Trying new shaving soaps

I just received my shaving soap orders that I ordered online from Etsy. The clear shaving soap pucks are from JuneBugSoapCo which is local in Pennsylvania. The scents I chose are Pine, Tea Tree, Grape Fruit and Eucalyptus. The rest of the cube soaps are travel size shaving soaps (so I could sample all the scents) from RedLeafBathandBody which is located in Seattle, WA. Those scents are: Basil Lime, Black Tea, Beach, Oatmeal Milk & Honey, Pipe Tobacco, Lo Octane, High Octane, English Coast, Firewood, Leather, Wasabi, Lettuce, Cognac, Fresh Orange and Fresh Clover.

As this is my first time wet shaving, I figured what the heck, lets try some different soaps and see what we like. So as I try them out I will give a description of the soap when I can.

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Not all shave soaps are created equal. If you have problems with them let us know.

Too, don't hesitate to ask questions. I have yet to meet my first natural born shaver. That is, someone who knew how to shave the first time they picked up a razor.

Have fun on the journey. I'm looking forward to your thoughts on these soaps.

I'm reminded strongly of Charles Roberts' "Shaving Cubes" and "Activator." Looking forward to your impressions!

I lost count of how many bad soap purchases I made when I first started wet shaving. It's all about the learning process and the journey.

Ok so this was my facial growth for a few weeks. Two days ago I used an electric shaver (0 blade) to trim down my face. The second pic is my face before my shave, and the last pic after the shave. 

Now I have to mention that shaving after a shower feels so unnatural to me, I have always shaved first then showered. Regardless I followed the beginner steps and recommendations for a proper shave. I soaked my brush in hot water, then let it soak in a mug full of hot water while I showered. I did my shower routine which involves washing my face with a dove bar of soap. After the shower, I dryed off and went right to work. I rang out my brush, emptied the mug, poured in new hot water and sat my razor in there to heat up. (Phone is going slow, will continue in next post)

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After the razor, I started to attempt making a lather. This was another thing ive never done before. I chose the beach scent, which is a nice light Sandy smell which stayed light even after a lather and being applied to the face. As new as I am to the whole lather thing, I think I got it. I looked like a crazy person making circles in my soap bowl, but after 3 minutes or so the foam was getting fluffy with small air bubbles and I knew I was there. As I applied my face for a few minutes painting back and forth it seemed a little pasty so I had to dip the brush a few times in water and keep working my face to get the consistency just right. I started with the grain, rinsed with hot water after, reapplied the soap, then shaved against the grain. I finished with a cold water rinse, and followed up with an alum bar.I'm quite shocked that I didn't Nick or cut myself at all. I honestly don't know why I didn't switch to wet shaving sooner. I actually enjoyed it. I feel weird even saying that lol.

Welcome to the wonderful world of wet shaving.

It sounds like you're off to an amazing start. Sometimes I think the techniques of wet shaving are as varied as the products. Enjoy the ride.

*snipped images*

Ok so this was my facial growth for a few weeks. Two days ago I used an electric shaver (0 blade) to trim down my face. The second pic is my face before my shave, and the last pic after the shave. 

Now I have to mention that shaving after a shower feels so unnatural to me, I have always shaved first then showered. Regardless I followed the beginner steps and recommendations for a proper shave. I soaked my brush in hot water, then let it soak in a mug full of hot water while I showered. I did my shower routine which involves washing my face with a dove bar of soap. After the shower, I dryed off and went right to work. I rang out my brush, emptied the mug, poured in new hot water and sat my razor in there to heat up. (Phone is going slow, will continue in next post)

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After the razor, I started to attempt making a lather. This was another thing ive never done before. I chose the beach scent, which is a nice light Sandy smell which stayed light even after a lather and being applied to the face. As new as I am to the whole lather thing, I think I got it. I looked like a crazy person making circles in my soap bowl, but after 3 minutes or so the foam was getting fluffy with small air bubbles and I knew I was there. As I applied my face for a few minutes painting back and forth it seemed a little pasty so I had to dip the brush a few times in water and keep working my face to get the consistency just right. I started with the grain, rinsed with hot water after, reapplied the soap, then shaved against the grain. I finished with a cold water rinse, and followed up with an alum bar.I'm quite shocked that I didn't Nick or cut myself at all. I honestly don't know why I didn't switch to wet shaving sooner. I actually enjoyed it. I feel weird even saying that lol.

hey man, do whatever works for you and stick with it. I'm glad you were able to make a good lather for the first time...that's something that can be VERY hit or miss with new people starting out, and soaps can be harder to dial in with the right lather than creams IMHO.

