Premium Ceramic Shaving Scuttle Mug (Black) - Handmade Shave Bowl for Hot Lather, Barbershop Quality Shaving at Home - Perfect Gift for Men, Father's Day & Grooming Enthusiasts - Ideal for Daily Shaving Routine & Luxury Self-Care Moments

At 80 years old I decided to try using a brush, bowl and all that stuff. So, I went crazy and bought several kinds of soaps and creams and post-shaving balms! I found mention of "scuttle bowls" in YouTube clips on shaving with soaps, and decided to buy one. This one looked like the one used in one of the YouTube clips, so I bought it. The directions say to fill the scuttle bowl up with water and microwave it for 3 minutes. Not a great idea!! I did that and carried it by the handle into the bathroom, and got some cream on the brush and grabbed the bowl by the handle to whip up a lather, and almost dropped the whole thing. It was HOT! You're saying, "Duh, you had scalding water in it, so what did you expect?" You're right, but it didn't cross my mind. After whipping up a lather in the bowl I applied it to my face and found that the hot water in the double hull really heats the brush and the lather to a degree that's just on the edge of uncomfortable.So, here's my recommendation. Buy this scuttle bowl as it will keep your lather hot and you can whip up a nice lather in it from cream. But, don't follow the directions about that 3 minute stuff. Try a lot less than that, unless you enjoy really HOT lather, and don't try to pick it up by the handle after sitting for a few minutes if you do the 3 minute nuke. The heat transfers very well to the handle. Other than using some common sense to use it, this is a great product and I thoroughly recommend it and will use it, but with cooler water. Wuss that I am!Hey!This entry is later. This morning when I shaved, I used the hottest hot water I could get out of the tap to fill my scuttle bowl with. It was heaven. The lather was hot, but not uncomfortably so, and stayed hot in the scuttle, as did my brush. It was really wonderful. Even without the "lava" water from the first time, I was able to whip up a really great lather with my brush. I was able to whip up a much richer, thicker lather using the scuttle than I ever was able to using a stainless steel bowl. I double down on my recommendation to buy this scuttle bowl. You will love it! I'm thinking of buying another one in case I break this one.Third entry: I forgot I had written a review on this bowl and came back to write it and found my two exuberant entries above. I used the scuttle bowl this morning again and I think the entries above are understated if anything. This is a great little product. On the hot water--I simply run the hot water in my sink until it's too hot to run over my hand. That's when I get the scuttle bowl and fill it up, and put the cork in it. You don't need to waste energy microwaving the bowl. Happy shaving!!