Reddit reviews Arko Shaving Soap Stick, White, ( Pack Of 12 )

Alright, Im editing this comment to include all the info now that I'm finally home from work:
Like I said earlier, I got the blades from William Marvy Co. in St. Paul Minnesota. They are old stock which is how I was able to get them so cheap (5¢ a blade). I'm not sure if they will ship them but you can definitely get them a call.

The Arko is from amazon, here's the link!

Now the razors are where I lucked out; my grandparents run an antique store and I just asked them if they had any razors and they just gave me both of these razors. If you cant tell, its a Gillette Slim Adjustable and an old Gillette Tech. I have no idea what year they are from so somebody should tell me how I go about figuring that out...

Neither.

The Baxter razor is a re-branded Muhle R89, which shares a head with, and is functionally identical to, the Edwin Jagger DE89-series razors (example). It's not a bad razor, but they're selling it for 2-3 times what it should cost.


The Last Razor is new to me, but the fact that they call their razors "shavers" is not a good sign. The razor itself appears to be a mid-quality twist-to-open; there are dozens of them coming out of China these days, and the going price is ~$10.

$35 for that razor appears to be the opposite of the original "razor and blades" sales model - they're charging way too much for the razor and using the price to subsidize the blades. But while $5 is a pretty good deal for a tube of cream and 60 blades, it's not unbeatable, and only makes sense if you like that cream and those blades. You can get blades for under $0.07 each and Arko shave sticks for a buck apiece. But you're better off trying a variety of blades to find the one you like best. Ditto with soaps and/or creams.

Instead of either of those, just get the Maggard Razors Basic Starter Kit. Use promo code KITSHIP for free shipping (expires at midnight tonight). You'll only be spending $30, and you'll get better stuff.

Using a shaving soap and a brush doesn't have to be expensive. You can get 12 sticks of Arko (900g of shaving soap) for $13.15 from Amazon. Those should last you few years. Omega boar brush can typically had for around $10. Omega synthetic S-brush can be bought for less than $7. The shaving brush will last you many years.

So there's really no reason to use Dial soap. At least price wise.

On amazon you can find a 12 pack of Arko shaving soap stick for $16. There might even be cheaper ways to buy in bulk.
Combine this with a synthetic or boar shaving brush which can be had for under 10$.
The quantity of soap in there will last you years (estimates range from 100 to over 300 shaves per stick), and the brush can last over a decade (or even longer) if not abused.

It depends on how much soap you use per shave, but 8 sticks could probably last you around two years or so, maybe longer if you are conservative. With Arko, it doesn't take much soap to get enough lather for three passes.

What do you consider a "good offer?" Arko is cheap to begin with, and if you buy by the carton you get the soap for a little over a dollar per stick.

The only question is do you really want to shave with this soap for that long?

Chiseled Face soaps are on there for $16 each and are absolutely fantastic! Alternately, for about the same price you could get 12 Arko Sticks. For a few extra dollars you could pick up a Semogue Owners Club.

Congrats!

Arko FTW.

That should keep you going until you graduate.

Check out Coconut Oil for pre-shave too. Haven't tried olive, but the coconut oil has... multiple... uses... when the fairer sex is there... or not...

Popcorn with it is supposedly amazing too...

Barbasol is cheap but it irritated my skin to the point I was getting rosacea (a not good skin condition.) Now I use Arko (Amazon link) at about $1/stick and each stick lasts about 3 months. It's been great on my skin, does not require a bowl to lather, and works great.

When you say mug of Arko, is it this? If so, does it smell the same as this?

Dear Turtletree,

Welcome to the cult of Arko.

http://www.amazon.com/Arko-Shaving-Stick-White-Count/dp/B000VAWZ2U/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1393796414&sr=8-3&keywords=arko

Keep an eye on that. I just got 24 sticks for $13/12pack. I have a lifetime supply for Arko stockpiled..

Cool!

Generally online is the better place to get this stuff. There's a few brick and mortar stores that carry good stuff, but online is just easier.

Some soaps can be a little expensive, yes, but keep in mind they generally last longer than the canned gel.

There's a lot of options if you're price conscious however.

Razorock is an Italian shaving soap that's really easy to whip up so it's ideal as a beginner. They have sales on some of their soaps in the $7 to $9 range.

