Welcome
How do I choose the best shaving bowl?
A good shaving bowl should retain heat, be shallow enough for the brush to touch the bottom, and accommodate the width of a foam-laden shaving brush. The depth of the shaving bowl should be approximately equivalent to a bowl of soup. A bowl that's too shallow makes it difficult to create a good foam, and it's a mess. A porcelain or stoneware shaving bowl is preferable because of its ability to retain heat. Shavers who fear dropping or breaking their bowls should look for one made of unbreakable material. View here for more info: Unbreakable Cereal Bowls Fiber Lightweight
Shaving bowls are non-essential accessories used in wet shaving, especially for those who shave with straight razors. While not absolutely necessary, a shaving bowl can make the shaving process easier and more enjoyable. Some shavers use only a bowl, mug or decanter, others use a mug or decanter in addition to a bowl.
A kettle is a mug with a spout, much like what is seen on a kettle. A cake, or disc, of shaving soap is placed around the neck of the knob, and hot water is poured into the spout to help heat and soften the soap disc.
A shaving brush can be inserted into the neck to warm and soften hot water. A shaving mug is similar to a hand mixer, except that it doesn't have a spout.
A shaving soap disc can be placed in the bottom of a shaving bowl or the bowl can be used strictly for lathering. In all cases, the shaver will shake the shaving brush on the surface of the disc to collect soap. Some shavers lather directly onto the disc, others build a lather directly onto the skin, still others use a separate bowl and work a lather into the bottom of the skin.
The shaving bowl must retain heat well and must be warmed up before use. There are several ways to heat a bowl, such as placing it on top of another bowl or mug filled with hot water, or it can be placed in a sink filled with hot water. Another common technique is to fill the bowl with hot water, place a shaving brush in it to soften the bristles, and then empty it for use. Heating the bowl allows it to gather enough heat to produce a warm froth. Warm shaving foam is used to curl your hair and allows for a closer, smoother and more comfortable shave.