Shisha tutorial: How do I build a shisha head?

How do I build a hookah that smokes well?

How do I build a hookah head that smokes well? What do I need to consider, what equipment do I need and what tricks are there? Questions about questions and these we would like to address in this article. Let's start at the beginning:

What is a shisha head?

Without Shisha head nothing works. The tobacco is placed in the cavity, which you will find in every head, either with your fingers or with a pair of tongs. The glowing charcoal above the tobacco heats it up and this ensures the smoking pleasure. Therefore, the design of the head also has an impact on the taste and the duration of smoking. The resulting smoke dives through the holes in the head down into the smoke column and then further into the bowl, which is filled with water.

There are many different types of hookah heads, all of which have their own fan base, with the novice hookah smoker first having to figure out for themselves which type of tobacco head they are passionate about. With a Complete Shisha the tobacco head is included, but you may consider trying a different head over time. Maybe this post will give you some mental clues for your decision.

What types of shisha head are there?

First of all, there are differences in the material. The classic in itself is the traditional "Turkish clay head" made of - as the name suggests - fired clay. It is the typical beginner's head, durable and robust, and you can't go wrong with it. However, even here the further development does not sleep and now heads are made of ceramic, glass, stone, aluminum and even the very modern variant of silicone. Whichever material you choose to use is entirely up to your aesthetic taste and preferred smoking behavior. All materials store heat and release it more or less slowly. With glass, you can assume that it does not take on any taste and is very easy to clean. To achieve the same effect, many clay heads are glazed. Tip: Try different heads and find out what suits you best.

In addition to the material, you will also find differences in the design, for example in the number of holes or the depth of the funnel.
There is the multi-hole head with usually five holes at the bottom of the funnel, the Phunell as a single-hole head with an additional rim or the Vortex with holes at the side in the elevation in the middle.

Have fun and enjoy your Shisha Heaven team.

Multi-hole head

The multi-hole head bears the risk that the molasses can slip into the smoke pipe and clog it, which in turn reduces the smoke quality. However, you can prevent this with a sieve that you insert into the head under the tobacco. It goes without saying that the sieve should be made of metal and not plastic. After all, it gets hot under the tobacco.

Phunnel

The Phunell (also Funell) has a raised crater in the middle with a large hole. The tobacco is inserted around the crater and so of course nothing can penetrate the smoke column. In recent years, the Phunell has made a triumphant progress and has become the favorite head of experienced hookah smokers.

Vortex head

The Vortex Tobacco head is characterized by an elevation in the middle of the funnel, similar to the Phunell. In this elevation, however, the holes are inserted laterally, which also prevents the molasses from penetrating into the smoke column.

Power Bowl & Hotshot

Then there is the Power Bowl as a hermaphrodite between multi-hole and Phunell, the very special Hotshot RT and the Chinahead. At least these are the most common examples. Tobacco heads are available decorated, with patterns, as hybrid models made of two materials, in different colors, shapes and sizes. There is something for everyone.

Fill tobacco into shisha head

Let's move on to the most important action: the hookah tobacco is loosely inserted into the head. You can do this with your fingers or more stylishly with a pair of tongs or a fork, which are available as a gimmick in the hookah trade. The tobacco should be loosened and not pressed into the funnel, because you would hinder the airflow. You would prevent the head from breathing.

It should be noted here that the amount of tobacco you put in the head also depends on how you heat the tobacco. So for heating there are different options, with a smokebox, a chimney top or with aluminum foil, which we will now discuss in detail.

Head structure with smokebox

A smokebox is also called a Heat Management Device - in abbreviation HMD. The glowing coal (usually up to three pieces) is placed in the smokebox and this is placed on the head. The heat is released downward to the tobacco and care must be taken that it is not too hot. Otherwise, the tobacco would burn, which in turn would create a scratchy and burnt taste. And you definitely don't want that. That's why with the Smokebox, you can regulate the heat manually by turning the lid that comes with the Smokebox. With this turning, you regulate the width of the opening slots and thus the heat output downwards.

If you use a smokebox, you can fill the tobacco head all the way to the edge, because here the heat output can be finely controlled even during smoking and the necessary distance to the tobacco is guaranteed. So normally nothing burns here. If you fill the tobacco head to the brim, this is also called full-contact smoking, since the underside of the smokebox touches the tobacco directly.

Head building with chimney top

The chimney top is also called chimney hood called a chimney hood. It works - (who guessed?) - like a chimney. In the middle there is vertical tube through which the heated air can escape from the head. But first you need to put the chimney attachment on the shisha head. Even with the chimney, you can fill the head completely with tobacco, but in any case, make sure that you do not compress the tobacco too much. And of course, tobacco and the screen of the attachment should not touch each other either. The attachment must rest on the edge of the head in such a way that no air can escape between them. Then you put the charcoal on it and you're ready to go. If necessary, you can regulate the temperature by moving the charcoal. As you can see, smoking with the chimney top is quite unspectacular.

Head structure with aluminum foil

The game with the aluminum foil certainly comes closest to the original application, you do not need separate equipment such as the smokebox or the fireplace, but must pay a little more attention to the construction.
If you use aluminum foil, you must not fill the tobacco to the very edge of the funnel. The foil is placed directly over the tobacco and the charcoal is placed on top of it. If the tobacco now touches the aluminum foil, it will definitely heat up too much and burn. With about half a centimeter of air between the tobacco and the foil, you are doing well.

Normal aluminum foil has the peculiarity that it tears easily. Therefore, you should take it in several layers and act carefully when stretching or you take a tank aluminum foil, which you also get at the shisha dealer of your confidence. The Armored Alufoil is so stable that it can usually be stretched well over the funnel of the head.

You can then poke holes in the foil with a hole punch or similar, so that the heat can dive down more easily. Here you have to feel your way, to make a statement about the amount of holes is difficult, because here again the individual enjoyment factor decides. You can place a larger hole in the middle, a few medium sized ones or several small ones. Again, the tip is to try out what suits you best. There is no right and no wrong here.

With this information, you now have the basic tools to build your shisha head. Try it out, experiment and get closer to what suits you best.

With this information, you now have the basic tools to build your shisha head. Try it out, experiment and get closer to what suits you best.

Back to the overview