Also consider Arko. It's definitely not as "fun" as some of the other artisan, uniquely scented soaps, but if price is super important to you, it's definitely the way to go. That link is a 12 pack. I have absolutely no idea how long that would last someone using exclusively that product to shave, but I would guess at least 3-5 years, maybe more.

Arko is a shaving stick, so it's a little different. Again, have him watch a video in how to properly lather that stuff if that's what you end up going with, otherwise he'll probably end up frustrated.

There's tons of places to get blades. Here's West Coast Shaving's inventory of them. This is where you'll save money in the long run.

Tell him to consider getting a sampler pack. Blades are very different and everyone has a personal preference.

12 packs are available for $16 in FREEDOMLAND, so maybe have it shipped to an Amazon locker and cross the border if it's nearby?
https://www.amazon.com/Arko-Shaving-Soap-Stick-White/dp/B000VAWZ2U/ref=sr_1_4_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1517778215&sr=8-4&keywords=arko+soap

advice: buy 3 of the tryablade pack. This way you can shave through a blade and revisit it once you've tried some others.

Maggard, Merkur, Edwin Jagger, and Standard all make good affordable razors.

To put together a kit under $75 you'll want to stick with synthetic or boar brushes. A decent silvertip will run you at least $40. Synthetic is probably the best choice as they dry most easily.

Good soaps are wonderful. You can save shit ton of money buying a lifetime supply of arko or you can spend $20-30 to grab a couple soaps from Dr Jon's, haslinger, B&M Latha, Fine, Henri et Victoria, Dapper Dragon, Maggard, Chiseled Face, Mike's Natural, Wholly Kaw, First Canadian, Catie's Bubbles, Reef Point, Mickey Lee, Captain's Choice, TTFFC, Phoenix & Beau, Soap Commander, or Mitchell's

The puck of mitchell's and the 6oz soap commander tubs will both last a really long time, but any of those should last a couple months at minimum. I've never counted but I hear the rough math is that 1 4oz tub is good for ~100 shaves.

Sounds like you're looking for Arko. Here, this will last you a few years at least.

What razor blades are you using? Different people have different skin and hair types, and find that different blades work for them. If you're cutting up your face like that, maybe try a different brand of blade. I'd suggest getting a sampler pack so that you can try a bunch and figure out which ones work the best for your skin.

For example: http://www.amazon.com/FEATHER-Oclock-BLUEBIRD-Blade-Sampler/dp/B007OL72B8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1422349875&sr=8-1&keywords=safety+razor+sample+pack

It took me a bit of practice and a bunch of razors to get it right, since some tugged on my skin and others were too sharp (hello nick city). My favorite is Blue Bird, they work perfectly for me. Skin prep is really important too! I use Arko shave sticks and an Ecotools brush. The shave sticks lather nicely and last forever (one stick lasted me about 4 months of shaving my legs).

http://www.amazon.com/Arko-Shaving-Stick-White-Count/dp/B000VAWZ2U/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1422349852&sr=8-2&keywords=arko+shave+stick

http://www.amazon.com/Ecotools-Bamboo-Finishing-Kabuki-Pounds/dp/B004W17O7A/ref=sr_1_21?ie=UTF8&qid=1422349923&sr=8-21&keywords=ecotools+brush

Ok here goes:

Weber polished DE
EcoTools Retractable Kabuki
4x Arko shave stick
200x Big Ben Stainless blades (these are my go to blades YMMV)
4x Arko Citrus ASB with Allantoin

The whole lot is pretty minimal and would be pretty reasonable at $135 even if you had to buy everything new right now.

If you're on a budget, I can definitely attest to arko! you can get 12 sticks for 12 bucks and can just squish 'em into any bowl of your choice! Arko is tallow based, so I definitely wouldn't recommend melting it, as that can break down the tallow, but arko is super soft so it doesn't matter much. Arko is one of my favorite soaps, and it definitely performs way above its price range! With this much, you won't have to worry about running out anytime soon (though don't let that keep you from trying other soaps...)

A good double-edge safety razor, blade sampler pack, shaving brush, and shaving soap can free the both of you from expensive cartridge razors and canned goo. It could take you a little bit to learn how to shave the "old fashioned" way, but as someone who recently took the plunge, it's worth it. Gives a much better shave for a fraction of the cost. (Replacement blades are usually $0.07 - $0.30 each)

If you have hard water, you may want to go with a shaving cream instead, or you could get a gallon of distilled water for $1 that will last you through about a month's worth of shaves.

