When we set out to design the Brousseau & Dov shaving bowl, we assumed it would be simple. After all, it’s just a bowl. But we quickly learned otherwise, and trying to balance performance with elegance became a challenge we couldn’t resist.

The bowl was designed to be hand-held, with proportions that make it intuitive and comfortable in daily use. We wanted a bowl as refined as it was functional, something that would pair with top-of-the-line razors and brushes, yet feel at home with humbler tools of the trade. Above all, we wanted to create something truly special, not just another accessory, but a shaving bowl that feels good in the hand, works beautifully, and brings a little joy to your routine.

Our design journey began with studying the fundamentals. Lather, which is mostly water, flows wherever it encounters least resistance. We found that even the smallest contour changes influenced the bowl’s performance. It needed steep sidewalls to contain lather, but most of those shapes didn’t make for an attractive design. We also needed to minimize brush-to-bowl contact to protect brush handles, but a shallower bowl required a more thoughtful approach to the artwork. Even the rim, a seemingly minor detail, posed a challenge. If it curved outward too far, lather spilled over the edge too easily. Every decision, no matter how small, became part of the puzzle.