments below were a bit unnecessary, but not everyone was taught manners. Cheers.
Welcome! Great about your new 34c. I completely agree about taking time and pride for daily things, like shaving, in life. And thanks for the support
This soap was one of my first to try. Was very happy with the feel and the results.Would buy it again
This is the very first shaving soap I have tried. Excellent review and very helpful, thank you!
If you’ve just found this review. Let me give some advice for using the Van Der Hagen soap. Works best with less moisture. I wet my brush to soften it. Then shake as much water out until the bristles are just damp. Then lather the soap into almost a paste like consistency.
Also recommend you DON’T use a very aggressive blade like Feather or Astra.
Paired with the Van Der Hagen blades I get good results with it.
Great shave review. Have you tried the Luxury version of the Van der Hagen shaving soap? It has more moisturizers (glycerin, shea butter, mango butter, cocoa butter) and I feel it's a bit nicer on the face. It's also has widespread availability at many stores.
wow its been a few years now since i seen this video for the first time it was when nick posted this video like right afyer he did so i was a newb like he was i remember i used this soap and it was my first soap ever and comimg from those canned foams and gels wow i learned to use shaving brushes thanks to this soap and after all this yearscand been a pro and a vet wet shaver. and having used many many other soaps and cteams artisan and non artisan i can say for sure and 10p0%%% sure that this soap still one of my favorites of all time for many reasons here is why. 1 the price
2.ease to find anywhere
3 .easy very easy to load
3.great smell at least to me and im sure to most who try it
4.. very very protective
5 and contrary to what mr nick says its very slick ok not like super super sleek but to me not far behing to a artisan or very expencive soap
6 overall a great soap it has all to please any wet shaver no matter how new or old this soap i actually like it over the more expencive van der hagen the luxury one it does cost more but i do prefer this one i don't know why it does has great ingredient list my favorite shea butter so just imagine how good this is and you can find it al any drug store pharmacy in walgreens is 2 for 5 bucks and you can get it at cvs for 2 bucks a puck and wow this soap is crazy good. i noticed that nick didn't load enough soap in his brush with this soap in both the lather simulation video and on this shave video thats why im 100% sure he didn't get the slickness he liked also at this time he was living in chicago where he had horrible hard water he even mentions that on other video using another soap after he moved and re did a test on another soap in his new place where he had better softer watter and he got way better results on that soap so im sure it woyld of been the same with this soap he should do a test on this soap again now to re visit other soaps he didn't like too much in chicsgo. like he did recently with the de blades he re visited some that he did not like when he begin wet shaving than now he love them so to all please try this soap and nick i can assure him he will like this soap better now when he uses it with soft water
Beginning my journey in this new world of shaving....still learning and wanted to drop a line to say I appreciate the videos. Learning a lot, but still have a few videos to catch up with. Thanks for the solid reviews!
Hey nick in the video the VDH puck appeared to be pink. The pink puck is the deluxe soap. The scent is very similar to the eau de toilette "Gray Flannel" by Geoffrey Beene. Figured I'd let you know as you seemed to like the fragrance ! Happy shaves - WSR
This is what ive been using, works great, doesn't need a lot of water to work. No skin irritation with this soap, if I cut my face it doesn't hurt at all. This is my 1st shaving puck. I also use the nivea balm after as well.
This was my very first soap that I ever used so I liked watching you do a review on it
Same here
I got some col conk soaps but van der hagen soaps (especially the luxury soap) are still my favorite soaps I just love the scents!
I used Col. Conk for years. I would melt it in the microwave to pour it into my shaving mug but after they changed their formula, you can’t do it anymore so I went with Van Der Hagen and am completely satisfied. Van Der Hagen won a customer and Col. Conk lost one. To Col. Conk: you don’t change what your customer likes.
I have had some really great results with this soap. I snagged a puck while on a business trip. With it's low cost it makesit a great value. IMO
Langley Boxing it works fine for me.
Thank you Nick. I just purchased my first shave soap and it happened to be the one you reviewed. I'm new to DS safety razor shaving and found it to be an art form that I truly appreciate. I've used electric razors first and moved over to cartridge razor shaving. Found that my skin would get irritated after using cartridge and multi-blades. But, im happy to know and experience that safety razor shaving is far more superior and better for my skin. Thanks for the video. Subscribed.
