Thread: What is this?

My brother and I recently went to the only barber that I could find in my area that does straight razor shaves, looking for some tips and a nice shave. The shave wasn't great as we were both bleeding and a bit raw afterwards, but he gave me this to use for a face gripping agent.

Does anyone know what this is?

Anyone know a good barber in or near Anchorage, AK?

Looks like an alum block:

An alum block is used both to seal nicks and cuts, and as an after-shave treatment. The alum block is used by wetting it with cold water and rubbing it onto wet skin. The blocks are most commonly made from aluminum potassium sulfate, and are therefore milder than styptic pencils. They also take longer to seal cuts, therefore making them more useful as an aftershave treatment.

yeah looks like alum, may be the sodium kind, you want the potassium.

as far as the shaving the best way i'd say is to learn yourself. you'll get all the help you need here.

ditto what they said

Originally Posted by FarNorthAK

he gave me this to use for a face gripping agent.

Looks like alum block to me too.
If by "face gripping agent" you mean something to help you stretch the skin, then yes, rubbing your fingers on damp alum block does improve grip.

My my another "professional shave" story.

We really should have a separate thread where everyone who gets a barbers shave should post their experience and they can all commiserate together. We can call it the shave of shame or something like that.

Alum will make your fingers stick well, but it'll kill the lather & make the blade skip if you go over the spot your fingers have touched. I tried a few shaves with Alum as a pre shave. Forgot to wash it off once & had to start from scratch as the brush was contaminated.

Thanks, maybe that was why my brother was bleeding so much after his shave! the barber used the block constantly!

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

My my another "professional shave" story.

We really should have a separate thread where everyone who gets a barbers shave should post their experience and they can all commiserate together. We can call it the shave of shame or something like that.

You hit the nail on the head with that one, Spendur. Or better yet, post it as a sticky to deter new members from getting a barber shavette shave. How many guys have been turned off of straight razor shaving because they went to the barber first?

I go to an old barber who still uses a razor to clean the back of your neck. Last time I was there he cut me. How do you cut the flat part of a neck? :P