Newbie shaving update.

Into my second week now and 5th shave using a Merkur 34c, Astra platinum blade, Palmolive stick soap. First 3 shaves were with a Merkur blade and I’ve now progressed to the Astra blade. Today’s shave was the first where I really thought I had a good lather on the brush but I’m always a little disappointed with the first pass of the razor WTG. Now wether that’s down to my technique or I’m expecting too much perhaps you guys can shed a little light. After a second and third pass across and against I end up with a very smooth and clean shave. Very satisfied and am really enjoying taking the time to have a proper shave.

What I’d really like to find now is a decent lathering bowl/cup but the prices for such seem ridiculous, not that I’m tight but I’d rather spend my hard earned on something else! So open to any and all suggestions. Do they need to have a texture inside or ridges to get a good lather?

Cheers,
Brendan.

Congrats Brendan.

You can make anything you have or like into a shaving bowl. I needed one here recently, so when I noticed some plastic baby bowls on sale in the local grocery store, I picked em up. Works great! And yes being plastic, I cut ridges inside of the bowl, but no, you don't need to. Find anything you can swirl in that will not slip out of your hands when wet, and you are good to go.

Personally speaking, I'm keeping an eye out for something stainless steel. This way if you put a bit of soap in it and place the bowl in hot water, it'll melt the cream - yum. Good luck

I don’t own an Aesop Shave Bowl, but they seem to get rave reviews from the guys that use them.

https://www.aesop.com/us/p/skin/shave/st...teel-bowl/

I use an SWK Freestyle Mug and I love it, comfortable in hand and I’m able to produce great lather in it. Not the cheapest, but I enjoy using it almost daily.

http://www.schwarzweisskeramik.de/enindex.html

I can get one of these at the farmers market. Fired to cone 10 and they just got new elements so it's the real deal, solid as a rock. Not sure if the market is going this weekend though. comes in Green, brown and a red. A lot of variance in pattern and color. Very affordable.

I don’t own an Aesop Shave Bowl, but they seem to get rave reviews from the guys that use them.

https://www.aesop.com/us/p/skin/shave/st...teel-bowl/

I use an SWK Freestyle Mug and I love it, comfortable in hand and I’m able to produce great lather in it. Not the cheapest, but I enjoy using it almost daily.

http://www.schwarzweisskeramik.de/enindex.html

I have an Aesop Bowl. It whips up a great lather. I love it.

But I can't say with an honest face that it is better at making lather than a regular cereal bowl :/

But it is cool, looks awesome. So ...

I don’t own an Aesop Shave Bowl, but they seem to get rave reviews from the guys that use them.

https://www.aesop.com/us/p/skin/shave/st...teel-bowl/

I use an SWK Freestyle Mug and I love it, comfortable in hand and I’m able to produce great lather in it. Not the cheapest, but I enjoy using it almost daily.

http://www.schwarzweisskeramik.de/enindex.html

I have an Aesop Bowl. It whips up a great lather. I love it.

But I can't say with an honest face that it is better at making lather than a regular cereal bowl :/

But it is cool, looks awesome. So ...

That’s a good point and I agree with you. I can get just as good a lather palm lathering as I do with the SWK. I was just trying to throw out a couple of different options for the OP.

Our bowl.
http://blacktierazorcompany.com/stainles...ving-bowl/


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Thanks for the replies and some good ideas and tips here. I reckon I need to keep my eyes widen my search and perhaps look for a ceramic bowl as for some reason I don’t fancy a stainless steel one.

I've seen folks use a $1 salsa bowl and add a bit of texture by sanding the inside. Good luck with everything!

I've seen folks use a $1 salsa bowl and add a bit of texture by sanding the inside. Good luck with everything!

This is a good idea. However, any bowl will work, appropriately. You don't need a special bowl of any kind.
Good luck and have fun.