Most of the people get confused while choosing one between shaving soaps and creams. Though the creams are much popular, yet shaving soaps have their own benefits. It is important to understand the differences between both the products in terms of lather formation, consistency, and other features.
Starting with consistency, the shaving soaps are solid. On the other hand, creams are semi solid which offers them an edge over the previous product. While using shaving cream, little or no water is required. But for using shaving soap, you will have to first use some water and a shaving brush to lather it.
Then only you can expect considerable lather. An important thing to remember here is that the shaving soaps are different from the regular bathing soaps. Bathing soaps are sharper but the shaving soaps have special ingredients to assist the whole process. So far as the shaving creams are concerned, they simply act as lubricants.
It means that their function is to reduce the friction while shaving. One can experience the difference by trying to shave without using any cream. Though, the shaving creams are not compulsory for shaving but if you want to avoid pain during shaving, it is better to spend some money on these products.
Another difference between the two is about price. Shaving creams are much more costly per use than the soaps. Again, the price varies from one brand to another for each product. Another difference is that the shaving creams can produce lather without any brush.
In fact, most of the cream formulations contain soap ingredients as well. This is the main reason for the increasing popularity of creams. Earlier, these formulations were not present and soaps were the only option. They also provide more scent than most soaps.
However, there are some similarities in these products as well. For instance, both these products alter the pH of the skin to making shaving easier and safe for the user. The final choice depends on the user preferences and his skin type.
Some people are more comfortable with soap even today. Generally, shaving creams are recommended for new people using safety razors. On the other hand, people using both safety and straight razors can go for soaps as they offer more slickness. A common practice is to learn shaving with creams as they offer more protection. Once enough experience has been gained, one can also try shaving soaps.