Add a halfpenny or dime sized drop of olive oil or baby oil to your shaving bowl to get more slickness.
good advice ..
Nathaniel Aiken would preshave oil work?
um no
Hi! I'm currently using this brand for shaving and it's great, but I recommend that you buy the glycerin version of this soap, which leaves a much better condition on your face than the regular soap. The glycerin Van Den Hagen has a nice amber-orange color to it, which appeals to me quite a bit, and, if you have sensitive skin like me, the glycerin version is the way to go. 😀
Walmart in my neighborhood had the best price and I also found it at Walgreens. I like this soap and bought the Van Der Hagen "shave-set" which included boar brush, soap mug and the soap "puck" at Walmart for $20.00. Very nice lather and mild scent. Your advise as to "breaking in a brush " helped greatly with my first experience. It is far better then the can shave cream and very soothing. I highly recommend the shave brush and soap for a "traditional shave" . It is worth the extra time and effort.
Ha! I bought the exact same kit at Freds for $10.00! You my good sir, have been ripped off.
I found it at Walgreens for about $15 IIRC, also used the VdH blades in my microtouch one DE razor.
This mused to be my everyday soap. I don't have a problem with slickness or dryness because I use two drops of pre-shave oil that I drive in with a warm wash cloth. With that, post shave feel is excellent, otherwise, post shave feel is poor.. It lathers very nicely in a bowl with a boar brush. As someone else said, it is also a very good, "I'm in a hurry" face lather soap for a double pass shave. One of its strengths is its mild scent which will not interfere with your favorite after shave lotion. I keep it in an old fashioned ceramic shaving scuttle which is a convenient way to warm up the soap and soak the brush at the same time. It used to be sold under the old Surrey brand so it has been around a longs time. One of the best of the very, very cheap soaps.
I've been using this for years with dual blade disposable razors...before I got into wet/DE shaving of course. It isn't all that great, but I found it left my skin feeling better than canned shaving cream or gel did. I never had any issues with it, but now with a DE and feather blades I am finding that it does not provide sufficient protection or lubrication to prevent nicks.
C Hipp good info.
thanks for sharing, i will be trying it tomorrow
It's actually made for dry skin with Aloe Vere and Shea Butter so I've never had a problem with it being too drying myself but everyone is different. I always use a splash of Clubman with a dab of Aveeno AF lotion post shave anyway. My main everyday soap is white tub Proaso Green Tea & Oat (love that stuff) and you know how dry Proaso comes off, I honestly don't think VDH comes off any where near that dry.
The smell I think is of the Aloe and Shea Butter. I really like the scent, I've seen other people say they don't, that its smells bad but I think its a very clean refreshing scent that's different from anything else I have ever tried.
Since its a hard puck soaking it for a minute or two can help it load easier and it melts nicely into a mug or small bowl for much better loading.
Something I like to do with it at times is lather it in a bowl with a dab of Kiss My Face or some other cream soap for a Super Lather that's just amazing. It's a great soap to experiment with like that, thanks for reviewing it.
I like the scent too, its very pleasing! I just got a tub of the white Proraso soap and will be reviewing it soon. Good call about soaking the puck first, I bet that really helps and the drop of lotion
nick shaves Ya I'm in the habit of always prepping my soap that way no matter what it is, even my proaso's and cella tubs I wet and let some water sit on for a bit to make a soft kind of thin gooey layer to put my brush too.
Hi, Nick! I've seen a lot of your videos and they've helped me settle in to this new art of shaving with a safety razor. I just wanted to comment/tip on the harder shaving soap pucks. If it comes, or you have it in some sort of container like Van Der Hagen, you can pour some warm/hot water on the top of it and let it sit for a couple of minutes and it will soften and make it easier to load. You may already know this tip, but I thought I mention it just in case.
The new luxury VDH soap got good reviews from what I saw, could be a winner!?
Hey, Nick. Very helpful review. I just shaved with this soap for a second time. I ended up with 3 tubes of creamo, which I do not like. Added a little to the puck along with a drop of glycerine and it definitely improved! I would describe it as a "musk" scent. With sandalwood creamo it almost smells like Jovan Musk, which I really like.
Good assessment. Much better than the canned gel that I had used for decades prior to my getting into traditional wet shaving. Locally, you can get a puck of this for $3.99 at Wegmans. I like that the smell is basically mild/neutral/ not flowery. I prefer unscented soaps and shampoos. So this works with my preference.
