9 Best Shave Bowls

1. AKStore Men’s Durable Shave Soap Cup (Best Budget)

Editor’s Rating: 4.8/5.0

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AK Store’s shaving bowl is a variation on a classic design. Relatively simplistic, it’s just a stainless steel bowl, this is one of those products that’s minimalism serves its purpose exceptionally well. We recommend this version of the shaving bowl for men with modern bathrooms, who prefer minimal designs, or who like the classic look of traditional barber equipment.

It’s a reasonable choice for men who like a cold lather and men who prefer to shave with warm shaving cream. Double-walled for superior insulation, it will keep your lather the same temperature for more than long enough to finish your shave.

Simply start with water slightly warmer than you want your lather to be, since you’ll lose some heat while you whip the soap into a lather, and you’re good to go.

We will say that this shaving bowl has one weakness in that it’s smooth on the inside. A little e inner texture helps your soap bar stick and improves the quality of your lather.

But that smooth design means it’s easy to clean this bowl out if you ever change the shape or scent of your shaving cream. The stainless steel is bacteria resistant and will help make sure your face is always fresh and clean after shaving.

Some things just work. They’re simple, straight forward, and effective. Ak Store’s shaving soap cup is one of those things.

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2. CHARMMAN Shaving Bowl for Men (Top Pick)

Editor’s Rating: 4.8/5.0

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If you’re looking for something that looks a little more natural, a little more personal, the Charmman granite shaving bowl may be a good choice.

Still a utilitarian tool, designed to fit easily in your hand and hold standard shaving cream bars, the granite lends an earthy elegance stainless steel bowls simply don’t have.

Made from small-grain black and white granite, the Charmman is a little more decorative. But it’ll still fit into modern design bathrooms, and even next to chrome accessories and room details.

The granite can break if you accidentally drop it on to a hard surface, but it’s unlikely. For the most part, the stone is solid, and the hand milling process helps ensure durability.

Plus, the slight natural texture of the granite on the outside helps make it easier to hold on to the bowl while you shave. The inner texture, where the bowl has been milled for added tooth, helps build up a quick lather.

Fortunately, neither the natural texture nor the added texture on the inside, make it difficult to clean this bowl. If you decide to switch products, all you’ll need to clean out your bowl is some warm water and a washcloth.

While this bowl comes in three ‘colors’, all three options look very similar. They are slightly different granites, but that’s about it. That said, we don’t think a lot of options are necessary for a shaving bowl that balances natural and modern aesthetics so neatly.

One major bonus of this shaving bowl is that it is naturally insulated. If you prefer a hot shave, add hot water and the granite will hold that heat until you’re done.

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3. Jays Clay Handmade Shaving Bowl

Editor’s Rating: 4.6/5.0

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Ceramic bowls, generally the most fragile material for a shave bowl, offer a lot of customization and a few other benefits. Heavier than steel, lighter than stone, with a pleasant glassy texture and custom-interior texture for lathering, these bowls are among the most decorative and personal options.

While we’ve selected the blue version of Jays Clays basic shaving bowl, there are a variety of colors. If you’re looking to give a shaving bowl as a gift, these are a good choice.

Like many ceramic goods, these bowls look modern and ancient at the same time. They require a little care since ceramics often break when dropped. They can be vivid and bright, earthy and toned down, or sleek and modern.

Ceramic and glaze hold heat incredibly well. It’s also fully microwavable, which means you can pre-heat the bowl easily and don’t have to rely on hot water to create a hot lather.

It’s also a good size for most hands and for creating a thick lather. The ceramic is smooth enough to clean easily, while decorative dips and other textures have been added to help lather quickly.

Plus, the ceramic is dishwasher safe. That’s the easiest cleaning cycle you’ll ever have on a shaving bowl.

While these are a handmade item, meaning each one is unique, Jays Clays does say that each bowl is about 3 inches tall and 4.25 inches wide. That’s wide enough for most standard shaving cream pucks and tall enough to contain even the most aggressive lathers.

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4. VIKINGS BLADE The Chairman Luxury Shaving Bowl

Editor’s Rating: 4.7/5.0

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Vikings Blade has made a name for themselves in the shaving world. They have almost a complete line or dry and wet shaving products, as well as a large line of beard care products, so they can tend to your every facial hair need.

It should be no surprise that they have created a high-quality, unique, steel shaving bowl.

Vikings Blade products are durable and long-lasting. This steel bowl is no exception. A single-walled bowl, the steel is heavy-duty and unlikely to dent or scratch. Our one major complaint is that it doesn’t hold heat very well. Since the steel isn’t well insulated, it heats and cools quickly.

But you can use slightly hotter water to compensate and still achieve a reasonably hot shave.

Where this shaving bowl really stands out is the micro-texture on the walls. While it doesn’t resemble a chrome bowl, neither does it look like it’s a rough metal finish.

Vikings has pioneered a new way of texturing their steel bowls so that you get an incredible lather with less work. The micro-texture feels reasonably smooth and cleans easily. But you’ll get a lather like a stone or ceramic bowl in this durable steel version.

