A shaving bowl is a must-have tool for any man who is seeking a classic shave. It can help you get a good lather, provide clean passes with a safety razor, and avoid slip-ups.
With the best shaving bowl, you can easily control your shaving cream. However, not all shaving bowls are made equal.
If you choose a very small option, it will not allow you to make a good lather. If it’s too hard to hold or easily breaks down, it can lead to a frustrating morning.
This is why it is important to choose the right shaving bowl.
If you are wondering where to start in choosing a shaving bowl, we have got you covered.
Here is a buying guide and a review of the top 10 best options. Read on to make a wise buying decision.
Our Top 10 Pick Of The Best Shaving Bowls
After a lot of research, we settled on the following 10 best shaving bowls.
Akstore Men’s Durable Shave Mug Bowl – Best Budget Shaving Bowl
Features
- Size: 3.3 x 2.3 x 2.3 inches
- Material: Stainless steel
- Weight: 1.92 ounces
- Our ratings: 4.4 out of 5 stars
The Akstore mug bowl is a smooth and durable unit that is made of stainless steel.
Stainless steel has several benefits such as cleaning ease. It doesn’t break when it drops.
The bowl that also acts as a mug is the right size for use with the traditional shaving brush. It has dual-wall insulation that helps the cream/brush stay warm.
At the bottom of the mug is an anti-skid design that protects it from slipping. It has thick and well-finished edges that prevent any accidental slips.
The shaving mug isn’t meant to store your shaving soap as it’s a bit small (around three inches round, and two inches deep). It’s, therefore, more suitable for lathering your soaps and creams.
Customer review:
“I love this bowl as it makes it easy to make lather. However, I would have preferred it to have a bigger diameter.” –Brian, Salt Lake City.
Pros
- Sturdily-made
- Rust-resistant
- Good for lathering
- Stylish and classy design
- Double insulated walls keep your lather and brush warm
Con
- Doesn’t come with a lid
Verdict: If you are used to the traditional form of shaving, the Akstore mug bowl is the right option for you. It’s portable, making it a good option for travel. At its price point, it offers real value for money.
Viking Stainless Steel Shaving Soap Bowl– Lightest Shaving Bowl
Features
- Material: Stainless steel
- Weight: 7 ounces
- Dimensions: 3.46 x 3.39 x 2.44 inches
- Customer reviews: 4.6/5
Right out of the box, the first thing you will notice about the Viking Stainless steel shaving soap bowl is its small size and 2 pieces hollow design that makes it extremely light and a good option for travel.
It also has just the right weight for holding it in your hand.
The bowl is made of sturdy stainless steel with double-wall insulation to guarantee durability and keep your lather warm.
However, it has a deep and narrow design that makes it more difficult to do lathering.
Besides, its polished finish on the exterior and interior requires more effort to lather.
Pros
- Rust-proof
- Easy to clean
- Durable
- Great insulation
Cons
- Requires more effort to lather soaps
Verdict: The shaving bowl is sturdily made and will not rust, chip, or break. Overall, this is a great quality shaving bowl, especially for its price.
Henry Cavendish Gentleman’s Ceramic Shaving Soap Bowl – Easiest To Hold Shaving Bowl
Features
- Material: Ceramic
- Weight: 12 ounces
- Product Dimensions: 5 x 4 x 5 inches
- Our ratings: 4.6 out of 5 stars
The Henry Cavendish Gentleman’s Ceramic Shaving Soap Bowl is made of a highly durable ceramic with side handles that ensures easy moving of mid-shaves.
The size of the unit is big enough to enable you to lather enough for two to three pass shaves. The bowl that also acts as a mug offers a convenient way of storing the brush with the bristles down.
The bowl comes with the right size handle that enables users to get a firm grip on the mug even with wet hands.
The bowl is also well made and finished. It’s easy to clean, rinse, and dries quickly when stored.
The ceramic is very thick and has ample weight to it. The base of the bowl provides it with a firm grip on the surface.
