Shaving Bowls.... Gentlemen your thoughts.

[Shaverraver666]

Jolly good day Gentlemen,

One was contemplating (musing if you will) on the significance of the shaving bowl within our respective and I'm sure cherished shave rituals.
And now I turn to you fine fellows here at B&B for your thoughts, opinions and recommendations...what works best for you?
From the humble Coffee cup to the ergonomically designed Stainless steel shaving bowl, I ask you what you use and why?
Also, I was wondering if it was acceptable and efficient to build your lather in a plastic bowl or container??

The reason I ask this is due to an unforeseen calamity which involved my particular ceramic shaving vessel meeting an untimely end!

Many thanks in advance,

Ct Petherington Fletcher

[NurseMedic]

I personally use(d) a dollar-store ceramic latte mug. I would put my brush in my mug and the whole thing in the sink and run the hottest possible water until the mug was totally submerged. Then, take a shower. Apres-shower, the mug would be nice and warm and usually remain so throughout the shave, keeping the lather nicely warmed. This is the best possible reason I can think of to avoid plastic: it won't hold heat long enough. However, that's just for my particular method. YMMV.Mike in Colorado

[squatzilla801]

I see no reason for you to type in that fake accent.....


On a more serious note, I use a stainless steel shaving bowl. It's a good size and I mostly favor its appearance over other choices. I'm starting to desire something that holds heat better so I'm considering a ceramic scuttle. As far as a plastic bowl, I think lather can be built effectively in any medium but the fact that it is plastic makes me think it would not hold heat well and probably is not very visually appealing.

Jolly good day Gentlemen,

One was contemplating (musing if you will) on the significance of the shaving bowl within our respective and I'm sure cherished shave rituals.
And now I turn to you fine fellows here at B&B for your thoughts, opinions and recommendations...what works best for you?
From the humble Coffee cup to the ergonomically designed Stainless steel shaving bowl, I ask you what you use and why?
Also, I was wondering if it was acceptable and efficient to build your lather in a plastic bowl or container??

The reason I ask this is due to an unforeseen calamity which involved my particular ceramic shaving vessel meeting an untimely end!

Many thanks in advance,

Ct Petherington Fletcher

[ShaunOz]

I am inclined to go with ceramic for heat-retention purposes. I have an old dice tumbler (boxwood) which is scored on the inside to catch the dice better and therefore function better as a tumbler...if you see what I mean. Now, my thoughts lately have been thinking it might be useful if the inside of a lathering bowl were ridged in the same way, to make make latering a little easier/better? I am not sure. It calls for experiment. The other thought I had was that a bowl inclined back toward the centre, slightly, near to the rim, might help prevent the lather from spilling over? Just a thought. I cuurently use three bowls, only one of which was designed as a shaving bowl. The others are just well suited to the purpose; beautiful old British heavier type ceramic bowls - plain, understated, off-white and, IMO, elegant. I rescued them from second-hand stores.

[aceinyerface]

I personally use(d) a dollar-store ceramic latte mug. I would put my brush in my mug and the whole thing in the sink and run the hottest possible water until the mug was totally submerged. Then, take a shower.

Exactly the same here. Those large Starbucks style cappuccino/latte/soup bowl style mugs with a handle are perfect. I did figure out that I like sticks and face lathering, but for creams, I still use it.

For the time being, that is. Robert Becker is making me a scuttle, will be roughly the same size, though.

*perfect opportunity for a gratuitous scuttle porn shot*

[deruitem]

I dont see the bowl or mug making an impact on your shave. Hot lather feels nice but any temp works (almost). I do like looking at some of the fancy colorful scuttles and bowls. I use an old stainless mixing bowl about 5 inches in dia. I used super glue to make some ridges in a swirl patthern and it seems to make lathering a little easier. Not that I needed to do it but hey its fun to try new things.

[johnniegold]

I lather almost exclusively with soap, building lather directly from the puck and then placing the brush in the Moss Scuttle. On the rare occasion when I do use a cream, I build the lather in an Ayars bowl.

[razzerx]

Just found this for three bucks.
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[ShaunOz]

Just found this for three bucks.
[IMG][[IMG]

You found a $2 bill for $3? You were ripped off, man.

[kzoo1]

No bowls or mugs here. Face lather all the time. I do however soak my brush in a plastic "dixie" cup.

No reason to over think it.

[rockviper]

I normally face lather, but last week I picked up this cup'n'bowl set (bought last November) from Dave @ Benton Clay. In addition to looking snazzy, the bowl lathers up a storm.

For sizing purposes, the bush is a Berkeley which was lightly loaded with Arko.

[brucea]

I started out using a coffee mug. Now I use an empty TOBS container, It screws shut so no worries about the soap falling to the floor if anybody from my family messes with it and it is much easier to use than a coffee mug and gives better lather.

[takeshi]

And now I turn to you fine fellows here at B&B for your thoughts, opinions and recommendations...what works best for you?
From the humble Coffee cup to the ergonomically designed Stainless steel shaving bowl, I ask you what you use and why?
Also, I was wondering if it was acceptable and efficient to build your lather in a plastic bowl or container??

Don't use one myself as I face lather as well. Like anything else here, YMMV. If plastic works for you then use it.

[Songwind]

I've been using a cereal bowl. Small enough for me to palm it, but large enough to get a good range of motion on the brush.

[Rob72]

I began my not-from-the-can shaves with face lather, but found it to be more mess than a bowl. I'll get pics, eventually, but I have a $0.50 hand-thrown ceramic bowl, coarse finish and glaze, off-white, with 5 convenient indentations around the base that provide both ridges and grip. I like thrift/second-hand store finds for their eccentricity.

[DavidP]

Another face-latherer here. I used a mug once upon a time but didn't like the extra piece to rinse and I can build better lathers by feeling it on my face.

However, I think you should use whatever makes you happy. Some might enjoy the frugality and practicality of a plastic bowl while others enjoy the luxury and craftsmanship of a hand-thrown scuttle. As they say here, "whatever floats your boat"!

[arm017]

For me, I have been on an epic journey to find my ultimate lather bowl. I started with a muhle lather bowl that was just a bit too small and lather would come over the sides, then I moved to a large soup bowl that was just too deep and lead to a lot of clanking. After that I finally found in my cabinet a clear small bowl that we got for a dollar. It has been heaven for me. I was ecstatic to find it. For me it is about shape. It took me a while to find the goldie locks shape.

[TonyBrown]

I've got a bowl, tiny mug for loading product, and also face lather on occasion. the green bowl my wife had in the basement in storage (it was a decorative piece), not perfect, but big/wide enough to avoid clanking and small enough to not be a PITA, the lip on the edge allows for a place to rest the brush. for reference, that coffee cup is similar in size to one you'd find in a fine china set, only maybe 2-2.5" tall, not like your typical daily use coffee mug that approaches 3.5-4" (or more). I may try a bowl or scuttle someday, but that green bowl sitting in a sink of hot water keeps my lather/brush warm nicely and the price was right on it

[Useless shaver]

Sorry to hear about your disgrace!

Personally I've never used such a thing: I'm a convinced face-lather, though somehow I miss the chance to use another part of shaving gear!

[ackvil]

I use my Robert Becker scuttle. Works great.