6 Best Shaving Soaps

For many men, the idea of wet shaving may seem old school, arduous, and unnecessarily time-consuming. After all, the process is indeed more painstaking than the usual plastic razor + canned foam route. In spite of that, wet shaving has remained popular to this day, with a passionate fan base that continues to grow year by year. For them, wet shaving is an art: masculine, rugged, and skillful.

Whether you’re already a pro or just starting to delve into this luxurious tradition, you will benefit from knowing the best shaving soaps that are available on the market today. As we’ve said, this particular niche is constantly expanding, so it’s really not surprising why new brands are relentlessly cropping up left and right.

In this buying guide, we’ll briefly discuss why you should switch to wet shaving (if you haven’t already), what you need to look for in shaving soap, and techniques you can execute to achieve the perfect shave every single time.

What is shaving soap?

Shaving soap is a hard soap that is made from ingredients like tallow, glycerin, and vegetable oils. It is frequently used with a shaving brush to make rich lather, which is then applied to the face to protect the skin and provide some lubrication while shaving

Why switch to shaving soap?

There are many reasons to ditch your canned shaving cream, foam, or gel in favor of good old shaving soap.

Wet shaving provides a closer and more comfortable shave. The entire process of wet shaving will usually give you the best possible shave. The traditional ingredients included in a bar of soap are superior when it comes to softening the beard prior to shaving.  It’s important to note, however, that this still depends on the quality of products you’re using. Aside from the best shaving soap, it’s also important to have a good quality straight razor and shaving brush.

It does a better job at lubricating the skin. For a comfortable shave, the razor should effortlessly glide across your skin. And when it comes to lubrication, nothing beats traditional shaving soaps at providing a super-slick surface for your straight or safety razor to slide across.

It provides better value for money. One puck of shaving soap will last you months of use—with some of the triple-milled varieties even lasting for almost a year. So, although shave soaps tend to be pricier than cheap shaving cream upfront, they still provide a cheaper cost-per-shave in the long run.

It provides extra hydration. Shaving soaps aren’t only more effective at softening facial hair. They also provide extra hydration for your skin.

Factors to consider when shopping for shaving soap

Ingredients

All shaving soaps are generally made of the same core ingredients. However, some brands throw in a bunch of skin-loving or shave-enhancing components that are beneficial for your complexion and overall experience. Some examples of these bonus ingredients include added moisturizers, oils, activated charcoal, and soothing herbal extracts.

However, you shouldn’t only be looking out for good ingredients. You should also examine the shaving soap’s ingredients list to check if it has anything that might impact you negatively. If you have sensitive skin, harsh chemicals, and strong fragrances should be avoided. You’re also better off without ingredients like phthalates and alcohol.

Lather quality

When you shell out serious cash for shaving soap, it should be able to produce output that matches its price tag. A shaving soap’s lather should be smooth, rich, and creamy for the most comfortable shave. And it should be able to produce this kind of quality consistently.

Now, there are some aspects of the shaving soap’s performance that you can’t scrutinize just by reading its description online. For example, the best shaving soaps will produce a lather that spreads nicely and evenly onto the skin—forming a thick layer that acts as a cushion between your face and the razor. There’s no way for you to know if the soap will do this without trying it for yourself. Looking up user reviews online is helpful during these situations.

Size

We’d say that almost all conventional shaving soaps have roughly the same size. If you’re simply looking for a product that you can use at home, size shouldn’t really matter. However, if you tend to travel a lot, you might want to invest in travel-sized or mini shaving soaps that won’t take up too much space in your bag.

Scent

Many would argue that one of the most important aspects of the shaving experience is the aroma emanating from the lather. This is why most shaving soaps come with added fragrance.

But if you’re sensitive to strong scents, we recommend that you go for a fragrance-free option or, at least, a naturally-scented one. Synthetic or artificial fragrances can be irritating for sensitive skin and noses.

Aesthetics

Quality and performance is king. However, it doesn’t hurt to have a nice-looking shaving soap sitting on the bathroom counter, either. Some soaps, like the top-ranked gem on our list above, come in a special bowl that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing. Some come in sleek-looking tin cans if that’s your style.

Whatever your personal taste is, there’s probably something out there that will satisfy your visual hunger. Or maybe you don’t care at all—that works, too.