Tip: You can add your preferred puck to bring the mug to the right depth and to use it with any size of a shaving brush. It can be put in a microwave to warm your shaving soap or melt it. The bowl can accommodate up to three packs of shaving soaps after melting.
Pros
- Made of durable ceramic
- Side handles enable easy moving in mid shaves
- The big size makes it suitable for lathering
- A convenient way of storing brush
Cons
- A bit heavy
Verdict: This is more of a shaving mug rather than a bowl. It is designed to be used in combination with a shaving puck.
Genuine Mango Wood Shaving Soap Bowl –Best Wooden Shaving Bowl
Features
- Material: Wood
- Weight: 2.4 ounces
- Dimensions: 5 x 4 x 2.1 inches
- Our ratings: 4.3 out of 5 Stars
If you are searching for an aesthetically pleasing wooden bowl, you should consider the Genuine Mango Wood Shaving Soap Bowl from Parker Safety Razor.
The shaving bowl is made of natural wood with a grainy finish providing it with a beautiful look.
The bowl has a high-quality finish that makes it waterproof. It comes with a lid that enables you to store your soap.
The unit is well vanished on the exterior adding to its durability. It’s big enough to fit a maximum of up to a three-inch soap puck.
Customer review:
“The bowl is sturdy and beautiful. It works great for making my shave soap.” – Ian.
Pros
- Beautiful and unique
- Great grip
- Sturdily-made
- Good for travel
Cons
- A bit shallow
Verdict: The shaving bowl has a handmade design that makes it a unique piece to your shaving collection. Overall, this is a great piece that will add a unique look to your bathroom.
QSHAVE Stainless Steel Shaving Bowl – Perfect For Traditional Shaving Brush
Features
- Material: Stainless steel
- Weight: 2.4 ounces
- Dimensions: 5 x 4 x 2.1 inches
- Our ratings: 4.3 out of 5 stars
The QSHAVE Stainless Steel Shaving Bowl is made of high-quality stainless steel with a silver finish that makes it durable and rust-resistant.
It features a lid that is also made of steel and fits loosely on its top. This makes it easy for users to lift it up.
The lid will keep your shaving soap and cream clean. However, it doesn’t fit snugly.
With an interior diameter of 4 inches, the shaving bowl provides enough room for creating lather without any spillages.
The shaving bowl is compatible with the different sizes of all the major lathering soaps. As long as you have a good brush, you can be assured of good lathering.
Pros
- The lid helps to keep dirt out
- Made of durable stainless steel
- Easy to clean
- Fairly easy to hold
Cons
- Unsuitable for travel
Verdict: The QSHAVE Stainless Steel Shaving Bowl is the perfect choice for use with the traditional shaving brush. It has dual-wall insulation that helps to keep the cream and brush warm. Since it’s made of plastic, it will not break when dropped. Cleaning the bowl is easy and all you need to do is to wipe it with a damp cloth.
CHARMMAN Shaving Soap & Cream Bowl –Most Rugged Shaving Bowl
Features
- Material: Ceramic
- Weight: 2.05 pounds
- Dimensions: 4.13 x 4.13 x 2.48 inches
- Customer review: 4.7 out of 5 stars
The CHARMMAN Shaving Soap & Cream Bowl is made of coarse granite and a rough texture that enables it to form a rich lather.
It features small ridges and grooves at the interior surface that enable it to create a foamy lather. The granite material makes it sturdy and also feels satisfying to hold.
The granite material that the unit is made of preserves heat well and helps to keep your shaving cream and soap warm. This helps to improve your shaving experience.
The bowl’s interior is slightly textured, enabling it to produce a rich lather.
Pros
- Solidly made
- Creates a rich lather
- Beautiful and stylish
- Well insulated
Cons
- It will easily break when it falls
Verdict: The CHARMMAN Shaving Soap & Cream Bowl has just but the right size to sit on a bathroom counter. While it’s a bit heavy, it can be hand-held. Apart from the grooved interior, the bowl has good finishing. Overall, this will make for a good gift item for a man.
