The shaving bowl - why you should use one
The shaving bowl is an important component of your daily beard care. It is used to lather your shaving soap with a shaving brush. You are probably wondering why you can't just use any conventional bowl. This is partly due to the shape of the shaving bowl. Shaving soap fits perfectly inside without slipping. When you start lathering the shaving foam, it happens much faster than if you were using a plastic bowl. That is why you should definitely use a shaving bowl.
In addition, the material of a shaving bowl is very smooth. This has the advantage of creating less friction when lathering. As a result, the foam becomes much creamier and you have your perfect shaving cream for wet shaving in no time at all. Furthermore, it makes your beard care kit a real eye-catcher when you store your soap in the vintage shaving bowl.
However, the shaving bowl has another function besides lathering the soap. It is very suitable for removing soap residue from your shaving brush. To do this, simply add some warm water with a mild shampoo to the shaving bowl and let the brush soak in it for about 30 minutes. It should definitely not be left for longer, as the shampoo can damage the bristles. And if your handle is made of wood, it can soak up water. The shaving bowl is therefore more than just a tool for your soap - it can also be very helpful for maintenance.
How to achieve perfect foam with a shaving bowl
Preparing shaving soap is very easy. For wet shaving, in addition to the bowl, you need a soap and a shaving brush of your choice. Often, the shaving bowl is available in a set with the other utensils. This way, you don't have to worry about anything missing. In addition, all components also match visually. First, place the solid shaving soap into your shaving bowl. Then, moisten your brush slightly under running tap water and also add some water to the soap. How much you need is something you will figure out after a few shaves. Generally, the rule is: the more water you use, the thinner the shaving foam becomes. If the soap does not start to foam at all, you should use more water.
Now, start lathering the soap with the brush using circular motions. Within a few seconds, the formation of bubbles in the shaving foam should already be visible. Afterwards, you can remove the soap from the bowl and continue stirring with the foam that has already formed in the bowl. After about 45-60 seconds, you should have reached the ideal consistency. Now the shaving cream is ready to be applied to your face. You should not be sparing here. If you have already shaved off the foam, you should lather the corresponding area of your face again with the shaving cream so that the wet razor can glide gently over your skin.
Why you should exclusively use a stainless steel shaving bowl
The selection of shaving bowls is very large. This is due, among other things, to their different properties. The first point when buying a shaving bowl should be the size. If your shaving bowl is too large, your soap will not have any grip and will slide back and forth. If it is too small, the foam can run out of the shaving bowl. We therefore recommend a diameter of 8-12 cm and a height between 3-8 cm. The most important aspect, however, is the material from which the shaving bowl is made. These are mainly available in plastic, porcelain, stainless steel, or Indian water buffalo horn.
We would advise against a plastic shaving bowl most of all. You can buy them very cheaply starting from €5. However, you will notice this very quickly in the quality and the lathering properties. Due to the rough structure of the plastic, a lot of friction is generated. As a result, it takes longer to lather the shaving cream and the consistency is not as firm. The stainless steel or porcelain shaving bowl has a very smooth surface, so the shaving foam can be whipped up quickly. Both shaving bowls are easy to clean. This ensures you will enjoy them for a long time during wet shaving.
The top class of shaving bowls is made of water buffalo horn. This shaving bowl is a bit more expensive, but it also offers a corresponding quality. The surface is very smooth and is therefore ideal for lathering the shaving soap. However, if you are a vegan, this shaving bowl is not suitable for you, as the horn of the water buffalo is used for production. As you can see, it is not that easy to find a good shaving bowl. You can only succeed by testing shaving bowls of different materials and sizes. We most highly recommend a shaving bowl made of stainless steel or porcelain. These are very easy to maintain and offer good lathering properties at an affordable price.