That is a really good shaving soap i use it with the van der hagen brush and cup with my micro touch one double edge razor and derby blades
Nice review. I got a puck of VDH as a throw-in on another purchase, and look forward to trying it.
Thanks! Its really not that bad of a soap
I just bought this at fred meyers (super market in the pacific north west) and i love it although i have a 3.5 oz puck and its white but oddly i love it smelled fantastic it was only 5$
A cheap preshave is using that facewash tubes you get and then run a glycerine based bar of soap over it (pare's soap, bee's wax soap) and then lather & shave. Ive also found cocnut oil (5% glycerine so it wont harden in cool months) and light oils like macadamia nut oil work EXTREEMLY well as preshave and cost very little to make at home too. Thats my TIP and like nick, a cheap moisturiser to finish up (+spf if your going outside too). Just scored myself 12 bars/$23 from amazon from nicks link too. Makes a cheap present if given in an oversized coffee mug for a bowl)
Love this soap. I put mine in a bowl and load off the puck, I find I can load the brush a little faster that way.
I was wondering if you did a follow-up on this with a pre-shave. I got some for Christmas and remembered this video.
I found if I add the water slowly in a bowl. After the lather is built I put a little bit (about a small almond) of Cremo Cream and whip that in. Still very inexpensive, smells better and much slicker!
I know dont feed the trolls but damn rude people annoy me!, thanks for reviewing this "cheap" product. I just recently got into straight razor shaving so rather than spend an arm and a leg before knowing i was gonna like it, I bought this soap. it came with a brush and bowl and i picked up the Micro Touch one razor.. I screwed up and took the puck out of the plastic holder and tossed it. next time ill keep it in it. this soap seems to dry up on me quick but i think its because i wasnt loading the brush up well ill make sure to try a little bit longer thanks for this and all your other videos! much appreciated.
Just picked up this product today and didn't expect very much because of the price but it's pretty good.
This is what I have been using since I started a month ago. I had trouble getting a lather going at first but I think that's because I'm new to wet shaving. Also noticed my skin was dry like you mention. Good review!!
Thanks! I really recommend spending a lot of time loading up this soap to make sure that you have enough in your brush to make a good lather
pretty good. glad to see that it worked well. products can get quite expensive.
I like your videos. I use the same soap and it seems to work very well.
I have been using only Van Der Hagen products since I started getting into shaving and I want to try other things, but the scented shave soap smells great and I think it provides a decent amount of protection over and above canned shaving creams and gels. I would be willing to try other things if I didn't have to order everything from online.
Van der Hagen is a good, relatively inexpensive soap. Great for people who want a decent foam without breaking the bank.
Thanks for the review Nick.
VDH Luxury was my first soap.
I followed the instructions from the kit and removed the soap from the plastic container and put it in the mug.
Now I wish I hadn't.
The plastic cup combined with the stiffer nature of the puck could easily make this a nice travel soap.
For two bucks, I might buy another bar just for that purpose.
I want to get some of the luxury edition of this soap, I can't find it in the stores though!
nick shaves I got the luxury soap from Target. They have both the luxury and deluxe versions of the VDH soaps. But I literally just started wet shaving, so still working through the process. . .
Thanks for the great review !. Will have to try VDH. New to DE shaving. Using Merkur 34c, Personna Blades, Omega Boar Brush, Williams Puck with a little pure glycerine added. Gives a decent shave. No more cartridges for me. And I no longer have a 9 AM shadow!
The VDH is my everyday shave soap, or my stand by, or my "damn, I'm in a hurry shave soap." It isnt the worlds greatest, but for the price and and quality, its actually very good and you can find it just about anywhere. MUCH better than the Williams as an everyday shave soap and certainly better in terms of latherability. It doesnt have the best glycerin properties and as such, doesn't glide the greatest, but it certainly is good for an everyday shave soap.
Don’t know if you still do videos? Thnx been wanting to try this soap. You covered my concerns. Great because one can get readily, secondly I for one usually get what I pay for. Thnx
It works well with Art of Shaving's Pre Shave oil and AoS after shave Balm, keep up the good work, Nick.