The bottom of this bowl is closely fitted to most shave pucks. Instead of using a textured bottom to hold the shaving cream in place, this bowl uses almost vertical walls to hold the puck in place. That means it takes slightly different lathering technique, but you don’t have to worry about the puck sliding out onto the counter, or worse, across the bathroom floor.

Overall, we like that Vikings is creating a variation on the classic steel shaving bowl that improves on the original without sacrificing its strengths.

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5. SUPPLY Marble Shaving Bowl

Editor’s Rating: 4.4/5.0

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Another stone bowl option, the Supply Marble shaving bowl is a good option for men who are looking for something a little sleeker than granite but want to get away from steel or ceramic options. Made from all-white marble, this shaving bowl is clean and attractive.

Marble is also a better natural insulator for warm shaving. It’ll hold an impressive amount of heat and delivers that heat back into your lather so you can reap all the benefits of a warm shave. That includes a closer shave, better skin health, improved skin moisture.

The inner side of the bowl is manually textured. It has several layers of thin rings cut into the side. That will improve aeration and lathering speed, making it easier to lather on the go.

The smooth outer wall feels especially comfortable in your hands. It’s heavy enough you don’t have to worry about easy slippage. While marble, like granite, can break if it has a hard impact or is dropped, it’s still less likely to break than a ceramic version.

Overall, we think that this is a great option if you’re looking for a sleek, natural, and effective shaving bowl.

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6. Anself Wooden Shaving Soap Bowl

Editor’s Rating: 4.6/5.0

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The only wooden shaving bowl on our list, this is a great choice for men who are less interested in hot shaving, but who are looking for a solid utilitarian shaving bowl.

Wood is a lovely addition to any shaving set. These bowls match the warm wood grain handles on many shaving brushes, creating a cohesive total look for your shaving accessories.

This wooden shaving bowl is also much more lightweight than other materials. That’s a huge benefit for men with wrist or hand problems like carpal tunnel. Just because your hands need something a little different doesn’t mean you have to give up the feeling of a high-quality, old fashioned, shave.

The wood is also water-resistant, which prevents the grain from lifting or warping with continued use. You do want to store it mostly dry, and out of the sun. That makes this a better shaving bowl for tubed shaving creams vs a traditional shaving puck. You want to use this bowl to lather your shaving cream, but not necessarily to store it.

This is a good choice for men who are looking to slow down a little and enjoy the good things in life. With a warm glow made from an attractive fine-grain woods, this bowl looks and feels as nice as ceramic and stone alternatives, but with less than half the weight.

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7. QSHAVE Shaving Scuttle Mug (Best Value)

Editor’s Rating: 4.9/5.0

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A slightly different design, scuttles are the ultimate in hot-shave design. Shaped a bit like an old-fashioned tea kettle, these mugs help build up a huge lather while also holding hot water in a second inner bowl to increase the temperature.

Instead of insulation, scuttles actively increase the temperature of your lather.

These are almost universally ceramic since you can use hotter water without risk of burning your hand or heat shocking the scuttle.

They’re also an attractive shaving accessory that cannot be mistaken for anything else. Having a scuttle says that you’re committed to enjoying the little luxuries in life, understand what quality is, and have committed time and energy to your grooming routine.

Scuttles are a fantastic gift since they offer a more luxurious experience than a simple shave bowl. The scuttle can also be used without hot water for a simpler shaving routine.

There are several colors of this scuttle, but we’ve gone with classic and attractive glossy black. This neutral color is a wonderful gift and a good addition to any classic shave set.

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8. Jays Clay Wax Resist Ceramic Shaving Bowl

Editor’s Rating: 4.7/5.0

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Another ceramic option, this wax resist shaving bowl is a good option for men who appreciate the finer things in life but are also looking for a lot of individuality and uniqueness.

Wax resist ceramics are always unique since the interaction between the wax and the glaze is slightly different each time. This is a good present if you’re looking for something handmade in the USA, and a truly unique gift for a loved one.

The wax resist also serves a practical purpose, adding more texture and grip points on to the outside of the standard Jays Clays shaving bowl.

Also available in a wide variety of colors, you can make sure the bowl you get is something your loved one will appreciate.

The inner glaze work on this version is also more brightly colored and enhances the texture and patterns in the clay.

With an inside diameter just under 4 inches, you’re covered for most shaving cream puck sizes, while also getting all the benefits of a ceramic shaving bowl.

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9. Schöne Stainless Steel Shaving Bowl with Lid

Editor’s Rating: 4.5/5.0

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For the last shaving bowl on our list, we wanted to include at least one shaving bowl with a lid.

Lidded bowls work best for shared bathroom spaces and crowded bathroom spaces. The last thing you want is hair, makeup, or other contaminants making it into your shaving cream before you lather.

The Schone stainless steel bowl is a classic chrome design, attractive in modern bathrooms and easy to clean and maintain.

Although the lid adds an extra sanitary element, these bowls aren’t the best for a hot shave.

That said, the total design is incredibly durable and long-lasting. The finish is scratch-resistant. It’s also smooth and easy to clean and maintain.

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