What is the difference between shaving cream and soap

Making the switch from supermarket-style razors and shaving creams to traditional wet shaving products is one of the best gifts a man can give to his face. The unmatched closeness, comfort and greatly reduced or eliminated!

If you've read our primer on wet shaving , you should have at least some understanding of the various components that go into a wet shaving dopp kit. In this article, we'll take a closer look at the differences between shaving creams and soaps, and share some tips that will help to find the right product for you. One of the most important differences between more traditional shaving products and the gels and foams found in supermarkets is the type of ingredients used to make them.

Many of the creams and soaps you'll find in our range contain a number of natural ingredients that not only produce a great lather and a comfortable shave, but also help to soothe, nourish and moisturise the skin. In practice, this generally means much less irritation, even for those with sensitive skin.

In fact, there are some products designed especially for sensitive skin types which you can see below. Broadly speaking, shaving creams produce a lather more easily than a soap and are a good choice for someone new to wet shaving or looking for a fast and easy solution.

I suggest a boar bush for the stiffness to lift a curlier beard. Remember anything in an aerosol can is NOT a cream. Change blade frequently, not more than 3 shaves per blade. Take your time shaving. Light, short strokes. I highly recommend trying both, and figuring out your preference for yourself. That said if you're looking for a zero-waste shave, many shaving soaps come in re-fillable wooden bowls or metal containers that can be re-used or recycled.

The tool you use to lather your product will dictate its quality almost as much as its composition. While any brush is better than none, badger is always best. Badger bristles hold water well, are soft enough to treat your skin right but are stiff enough to scrub a dense soap or whip up a nice lather with a cream. The best badger brushes are silvertip.

They feature a stiff backbone that exfoliates your skin and softens your hair, while the soft tips keep the brush feeling pleasant to the touch. If you're like me, it's a perfect case for having more than one brush — you can experiment with any soap or cream you please. Ultimately, it's most fun to have a selection to choose on based on mood, season or time of day. This is where shaving becomes fun. Browse Shaving Creams and Soaps. Browse Shaving Brushes. A famed cocktologist and axe man, Nathan opened the first Kent of Inglewood store in Calgary, and now spends his days writing most of what you are reading here and teaching straight razor shaving classes.

It will be greatly appreciated if you do too. Thanks for your support. Click to read more. When a man shaves the traditional way, he not only puts more time into perfecting his technique, but also must make the effort to consider which products best suit his skin. From teenage years spent using aerosol based gels and foams, it can be a testing process making the transition to a more thorough approach.

It doesn't start and end with choosing the right razor either, so we sought the expertise of our Shoreditch Head Barber Gwen , and Master Barber Alex to help explain the differences between Shave Cream and Shaving Soap - and how to best decide which is right for you. Mallow, Aloe Vera and Borage are some of the key, indulgent ingredients behind our cream's remarkable ability to moisturise the skin as you shave. Gwen confirms: "I find Shave Cream easier to use on clients.

So this would probably be the ideal product to start traditional shaving with. It lathers up more effortlessly than soap, doesn't dry out quickly and makes a thicker 'cushion' as such on the face for protection against a blade.