Beau Brummell Solid Marble Shaving Soap Bowl – Most Elegant Shaving Bowl
Features
- Material: Marble
- Weight:1 pound
- Dimensions: 4.5 x 4.5 x 2.5 inches
- Our rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars.
Beau Brummell Solid Marble Shaving Soap Bowl is made of solid white marble and has a coarse texture on the inside that helps to create a rich lather when rotating your brush.
The bowl feels a bit heavy when held in the hand. The heavy marble helps to insulate the bowl and hold the heat well.
The unit is deep enough to submerge the bristles of a brush and create a rich, thick and luxurious lather.
It’s also small enough to fit in your hands and also in the bathroom cabinets.
The walls of the unit are 0.27 inches thick, providing it with enough insulation.
Pros
- Retains heat naturally
- Retains heat very well
- Grooved to create a rich lather
- Beautiful
Cons
- Breaks easily when dropped to the ground
- The bottom of the bowl is a bit slippery
Verdict: The natural coloring of this unit makes it beautiful. However, like any other marble product, you will need to be careful not to drop this marble or else it will break. But otherwise, it’s a great product that will not disappoint you.
Schone Stainless Steel Shaving Bowl –Best Travel Shaving Bowl
Features
- Material: Stainless steel
- Weight: 2.08 ounces
- Dimensions: 3 x 5 x 6 inches
- Our Ratings: 4.4 out of 5
If you need a big and affordable bowl that is made of stainless steel, you may want to consider the Schone bowl.
The unit comes with a lid that fits snugly, making it a great travel shaving bowl.
The bowl is beautifully crafted and looks good when placed on the bathroom counter. The side carvings help to keep the lather at the bottom and prevent it from moving to the top.
The unit also has a well-designed tip to help drag the lather from the side of the brush.
It features a flared bottom that allows users to lather inside the bowl without having to find a second bowl. The unit feels sturdy when held in the hand. To clean it, you only need to wipe it with a piece of cloth.
Pros
- Made of rust-resistant stainless steel
- Easy to clean
- Nice Chrome finish
- Fits in the hand very well
- The lid fits snugly
- Doesn’t break when dropped
Cons
- Doesn’t retain heat
- Gets hold in the hand
Verdict: The bowl is quite large allowing for a better buildup of the shaving cream. Its only downside is that it is not insulated and will, therefore, not retain heat. It also gets hot when held in the hand. But all in all, this is a good quality bowl that can make a great addition to your bathroom.
JaysClay Handmade Blue Pottery Shaving Bowl –Easiest To Clean Shaving Bowl
Features
- Material: Ceramic
- Dimensions: 5.3 x 5.2 x 5.1 inches
- Weight: 9.59 Ounces
- Our rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars.
The JaysClay Handmade Blue Pottery Shaving Bowl for Men is a ceramic shaving bowl that is made in the USA, making it a sturdily-made unit.
While ceramic is a fragile material, this bowl has a glassy texture that adds to its beauty.
The bowl features a swirl pattern at the bottom and pulled indentations on the interior that makes it suitable for lathering.
The sides of the bowl aren’t completely rounded but feature slight bumps that help when holding the bowl with your wet hands.
Pros
- Good for lathering
- Microwave and dishwasher safe
- Beautiful and unique
- Sturdily-made
Cons
- Break easily when it drops downs
- A bit heavy
Verdict: Overall, the JaysClay Handmade Blue Pottery Shaving Bowl for Men is a sturdily made unit that is beautiful. It works well with tube shave cream. It is also good in building lather from a hard shave or plucks shave cream. It’s easy to clean the unit. Simply rinse it and wipe with a dry piece of cloth.
SUPPLY Marble Shaving Bowl – Best Marble Shaving Bowl
Features
- Material: marble
- Dimensions: 3.94 x 3.94 x 1.97 inches
- Weight: 1.17 Pounds
- Our ratings: 4.6 out of 5 Star
The Supply Marble Shaving bowl is a great option for men who are searching for a bowl that is more beautiful than granite but don’t want a ceramic or steel option.
This is because it’s made of handcrafted white marble that gives it a clean and beautiful look.
