Is a shaving soap or a canned gel better for a close shave?

It depends on your routine. Traditional soaps and creams (like Proraso, Viking Revolution, or The Art of Shaving) require a brush and a few minutes to build lather but tend to deliver more cushion and slickness that wet-shaving enthusiasts prize. Aerosol gels (Gillette, Edge, Harry's) are faster and more convenient for everyday cartridge shaving. Across the verified-purchase reviews we read, both camps post very high satisfaction ratings, so the choice comes down to how much time and gear you want to invest.