A shaving brush and bowl set also referred to as a shave cup and brush, is a great tool for anyone looking to get a smooth comfortable shave. Using a lathered shaving soap or cream with a brush will perk up the hair on your face and make shaving a breeze. Typically, a shaving brush has a wooden or plastic handle and bristles made from badger hair, boar hair, horsehair, or even synthetic fibers. The bowl itself is can be made from any hard material such as plastic or metal.
Amazon and other retailers offer great shaving brush and bowl sets that have built-in safety razor stands. A great example of a complete set is the GBS Shaving Gift Set with Merkur Safety Razor, Bowl, Shaving Soap, Badger Brush, Stand. If you are newer to shaving with a safety razor and shaving brush and bowl, a quality kit including everything might be a great way to get started.
To use a shaving brush and bowl, start by wetting your brush. Note that if your brush is new you may want to fully drench and soak it for a few minutes before lathering to soften the bristles. Next, apply a small amount of soap or cream to your brush (I simply swipe some onto my brush from the container). Begin swirling your brush in your shaving bowl to work the cream to your desired consistency. If the lather is too thick, consider wetting your brush a tiny bit further and continue lathering. Finally, use your brush to apply the lather to your face in a circular motion to work it into your hair. Shave.
For an in-depth guide on using a shaving brush and bowl, continue reading. I have also included some great recommendations at the end of the post.
How to Use a Shaving Brush and Bowl
Wet your shaving brush
Start by wetting your shaving brush. If your shaving brush is new you will want to drench and soak it for a while before use to soften the bristles. Wetting the shaving brush is important because it allows you to work the thick shaving cream into a foamy lather. You do not want your brush to be dripping, however. Too much water can make your lather messy and thin. Do not skip this step.
Add Shaving Cream or Soap to Your Brush
Next, add some cream to your shaving brush. I prefer to simply swipe my brush lightly inside of the shaving cream container. Alternatively, you could apply your cream to the center of the bristles on your brush. Remember, a little of this type of shaving cream goes a long way when lathered.
Lather Using your Shaving Brush and Bowl
With the cream on your brush, begin swirling the cream in your shaving bowl to begin forming a rich lather. If your lather is too runny, you may have added too much water. Adding a small amount of cream will thicken it up. On the other hand, a lather that is too thick can be thinned by quickly passing your shaving brush under running water and continuing to work it in the bowl. After doing this a few times not only will you know how much cream and water to use, but also how thick or thin you prefer the lather to be.
Use Your Shaving Brush to Apply
Once you have a great lather worked up, begin applying it to your face using the brush in circular motions. Once your face is completely covered, give the lather a minute or two to soften your hair before shaving. I like to apply pre-shave oil made by Viking Revolution prior to applying my shaving lather, but this is completely my preference.
Shave
Begin shaving with your safety razor with the proper technique (30-degree angle, short strokes, with the grain). Be sure to tighten your skin using your free hand and rinse your blade often. Using a new blade every time ensures that it is always sharp and clean. If you are new to safety razors, you might want to check out my post on “How to Change Your Safety Razor Blade” or “How to Avoid Cutting Yourself with a Safety Razor” before you begin.
(Optional) Reapply Shaving Cream or Soap and Do a Second Pass Shave
An optional but highly recommended step to getting a great shave with a shave cup and brush is to reapply the cream and have a second go. Now I know it is almost counterintuitive to shave twice over the same area with a safety razor, but applying more cream should be sufficient in protecting your skin. A second pass on your face allows you to get any hairs you missed and even shave against the grain to get a super close and smooth shave.
Rinse and Clean your Shaving Brush and Bowl
When you finish shaving rinse and clean your shave cup and brush. Cleaning a shaving brush and bowl can be done with plain old water. Harsh cleaning agents may actually do more damage than good if your brush has natural fibers like horsehair. After a good rinse, thoroughly dry your shaving brush and bowl and reattach them to the stand if you opted for one. Always store these in a clean dry place.
Recommendations: Shaving Brush and Bowl Set
GBS Shaving Gift Set
The GBS Shaving Gift Set is an incredible deal because it comes with everything you need in one package. The set comes with a badger shaving brush, bowl, shaving soap, a Merkur safety razor, and a stand to hold it all neatly. If you are looking to get into this method of shaving, or are looking for a new set, this one is a perfect choice.
CCbeauty Shaving Kit for Men
The CCBeauty Shaving Kit for men is a very inexpensive set that has some great features to it. I purchased this shaving brush and bowl set as I already had a collection of safety razors, creams, and soaps. The main thing I like about this set is its size. This shaving brush and bowl set fits perfectly in my medicine cabinet and even has a safety razor stand for my Vikings Blade The Godfather. If you are in need of just a shaving brush and bowl, this set is perfect and very well priced.
Ditching Aerosol Shaving Cream
Let’s face it, mostly everyone learns to shave with aerosol-based shaving cream or gel. While these products are great for what they are intended for, they fall in comparison to a quality shaving brush and bowl set. Using a shaving brush and bowl takes only a few minutes of extra prep, but provides an exceptional shaving experience. After mastering the use of the brush and bowl, I threw my can of shaving gel in the trash and never looked back.