Price

Shaving soap is generally affordable. However, we’re aware that some of the more upscale brands demand a bit more dough. When considering the price, look not just at the upfront cost, but at the quality, weight, and mileage of the product, as well. For example, triple-milled soaps are designed to last way longer than your average shaving soap. At the end of the day, it’s the cost-per-shave that really matters.

Tallow vs. Oil vs. Glycerin

Shaving soaps can be tallow-based, oil-based, or glycerin-based. Tallow-based soaps are the most traditional, and this is what old-school purists usually go for. If you don’t already know, tallow is rendered animal fat. It provides a rich, creamy lather and excellent cushioning.

If you’re a vegan, then you probably wouldn’t want to use tallow-based shaving soap. A good alternative is vegetable oil, such as coconut, argan, and palm oil. Modern tech and methods have successfully produced vegetable oil-based shaving soaps that work comparably well to those that are made using tallow.

Glycerin shaving soaps have also cropped up in recent years. They are generally cheaper, but they typically produce a lather that isn’t as high-quality as tallow- and oil-based products.

How much shaving soap lather should you apply?

There really isn’t a definite answer here. The amount of lather you apply on your face will depend on various factors, such as the lather thickness you enjoy, the amount and density of the hair you have on your face, and the lather quality of your shaving soap.

Knowing the right amount of lather to use is something you can only ascertain through trial and error. In the end, the most important thing is to get a feel of the amount of lather that’ll give you the most comfortable shave.

How to use shaving soap for the perfect shave

When it comes to using shaving soap, the results you get will rely on the lather you use. As such, it’s important to know how to achieve the perfect lather. The following steps will outline the process for you.

Part 1: Preparation

Soak your shaving brush in warm or hot water for a few minutes. This will allow the bristles to absorb as much moisture as possible, which is crucial in creating a quality lather. Soaking also softens the bristles. You’d want this to happen because stiff bristles can be hard to control as you’re creating the lather.

Tip: start the soak right before you step into the shower. By the time you’re done with your bath, the brush will be ready to use.

Start the blooming process. Add some water on top of your shaving soap. If it already comes in a bowl, all you have to do is place a small amount of warm water within the bowl. However, if what you got is a single puck, you’ll have to place it in a separate bowl, mug, or container. Leave the soap submerged within the water for a few minutes. This process of softening the soap is called the blooming process.

Tip: If you have a triple-milled soap, it might be helpful to have it with you as you take a warm shower. Hard soaps take a bit longer to bloom, so having them inside a steamy shower stall will help them soften up faster.

Squeeze out excess water from your shaving brush. After soaking your shaving brush for a few minutes, it’s time to remove it from the bowl and squeeze out the excess water. You don’t have to be particularly-forceful when doing this, as wringing out the water too vigorously can damage the brush.

Remove the excess water from the blooming process, but don’t throw it out! Well, you can technically throw the excess water from the fully-bloomed soap—but we recommend that you use it as a face rinse instead. It’s a great prep step before shaving because the excess water contains rich oils from the soap.

Part 2: Creating the lather

Take your brush and rub it onto the soap in circular motions. The hardness of your shaving soap and how long you left it to bloom will determine how long it will take you to create a rich lather. On average, however, this step should take you about 30 seconds.

Simply focus on loading the shaving brush with soap. It might help to hold your shaving brush upside down (its bristles should be facing upward) with the soap on top of it. This way, the lather will naturally travel from the soap towards the brush because of gravity.

Part 3: Shaving your face

Once you’re satisfied with the thickness and quality of lather you’ve achieved, it’s time to apply it onto your face. Remember: don’t hesitate to add a bit more water to the soap if you think that the lather is too dry or tacky.

Spread the lather thickly and evenly all over the necessary areas. Once you’re done, you can then proceed to shave using the razor of your choice.

What does “triple-milled” mean?

Some shaving soaps will boast about being “triple-milled.” This basically means that the ingredients of the soap have been mixed three times. Triple-milling produces soap that is harder and longer-lasting than the average soap. This explains why there are shaving purists who view triple-milled products as superior.

Does it matter what type of shaving brush you’re using?

Now that you know more about the best shaving soaps, should you go ahead and examine different shaving brushes, as well?

It goes without saying that good shaving soaps work well with good shaving brushes. We at Faveable believe that using the best shaving brush will give you the best kind of lather—ultimately leading to the best result. There are a bunch of great shaving brushes out there. But, in general, we recommend natural-hair bristles over synthetic ones.