Shameless plug for /r/wicked_edge. There are a lot of resources there to help you transition.

[edit] Here's a cheaper alternate razor - this is what I have. You can get them even cheaper if you want to wait a few weeks.

You can get this 12-pack of Arko shave sticks for $16. Users report getting 2-3 months out of 1 stick, so we're talking up to 3 years of soap in that pack. It lathers practically on command, and you don't even need a bowl. Just run it across your face and lather it up a bit with your Ecotools Kabuki brush. This is a synthetic brush, so you don't have to bother with pre-soaking it or having to break it in like a boar or badger. Just run it under some warm water for a few seconds and you're good to go.

Barbasol is fine but all canned goop dries out your skin and costs too much. You'd be better off even with a shaving stick like Arko and a cheap brush but swing over to r/wicked_Edge we're nice

Not that I know of. I bought mine on Amazon. I was so happy with it, that I ended up buying in bulk and they sent me 3 times the amount advertised. So I'm literally set for life.

The ingredient list from the photo on this page is different that the one listed above, maybe that just because it's in a different language?
http://www.amazon.com/Arko-Shaving-Stick-White-Count/dp/B000VAWZ2U/ref=sr_1_3?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1394993209&sr=1-3&keywords=arko

Just buy it from here: https://www.amazon.com/Arko-Shaving-Stick-White-Count/dp/B000VAWZ2U If you have Prime, they're $1.04/ea delivered. I'm not sure the shipping would even be that cheap coming from another member.

its on amazon right now for $10.45 which is less than a dollar per stick, it lasts a stupid long time too I get 5-6 months per stick. I dont know how much shipping is without prime though, since I get a sweet deal from my University my prime is 50% off forever.

I was going to buy it from Amazon along with

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000CB8Q4Y/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A11C50J5I9SKBO

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000VAWZ2U/ref=ox_sc_act_title_3?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A247KQ8J6Y7OFS

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004SGKMA0/ref=ox_sc_act_title_4?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

and free shipping

The Maggard starter kit would cost me 55.85(includes shipping)

He hurt his own business by misleading you.

Buy it off this seller on Amazon instead. Twelve bucks on prime. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000VAWZ2U/ref=mp_s_a_1_2_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1469835359&sr=8-2&keywords=arko&pi=SY200_QL40

arko shave sticks

Free shipping with no minimum purchase is provided for all the following items in the CONUS:

For blades:
Personna Blues
&
ASTRA Superior Platinums.

Here's an inexpensive Omega Boar Brush for $15.50. I bought it myself and it's effective and highly reviewed on Amazon. Not cheap enough? Try this @ just under $10.

Here's some inexpensive, great and well reviewed shave soap for face lathering that'll last you a lifetime. Use a cheese grater to break it up to squish in the bottom of your mug (though some are soft enough to crush).

My favorite brand of soap is Arko because it's nostalgic, cheap as dirt, and absolutely foolproof. Highly recommended if you don't prefer fancy fragrances. I just saw it's now offered in cute containers if you would like a bowl over a shaving stick. Cheers and good luck with your new shaving technique/hobby.

The key is to buy a nearly lifetime supply of Arko so at least you can't say "well, I do need shaving soap..."

If you can handle the smell, that is.

Broaden your horizons; explore the vast plains of shaving products, and experience what the world has to offer your face.

I myself like arko, because it is cheap. Each to his own.

You can get a $20 disposable straight of reliable quality. My personal favorite is the Parker, which you could get on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002PQZEHQ/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_7F0Ewb3Y641NK


When it comes to soaps, the Arko shaving sticks are about a dollar each and one has lasted me 11 months (daily facial use, weekly body use)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000VAWZ2U/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_GI0EwbTC63WK0

Hope that helps!

A ten buck Baili razor.

Omega brush.
12 sticks of Arko 100 Dorco Blades.

$40, all Prime shipping, and you're good for 2-4 years. Dollar per month-ish. Yeah, it's not a blade sampler, so if you hate the Dorcos, You're out $7 but can hand them out as party favors or macabre business cards.

