Hello. I have some confusions about shaving bowls. There are a lot on the market. I know that lather bowls https://www.captainschoicestore.com/all/cobalt-lather-bowl, https://www.westcoastshaving.com/Hand-Thrown-Lather-Bowl-Light-Blue_p_526.html are for creating shaving lather. Shaving scuttles https://www.westcoastshaving.com/sh...nd-thrown-shaving-scuttle-two-toned-blue.html are for soaking the brush in. What about the other bowls and mugs https://www.westcoastshaving.com/Col-Conk-Apothecary-Shave-Mug-119_p_73.html, https://www.westcoastshaving.com/Apothecary-Shaving-Mug-Black_p_2079.html? How do I know if a mug is for a cream or a soap?
There is, at least as far as I know, there is no certain bowl for either a cream or soap. I use a SS steel bowl(so if I drop it, it won't break) I got off of ebay for both. Some people prefer ceramic bowls with ridges or lines on the inner surface to help with making their lather. Scuttles help keep the lather warm. Some people like glass bowls or plastic coffee mugs. It's pretty much up to you and your likes or dislikes, there is no better or worse other than how it works for you.
All my bowls either have a soap in them or hold stuff. I don't use bowls to lather in. I also made lids for my bowls and mugs so I can stack them.
I use a hammered copper bowl for all lathers. Scoop soap/cream from the tub, smear in the bottom, and bowl lather. Finish on the face or head. Load triple milled soap directly from the puck lather in the bowl. There are some great ceramic bowls, but I don’t worry about dropping the metal bowl.
I had a Captain's Choice bowl (until I dropped it) and it worked wonderfully. Right now I'm using a Falsgraff (SP?) salsa bowl from Walmart. As long as I can make a lather I'm happy. Herm
Personal preference developed by practical experience. As much as I like Old Spice mugs I find them too small for making lather. They serve as an alternative soap puck holder the way Jim @Jayaruh uses them. He face lathers, so it's load from the mug and he skips the bowl. I like the consistent results I get from using a bowl and prefer a suribachi. It's a ceramic bowl with many fine ridges in a wide shallow shape. They fit my hand well in a 4-5 inch diameter. If I'm using a cream a shot straight into the bowl. With soft soaps or samples I might press a small quantity into the bowl to hold it still. Hard soaps present no issues - load the soap from it's container and make lather in the textured dish.
I prefer bowl lather - my Captain's Choice bowl has been great. They make a new one that is a bit larger than the one shown. However the small one is easy to hold and makes more than enough lather - even for a three pass shave.
Basically, any bowl that you use to shave with is a shaving bowl. I usually face lather, so use mugs to keep the soap handy. I think size is the determining factor for me. I have a few appropriate sized bowls dedicated to shaving. Some are cereal bowls, some are dessert bowls. I have used a Col. Conk scuttle for building a warm lather. But a self watering violet pot will work just as good or even better for a scuttle. There are many artisans that provide high end bowls, scuttles, and mugs. Try some and see what you like.
I dropped mine too. I have/had a whole bunch of bowls in different sizes/styles, and The Captain beat them all. It was a shame.
I have two bowls, one for soaking the brush, another that holds the soap. The soaking bowl is a bit too shallow for soaking, the soap bowl a bit too deep for lathering. It took me way too long to figure out the solution.