Much appreciated. I'm going to make a recommendation on a soap for a full shave review. I've found the Van Der Hagen glycerin soap to be noticeably more slick and hydrating than the deluxe version. In terms of protection, slickness, and hydration I've found it, in my opinion of course, to outperform Proraso Blue, which costs 3x as much per ounce.
thank you for the review, i use this soap all the time. as i am on a budget and i find some of the other soaps very high priced and i dont know where to really start. but the scent i could not tell you either, but i like it. thank you for the review again happy shaving.
This soap is more than adequate! And for $2 its hard to beat
yeah that's why i like it.
Im new to DE shaving but i enjoy the VDH soap ive tried it soaked warmed pre shave etc etc i get the best results with a well soaked brush shaken out loaded then face lather took a number of tries to get it right but not bad will be using it with my first SE shave tomorrow. My Gem G Bar is waiting.
I think I am going to get this just to practice my lathering. I have samples but have not had any luck getting a good lather with them. Hopefully practice will make perfect.
I used this for the first time and with canned shave cream the soap would make my skin itch afterward, but this didn't! (I used a cartridge razor) it does dry out your skin a bit, it's obvious it's on the cheaper side. But for a beginner set that solved the issues I had with other shaving cream, I'd recommend it
I got into safety razor wet shaving a while ago and ditched my old cartridge razor. Doing so, I interested my stepfather into using better shave products as well, but he doesn't want to go all out on shave products just yet. He saw the van der hagen set in Target and thought about trying that out first. It comes with a brush, stand, and soap. You can also purchase a safety razor separately (also sold in Target I believe). I didn't know how to answer him but this video definitely should help him decide if he wants the soap or not! Thanks @nickshaves and I was wondering if you could do a review of that set, or other inexpensive beginner sets/products that would be worth a go. Thanks again, and great videos!
I started using this inexpensive soap with the Van der Hagen Deluxe set when I first started wet shaving. The $1.99 (or two for $3 at my local drug store) makes wet safety razor shaving even less expensive, compared to cartridges.
I only have two complaints for the Deluxe Shave Set:
>The bowl does not hold the soap puck very well, and I find loading the brush to be difficult as the soap spins. An elliptical motion instead of circular when loading the soap using the bowl (or leave the soap in the plastic).
>The soap, as you pointed out, leaves my skin dry post shave. A little moisturizer works, but I'm glad I'm not the only one to have this issue.
Van der Hagen Deluxe soap is the inexpensive option of choice, as well as a quick option if you find yourself out of soap.
Doc Banner if u microwave 10 seconds it will liquid and then let it setup and won't move around and it will set in the bowl good
nightwalker2830 I actually found a video that helped. Rub the soap through a cheese grater, then use a straight-sided glass to tamp it into a container. Worked perfectly, but wad a little labor intensive. I'll try out the microwave and see how it works, thank you
I love this soap.
VDH Deluxe is great, I've used it for years, though I haven't been seeing it around lately.. I like to melt it into a mug, you can because it's glycerin based. The scent reminds me of Grey Flannel cologne.
Mason Jar how do u melt it into a mug?
Microwave. 8 to 10 second blast. A little more depending. Better to be safe than cook it. Then let it cool. Note do not try this with tallow based soaps!
good info. I tried a tallow base soap and didn't like it...
New to wet shaving been using a cordless for years never really happy with the shaves. My wife got a great deal from a review site on a DE safety razor. Your videos have been a great resource for getting started. I'm on a budget and have been experimenting with different soaps. Though I will say I kind of like the Van Der Hagen deluxe that came with their shave kit. The price is good and I seem to get a good lather. I was wondering if you've had any experience with the Van Der Hagen Luxury soap and what your thoughts are on that one. Both are sporadically available at local drug stores.
I actually use this as a face wash in the shower, definitely does a good job hydrating and cleaning the face.
van Der hagen is my goto shaving soap. thanks for sharing
I hope you've used the Scented Luxury Shave Soap - that is great !!
Jim Stull yes I do matter of fact I have to agree with you like I said it's my go to soap.
+Jim Stull how much of a difference is that luxury compared to the deluxe on this video
I really like the luxury a lot more - it compares to any shave soap and it is cheap and available all over the place !!
Jim Stull im going have to agree with you. I can buy a puck of van Der hagen for a about $1.99 a pack at my local supermarket. I never knew wet shaving was a hobby I just got sick and tired of paying up the ass for razor blades. I find it relaxing
Hello friend. The smell... Is same Williams shavin mug? O not? Thank you
They got a razor too can you do a review on their razor maybe their shaving set I seen in target please...?.
