Good point Ischi! A taller bowl with a shorter brush equals a difficult lather! I like taller brushes with a bowl, and shorter brushes for face lathering. - Bax
The engraving adds a bit of flair as well, Joseph. I checked the reviews, and this bowl gets a lot of pawsitive feedbark.
I like clanging my brush in my apothecary mug. However, all my bowls were from Dollar Tree and a Catholic Thrift Shop all cost me a little over a buck, except my porcelain bowl which was $2.75. Here's the lather from one of my plastic Dollar Tree bowls: In my opinion, expensive shaving bowls are a rip off.
I agree. I prefer FL, because It works better for skin. In my opinion, mug or bowl is not necessary ... or just for charging the soap.
Face lathering and Bowl lathering are personal preferences. Both methods work equally well. Let's quote @swarden43 "It's your shave; have it your way".
Yes, if the target is the lather. Nope, if the target is the skin. I switched from BL to FL. My skin is healtier.
Why would it make a difference? If you say it's because you're swirling the brush around your face to generate the lather... I whip up my lather in a bowl, then proceed swirl the brush around my face to help spread the lather around, then paint the lather on a bit to get it just how I want it.
Vintage alternative to either a mug or bowl. The real trick is finding one that will accommodate modern brush sizes (most of those were made in the 70's and 80's, and aren't as common as the smaller ones made in the late 1800's and early 1900's). They serve no modern practical purpose, but are fun to use.
Exfoliation. In the end, yes. With (almost) no exfoliation, as in BL technique. I've done for almost a decade, as teached me at first. Building the lather (circular motions, 1st stage) makes the exfoliation. Lateral motions (painting, 2nd stage) is just to control and uniform the layer. Again, simple Physics.
Yes, I'm. Thanks. ... and I'm healtier too. Almost no rush back of my dermatitis in the last decades!!!
Actually, they do. Modern formulas has often hard butter and waxes. A good steam can help blooming the soap. Much better than just a little water layer. But I prefer using the sink. Full of warm water (60°C from the tap). I find it easier and faster.
I have no data, but I can figure that any time a brush hits the face there's going to be some exfoliating going on, be it from bowl lather or face lather. Guess how much you'll achieve is determined by what the brush is made of, how stiff the bristles or hairs are, how long you scrub, and how hard you're scrubbing.