Marble also works as a natural insulator enabling this bowl to hold a considerable amount of heat.
The bowl is manually textured on the interior. It features several layers of small rings that cut the side. This helps to increase the aeration and speed of lathering.
The outer walls of the bowl are smooth in particular when held in your hands. The unit is heavy enough and you don’t have to worry about the risk of slipping.
Customer review:
I love how it produces excellent lather. It’s also real marble-Solid and heavy. The only downside is that it doesn’t retain heat very well. –Julius.
Pros
- Made of beautiful white marble
- Lathers well due to the textured interior
- Comfortable to hold on the hands
- Holds a reasonable amount of eat
Cons
- A bit hard to clean
- The bottom is a bit narrow
Verdict: Even though marble will break just like ceramic when it drops to the floor, it’s relatively harder than the ceramic options. Therefore, this is a great shaving bowl for men who are searching for a sleek and natural unit to enable them to get a perfect shave.
4 Things To Consider When Buying A Shaving Bowl
There are several factors you should consider when choosing a shaving bowl. These include:
Size
You will want to ensure that you choose a bowl that is deep enough to hold the lather when whipping.
It should be wide enough so that it can comfortably hold your shave soap. Ensure that you choose a bowl that has a width of at least four inches to enable the brush to easily swirl without banging the sides.
It should also be at least three inches deep with sides that are a bit steep so that the shaving lather doesn’t pour out.
Plus, pay attention to the height of your shaving foam brush. If your brush is tall and the handle is long, choose a high edge fill and vice versa.
Material
Shaving bowls are usually made of a wide range of materials. These include:
- Ceramic
This is one of the best materials used in making shaving bowls. It holds heat better and allows you to shave with warm lather. However, it has a downside in that it’s a very fragile material and will break if it drops.
Ceramic is also resistant to stain and is effective in removing odors. Its downside is that it’s unsuitable for travel as it breaks easily.
- Metal
Metal doesn’t retain heat very well as compared to other materials such as ceramic or stone. However, these bowls will serve you well and are also worth considering.
Some of the metals that are commonly used in making shaving bowls are aluminum and steel. Stainless steel has advantages over steel as it’s durable and resistant to stain.
- Wood
Some bowls are made of wood. These options are usually very stylish. However, they are also not very good at retaining heat and are, therefore, unsuitable for working with hot water.
Other materials that are used in making bowls include stone, copper, chrome, and even silicone grade materials.
Purpose
Consider how you will be using it.
For instance, if you travel a lot, i-t’s advisable to choose a small bowl that is collapsible for ease of storage.
If you are a collector of shaving bowls, you can opt for ceramic or vintage options.
Design
There are various designs to choose from. These include fine, lined, hammered, and groovy designs.
Ensure that you choose a design that produces enough friction to create lather.
- Insulated: The material you choose should have enough insulation to keep the water and foam warm for longer.
- Lid: To protect your soap from dirt and dust, choose a bowl with a lid.
- Texture: The shaving bowl should have a texture that helps to produce a rich lather.
FAQs
Can you use any bowl for shaving soap?
Yes. You can use any kind of bowl for lathering.
However, it’s advisable to go for a bowl that is made specifically for shaving. This is because many options have a texture that helps to create a rich lather.
They are also the right size to comfortably hold in your hand.
What are the benefits of a shaving bowl during the paving process?
Using a shaving bowl works better than the traditional way of smearing canned cream.
You can use it to build the perfect soapy mix due to its wide mouths and lips that hold the lather. It also helps you to control the amount of lather they make.
Finally, by whipping up the shaving bowl of lather, you can keep it warm and safe when performing multiple passes.
What is the best material for a shaving bowl?
In our opinion, the best shaving bowls are those that are made of ceramic or stone. These tend to hold heat better allowing you to shave with warm lather.
Conclusion
A shaving bowl is a key essential for men who love the traditional shave. But with so many options out there, it can be hard to find the right option for you.
But with this list of the top 10 shaving bowls, you can be assured of a hassle-free shave.
Happy Shaving!
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