*snipped images*

Ok so this was my facial growth for a few weeks. Two days ago I used an electric shaver (0 blade) to trim down my face. The second pic is my face before my shave, and the last pic after the shave. 

Now I have to mention that shaving after a shower feels so unnatural to me, I have always shaved first then showered. Regardless I followed the beginner steps and recommendations for a proper shave. I soaked my brush in hot water, then let it soak in a mug full of hot water while I showered. I did my shower routine which involves washing my face with a dove bar of soap. After the shower, I dryed off and went right to work. I rang out my brush, emptied the mug, poured in new hot water and sat my razor in there to heat up. (Phone is going slow, will continue in next post)

---

After the razor, I started to attempt making a lather. This was another thing ive never done before. I chose the beach scent, which is a nice light Sandy smell which stayed light even after a lather and being applied to the face. As new as I am to the whole lather thing, I think I got it. I looked like a crazy person making circles in my soap bowl, but after 3 minutes or so the foam was getting fluffy with small air bubbles and I knew I was there. As I applied my face for a few minutes painting back and forth it seemed a little pasty so I had to dip the brush a few times in water and keep working my face to get the consistency just right. I started with the grain, rinsed with hot water after, reapplied the soap, then shaved against the grain. I finished with a cold water rinse, and followed up with an alum bar.I'm quite shocked that I didn't Nick or cut myself at all. I honestly don't know why I didn't switch to wet shaving sooner. I actually enjoyed it. I feel weird even saying that lol.

hey man, do whatever works for you and stick with it. I'm glad you were able to make a good lather for the first time...that's something that can be VERY hit or miss with new people starting out, and soaps can be harder to dial in with the right lather than creams IMHO.

That seems to be the general consensus I hear with soap VS cream. But I'm excited to try the new scents and keep you guys informed. I may have to try one of the June bug soaps next to see how it compares, scent and lather.

If I keep this up, I may have to invest in a straight razor. Hehehe

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk

Ok sorry it took so long, but tap talk wasn't working on my phone with this post for some reason. 

Anyway, the second time I shaved I tried out the junebugco soap. I used the eucalyptus scent, which has a very mild scent, and equally mild when applied to the face. It lathered excellent with comparison to the red leaf soap, however for the size of the puck it seems that the red leaf may be more cost effective. After the final pass, final cold water rinse, and alum block application; my girlfriend said she could smell a trace amount of the eucalyptus scent. Overall I am pleased with this soap as much as red leaf.

So the key differences are, at June bug you order a 4 pack of small pucks for around 8$, and at red leaf I ordered the small travel squares which are pretty close to the same size and thickness, for 2.50$ per cube (but a larger variety of scents). Red leaf also sells a larger cube for more money which can be even more cost effective. The seller at red leaf told me told me 3 to 4 shaves per travel cube, but I beg to differ, I think you can get far more shaves, maybe 8 to 10 or more. I would also estimate the June bug pucks to last about the same. The soaps were both purchased at the same time and arrived at the same time, which is silly, because June bug is in PA and red leaf in WA. So that's a big WTF to junebug, considering I live in PA, it should have been at my door in 2 to 3 days tops, not 5 or 6 days. Overall pleased with both names, and now its down to trying all of the scents.

As a side note, last night I shaved with the red leaf, oatmeal milk & honey soap. Very pleasing on the nose pre and post shave. Its another mild scent and the girlfriend really likes the scent after the shave.