Tobacco heads - This is how you keep track of the chaos in your head

Keeping track of all the different shisha heads on the market is sometimes not that easy. But finding the right bowl is essential for a good shisha session. Because the tobacco bowl is the heart of every shisha. This is where the entire combustion process takes place, which is crucial for true shisha enjoyment. Here you can find out how shisha heads differ in material and structure and what advantages and disadvantages they have. When it comes to the structure of tobacco bowls, there are two basic types: heads in which the smoke runs vertically, as is the case with clay bowls, and those in which it runs horizontally, which is the case with phunnels. Heads with a vertical structure are usually smoked with a chimney attachment, whereas those with a horizontal structure should be used with aluminum foil or an HMD attachment .

Clay head with chimney attachment: The classic one

The clay bowl is still the most common tobacco bowl and is considered a real classic for shisha . The great popularity of the multi-hole head can be attributed primarily to the fact that it harmonizes so well with the chimney attachment, but can also be used in a variety of ways in combination with aluminum foil or an HMD attachment. This versatility makes the clay head the ideal shisha head for beginners. Building the head is uncomplicated and almost always successful, especially with the fireplace . The disadvantages of the clay head can be found in the structure and material: The holes can quickly become clogged with tobacco and the material is usually unglazed and therefore porous, which means that it absorbs molasses that comes out of the tobacco when smoking and then excretes it again at some point, which is also often referred to as " “bleed” is called. This results in the clay head being difficult to clean and not lasting as long as other shisha heads. But with the Dschinni Seflex these problems can be easily solved, which is why the advantages clearly outweigh the disadvantages: tape heads are inexpensive, have a high heat tolerance, are compatible with all kinds of attachments and are also extremely beginner-friendly. When using a chimney attachment, you should make sure that it is made of food-safe stainless steel, as is the case with all Genie chimney attachments. Fireplace attachments are often made of chrome-plated sheet metal. During such processing, the chrome layer can come off due to the hot shisha charcoal and be inhaled, which can be very dangerous.

Fireclay head: The all-rounder

The fireclay head is characterized by its exceptional thermal properties. The natural material is also often used in pizza ovens, so it is not surprising that fireclay is also ideal for shisha bowls . Although a fireclay head takes a little longer to heat up than conventional heads, it retains heat much better and thus creates a constant temperature in the head. This makes smoking shisha a lot more pleasant and relaxing. Our Genie fireclay heads are even additionally glazed, which means you can keep your fireclay head for even longer.

Glass head: practical and elegant

Glass heads are particularly beautiful to look at and also have some advantageous properties. But be careful: they should only be used in conjunction with a Seflex! The advantage of glass is that it cannot absorb molasses, which means no taste residue remains in the head. So you can use the same bowl for each type of tobacco . Especially with the Seflex, starting a smoke is very easy and the draw is always optimal. Since glass is transparent, you can see all impurities and can always clean your glass head thoroughly, which is very easy due to the smooth surface. The only disadvantage: Glass is of course not as robust as other materials, which is why you should pay a little more attention to your head. But if you want an extremely hygienic head with a great look, our Nero glass head is just the thing for you. You can also smoke our Dschinni Aso glass bowl with a mod. The mod serves as a small attachment to cover the phunnel hole and has several air inlets. In this way, the hot air is redirected when smoking so that all layers of tobacco are reached to the bottom of the bowl. This means your tobacco will burn much more efficiently.

Vortex head: For an intense taste

The Vortex is basically a converted phunnel . It differs from conventional phunnels in that the hole is closed at the top and has small openings on the sides. These holes ensure that the aluminum foil is not sucked in, which means that the passage is not hindered. This creates a more intense taste and better smoke development. However, the vortex also heats up very strongly, which is why it is best suited for slightly coarser, heat-resistant shisha tobacco .

Chinahead: Cheap head, poor performance

As the name suggests, the Chinahead has its origins in China. It consists of a porcelain mixture and is not made by hand, but rather industrially pressed into a mold. Due to the material and method of production, the Chinahead is very cheap and is often included in standard sets, but the thermal properties leave a lot to be desired. The material overheats quickly, which means the tobacco burns faster. This results in a significant loss in smoking time and taste experience.

Stone Head: The Robust One

Stone heads have the same shape as clay heads, but they have smaller pores and therefore absorb less molasses. Because stone is a very sturdy material, they have a longer lifespan than most other shisha bowls . In addition, stone heads are particularly heat-tolerant and store heat over a long period of time. They can be easily combined with an HMD attachment . However, you shouldn't use a Seflex on a stone head because it simply gets too hot. As you can see, all shisha heads have their advantages and disadvantages and shisha fans have to find out which head is best suited to their needs. But with our overview, this consideration will hopefully be a little easier for you!