Great review, love the video!
I`m so so on this puck. Seem to take for forever to load the brush and work up a lather. One thing that seemed to help was I ran hot water over my mug and then placed the mug in a bowl of hot water for about 20 minutes. After that I got some pretty good lather.
I agree! It takes a bit more effort to load it up - but then its a great lather! Dense, but not the slickest. For $2 I am impressed with it though
I love the Scented Luxury Shave Soap - about $3.60 for 3.75 oz. at Wal- Mart. It is great and smells Good !!
I got some Van der Hagen stuff for Christmas and I used it today. I already like it way more than a cartridge razor. I always got too much gel shaving crème and the cartridge razor would always get so full of hairs and not do a good job. I also didn't like the small strip that gave my skin that slick feeling. I like the smell of the puck. It isn't too sharp or in your face.
I have the whole kit! I like the bowl and the brush but cant stand the soap! No matter what I do I can not get a thick lather. My brush has to be bone dry. As soon as the brush touches the water on my face it gets super thin and soapy (no matter how thick the lather is prior to contact) It also sucks the moisture right out of my skin at the end of the shave. I will be investing in The Art of Shaving's cream or Proraso.
It’s weird I love the scent but nothing else about it. I still use it from time to time I have had the same puck since 2014. I would suggest try it then get a good soap and then that will be it for it
I'm a beginning wet shaver and I thought the van der hagen set would be good for a beginner but I'm really having a lot of trouble with the lather. I really don't know what I'm doing so I don't know if I'm doing something wrong, but using the bowl to get a lather going, I can get it nice and thick, but then when I go to put it on my face, the brush just kind of pushes the soap around. It's also extremely bubbly. I can feel it bubbling and it runs off my face. I've never been able to get the lather as thick as you have it in this video. Adding more water didn't seem to help and neither did more soap. Adding more soap got rid of the bubbly problem, but then it still just didn't lather on my face properly, I was pushing it around with the brush and the brush didn't seem to be letting any of the soap off of itself.
Is it a bad brush? Bad technique? No matter how light or hard I am with the brush it just doesn't seem to be working like I thought it would. The hair on my brush does seem to be very hard and uncomfortable to touch my face with. Feels like it's stabbing me if I use too much pressure.
I just used it for the first time with great results. I honestly have no idea what the bowl is for, so just put that aside and do exactly what this guy did with the plastic container.
Shake off a little water and lather the brush for close to a minute. Most of the lather is in the center of the brush so wrap your thumb and index finger around the brush and pull up to get a lot of the lather out. Good luck, you'll figure it out
kuhataparunks The only time I really had good results with this soap was when I used more soap than I thought was necessary. I ended up taking a pretty large noticeable portion of the soap out of the container. That kind of use would only last maybe a month with my shaving habits, and I often go 3 days without shaving.
I ended up buying a new soap that I really like. I don't have to use so much lather that I can literally see it disappearing from the tin, but it still lathers up fully.
+hondac55 make sure your using hot water on your brush if it still doesn't work maybe it's the brush
Fernando Arjona Ah, yeah, I'd forgotten about this post. The problem was the brush. I didn't know anything about preparing the brush, so I just kind of winged it. Anyways, the brush came from the producer way too stiff. If I had to recommend any tips for someone just getting into wet shaving with the Van Der Hagen set, I'd say let the brush soak overnight in really really hot water. The bristles are going to be way too stiff to lather properly and you're going to just push the soap around your face rather than lather at all. Anyways, I bought a better brush. It came much softer, and I was able to lather fully without any prior preparation.
Great video, try the van der Hagen shave oil before lathering with the soap
Hi Nick, you said you liked this soap. Did you like it more because the value side or performance. I like to try new soaps and I actually have seen this one around thought I might pick it up.
In are town we have a "fragrance shop" I wouldn't know about the place except its located near my job (same strip mall) well I walked in their they make candles, in scents, soaps and I talked to the man. He was thinking about making shaving soap. I really would like to try this product. He makes good quality items all from natural ingredients and oils. He even makes a candle that melts into lotion. My girlfriend enjoys it...
Sorry for rambling on about non sense, would you recommend this product?
