Both do the same job but some harder soaps can be more difficult to lather for beginners.
A good soft soap or cream may be the best bet when you are starting out, and there are lots around. Some well loved and widely available soaps/creams include:
- Proraso – the menthol and eucalyptus is a classic but all in their range are solid and reliable
- Cella – the archetypal ‘Italian soft soap’ – a strong marzipan/almond scent
- Taylors of Old Bond Street – traditional UK manufacturer, easy to lather
- Geo F Trumper/ Truefitt & Hill – more UK manufacturers, slightly higher price point
If you are going with the Taylors of Old Bond Street/Geo F Trumper/ Truefitt & Hill get creams rather than soaps. Many of their soaps have been reformulated and are less effective.
A good soft soap or cream may be the best bet when starting out.
When you get further down the track there is a seemingly endless array of shaving soaps and creams from both artisan suppliers and producers with centuries of tradition. Browse the selections at the suppliers in our links.