Soap: Arko

Razor: Parker Shavette w/ Shark Super Stainless

Aftershave: Stetson

Some sort of stick thing that makes the shave super slick. I use it as a base under the shave cream for extra slip, but I guess with good brush skills it's a soap in itself.

Since we're talking about saving money with old school shaving techniques (that honestly work better than the newer stuff anyways), Arko shave sticks cost $19 for a 12 pack, and a single stick lasts for several months to a year. Some people don't like the lemon scent, but the shave are great and the sticks are stupid cheap.

You could buy a small tub of artisan soap, or buy enough Arko to last you the next 5 years.

Buy a second case and you can use them as air fresheners, for the special Wrigley Field urinal trough after the 7th inning stretch scent.

Seriously, great stuff but smells awful.

A cream is essentially a softer soap, but everything else is the same. You still lather it and apply it the same way. A cream or bar soap (like the Arko linked elsewhere) would be the easiest to apply in the shower since you can just rub it on your face, then go at your face with the brush. Some people mash a bar into an empty deodorant stick or twist up container and use that to apply it. I got the Arko 12 pack and I can't imagine ever needing to buy more soap.

I bought the kit from Stirling and it's great. The samples should last a while, and even if you just added a tub of soap to your Stirling order to save on shipping, your husband will be set on soap for months.

> Arko Shaving Soap

Nah, only suckers spend that much on Arko.

https://www.amazon.com/Arko-Shaving-Stick-White-Count/dp/B000VAWZ2U/ref=sr_1_2_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1473318987&sr=1-2&keywords=arko

That's a couple years of shave soap right there, not sure about shipping prices within the US though.

soap
cream

smells like

If you're looking for BIFL though, a single stick of Arko will last you forever, provided the scent and laundry list of ingredients don't bother you. I'd look for someone to send you a single stick first so you can try it before buying (and for less than the $16 amazon has it listed for currently).

Before I head to sleep, I'll post what looks like a good "starter kit". Please tell me if anything is missing! -

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Throat-Shaving-Factory-Straight-Professional/dp/B003DRL6KK/

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Classic-Wilkinson-Sword-Shaving-Brush/dp/B0012XTHXU/

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Arko-Shaving-Cream-Soap-Stick/dp/B000VAWZ2U/

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Nix-497842-5g-Styptic-Pencil/dp/B00289GUQO

Thanks everyone for all your really helpful advice. I was partially expecting disgruntlement with some links to the FAQ or something but I was pleasantly surprised. You've all been really helpful, and I'll be online tomorrow to check again!

Arko is a little known brand of shave soap this is fantastic and dirt cheap. Each stick will last you months. Even if you use cartridge razors I highly recommend going with a good shave soap over canned shaving cream.

This is a couple years supply: http://www.amazon.com/Arko-Shaving-Stick-White-Count/dp/B000VAWZ2U/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1397177117&sr=8-2&keywords=arko

It's hard to find a complete starter kit for such a low price here in the UK, especially since we don't have access to the starter kits from Maggard.

One way to save money is with a good quality boar brush. You can't get a decent badger brush for that budget, but you can get a fantastic Omega boar for £9

With soap, Proraso or Arko are low-priced options that deliver exceptional value and performance.

The razor is the most difficult. Without the Maggard or Razorock models, there aren't many quality metal options. My recommendation for the cheapest available DE in the UK would be a Wilkinson Sword Classic, available from Boots for £4.69.

It's a decent way to try out DE shaving for a very low price. Probably the best value DE razor easily found in the UK. You could also look into finding a vintage Gillette razor on eBay, such as the Superspeed. But I haven't been able to find these for much less than an Edwin Jagger.

The Wilkinson Sword, Omega brush and Proraso soap will cost £19.38. Drop that to £15.70 if you replace Proraso with Arko. You can add a few quid for blade samples, or just give the blades that come with the razor.

Ideally, a starter kit will also include an alum block, but that will probably push you past the £20 mark. A razor, brush, soap and blades are all the essentials covered. The kit I suggested is the only one I can think of which makes the minimum of concessions for £20 total. The razor is decent and can be easily upgraded if your friend likes the process. But the brush and soap don't need upgrading, Omega and Proraso are great regardless of budget.

Second the arko. Very budget and face friendly. You can get a lifetimes worth for $15-16 at the moment.