Clinton - very cool that you may have a local shaving soap maker soon! For VDH, I like it due to its price for performance. It is not a top contender, but its way better than the stuff from cans. I will be using VDH in my next ODS episode, with a pre-shave, and it performed excellently!
Great review!
I tried the newer luxury soap. I bought it to keep as a back up if my other soaps didn't come in. I was surprised it was actually a pretty good soap. it is up there with arko. I am still shocked I bought a good shave soap at a grocery store
Have you used any Burma Shave products? I got a kit a few years ago it came with a shaving mug, soap, and a brush, package in a metal tin.
Have you done a review of Van Der Hagen blades? If you have I didn't see it when I searched.
I bought the van der hagen luxury set and for some reason I cant get a good lather with the soap, Im pretty sure I am doing something wrong. Are there any pointer you can give a beginner to help?
Another great review Nick, I've finally found a shop in the UK that sells pucks of synergy but they're £19 or $33 each :-\
Thanks! Oh boy, $33! Expensive indeed. I will be visiting London in May - do you know of any good shaving spots in London? I know that TOBS, T and H, and GF Trumpers are there
nick shaves there's also a shop called Carter and Bond that sells a good selection of shaving supplies. Oh I work in London, I'm sure you will enjoy your trip :-)
Oh by the way, don't forget to check out some of the great local bathhouse's in London as well, you're sure to get a great shave there too!
I got it: Smells like coconut and baby or athlete powder. I like this product personally.
Good soap you get a nice clean shave
Being so cheap, I might have to try that out.
I see lots of people asking what your opinion on the van der Hagen safety razor is. I too am interested because I just got into wet shaving and that is the razor I bought. It is definitely way better than a cartridge razor but I would like to know how it compares to other entry level DE razors. I picked mine up from Walmart for $18 and it came with five blades.
Never mind. I saw in the comments section of your review on the micro 1 touch razor review, where someone said that razor and the van der Hagen razor were the same razor.
id switch to better blades. like the persona lab blues, or gillette 7oclock super stainless
Ridge Bringger I was talking about the razor itself, not the blades. I currently use astra and feather blades.
Williams' shave soap was great too but my local stores discontinued them so i had to buy this. the soap stunk like aloe (i hate that smell) so i returned it. that was the only kind we carried. are there other scents for van der hagen?
i know this is really old but Van der Hagen has revamped their soaps and everything. I dont like the soap they have in their new kits and actually I dont like the brush they include either. I am curious to see if anyone has used the Van Der Hagen Pure Badgerbrush that is sold separately for $20. It seems ok. Gets softer the more you use it, but I am curious to see what anyone else thinks of it. Lots of cheap brush reviews out their but I havent seen any on this one.
For the price you really cant complain about this soap. Its CHEAP!!!
I think its a great buy, and unless you have really dry skin, it should work well for you.
People that pay $25 for a puck are either rich or nuts...lol.
I have a few pucks of this soap put away for daily use in my rotation.
Do you replace your razors after every shave? Also, I use Nivea Sensitive as well as an aftershave. Do you also use other products? What is your post shave routine?
I have a video about my post shave - I wash with water, an astringent (alum or an aftershave), then add in nivea. I use my razors for about 3 shaves each
Are you familiar with the "shave kit" with this shaving soap? It comes with the bowl and brush? If so, is it common to lose some of the hairs out of the brush when loading and lathering for the very first time? Thanks
Yes, it's common. I bought that kit as well years ago when I first started. The boar brush takes longer to break in but when it does it's pretty nice.
Cool .. thank you
That boar brush is on the reddit "bad gear list" but I used it...it lathers but it's a little rough. The hairs themselves are clipped and can be fairly harsh. If I had that kit it would probably be the first thing I would replace.
The brush that it comes with really doesn't do the soap any justice. The brush lathers so poorly that I've had to resort to doing a semi-dry face lather, making the bowl completely useless, except for a pretty container to hold my soap. I would recommend getting a good brush. I have a new badger brush coming in the mail :)
Hey Nick nice video. But I have to disagree with you in one thing. The plastic packaging of that puck is not nice. It's bad for the environment. I would always prefer a tin or reusable material rather than plastic - unless it's a hard plastic tub that you can keep for many years.
Good point! I guess that I like that it comes with some sort of storage container, versus none at all. But obviously an upgrade to this container would be great!
nick shaves Ah ok. I see what you mean. Well, thanks for replying to my comment so promptly. You're such a gentleman :-) And keep up the good work, your videos are really nice. :-p
Johnny
Hey Nick I have always pronounced it van der hey-gen as opposed to van der hog-en. Not really a big deal. Just wondering if you know which is correct.
Hmm, I have no idea! I though it was like the ice cream, Haagen Daaz
hey nick im new to wet shaving and shaving in general i use vander hagen and it leaves my face really dry what shaving balm to you recomend? and whats your opinion on paraso shaving cream? thanks nick
I use Neutrogena Triple Protect Face Lotion for Men, SPF 20. It works GREAT for post shave dry skin. The SPF is great since I live in the sun city. We have really hard water here (desert living) so I'm always struggling with dry skin and Neutrogena Triple Protect Face Lotion does its job, I apply it all over my face not just where I shave. You can find it at Target, walmart or amazon. Let me know of it helps.
PS It really soothes razor burn really well.
marvin9104 I've been using that stuff for years - it's the best !
You could add a few drops of glycerine to the bowl before lathering to slick it up a bit.
For a good inexpensive buy on shave oil.....go to your local Walmart or drug store and look at the Africas Best oil. Its in a tall 5 or 6 inch bottle a bit over an inch wide and costs about $2.
Some call it African 6 oil, or some other name. Its in the black hair section.
Works just as well as the over-priced Shave Secret or Pacific or an other pre-shave oil.
You should review their Luxury line!
Would you consider reviewing the glycerin version of this?
Don Fraysier why would you want alcohol in your product?
I been shaving with common hair gel. Best shave ever - very smooth.
huh XD?
Shampoo?
just bought this stuff. might be my technique because I'm new but it has looked nothing like that. small foam really no lather any help?
travis perkins Perhaps you should not over water both the soap and the brush, because if you put too much water to both items, you will produce a watery lather for your face.
Yeah I figured it out I was blooming the soap as well so it was too much water.
travis perkins Good. Also, use a little bit of elbow grease, meaning rub the brush against the soap a bit more vigorously for a more creamy lather; that should help you shave better. 😃
The post shave feeling is why I don't use this soap, it just makes my face feel terrible. I think it'd work in an emergency though.
i'm a few months into wet shaving and for some reason i cant get this soap to lather like a cream i can get it to about the halfway point in between a foam and cream and i tried using a lot of water but it just breaks down afterwards. i usually bowl lather
+Jordan Avis use less water homie. I usually squeeze all that water out of my brush then load it up and gradually add water to it as I'm lathering on my face.
can anyone tell me how to get the shave puck to stop moving around when working up a lather?
+Richard Armatino Put it in a mug or a bowl and microwave it for 15-30 seconds or until melted. Once it cools it'll conform in place. I hear this can ruin some soap so Google it first.
Thirsty4Jizz Awesome thanks for the info much appreciated
Scent is between British Sterling and Grey Flannel.
Btw - I thought the box said one of the ingredients is coco butter. I thought that's what the smell was.
That could be it! I like the smell anyway
i typically need four passes fornthe closeness that i prefer. this soap will dry your skin out nearing the third pass by the fourth pass its a done deal. i say skip out and just buy a better quality soap
Huh... here, the same puck costs 5.79
I absolutely hate that soap. The one I have is exactly that one and it is nearly impossible to lather, the smell just makes me gag, and after shaving my face just gets a very dry tight feel.
Thats fair! Its very drying for me too - but it shaves great.
nick shaves I won't lie, it gave me a nice shave too. It's nice and slick. But I just wasn't able to get it to lather even after a solid 2 minutes of working it in the bowl. I'm guessing the puck I got had a manufacturing error.
Jopuma Agreed! I too work it for a good minute and a half and if I get one tiny drop of water in the bowl it really thins out the entire lather.
Smells almost exactly like Barbosal to me.
have you made a video of the van der hagen safety razor
I would also like to see a review on the van der hagen safety razor
Go look at his review of the micro 1 touch razor. Someone said that razor and the van der Hagen are the same exact razor, just sold by different companies.
Its sorta like a clean masculen coconut sent but it smells a tad spicy not like a sweet girly coconut the sent is a 10 lol
Why didn't you just put the cake into a mug....less messy.