Alum use...

I used an Alum block for the first time yesterday. Now I have a few questions. Does it sting like the dickens for everyone else, or is it just me? Are there different brands that act differently? I have an Osma Alum Block I picked up from the Polish guy on ebay. From what I've been reading there are Aluminum and Potassium Alum blocks. Osma is a Potassium. I just don't think Aluminum would be a good substance on the skin. Are there any brands that don't sting like a hornets nest? I used cold water on the block and my face. And is it just something that takes time to build up a tolerance to? And man was I shocked to see the tiny size. Maybe it's just me! :thinking:

I use Crystal Underarm deoderent. Which is alum, potassium i think.

It will only sting if your technique is off. So Alum talks to you, tells you where you are putting too much pressure, wrong angle, what have you.

I use it everyday and at $2.99 for a travel size that I purchased from a Hippie megastore here, it can't be beat. I know that they also make one with aloe and alum so I may try that when I can find it.

of course YMMV.

Alum, the specific compound, is potasium aluminum sulfate (aka potasium alum). The term alum is also used for a clase of compounds: bisulfates containing both a monovalent metalic cation (potasium in the case of potasium alum) and a trivalent metalic cation (usually aluminum, but there are others such as vanadium or cobalt).

Your alum block is almost certainly potasium aluminum sulfate. Who told you aluminum would be bad for your skin?

The alum block, for me, is one of the best feedback givers you can use. If you use a alcohol based aftershave or a balm of some kind, you just might not be aware of how your technique is evolving or what you are doing right or wrong. The alum block only stings if you are rough of your skin while shaving and you can account for a number of factors involved: preasure, blade angle and even prep. The alum block does "talk" to you and teach you a lot about perfecting your shave. Not only that but it also works as a great aftershave. If you go easy on it you just won't need anything else. At least that's what I think...
The first time I used an Alum block was trying out a new DE blade... The DE is far to agressive to my skin and I did get a lot of sting. Not a good feeling. However, when I use it after a straight razor shave, it tells me where I've been ham-fisted and where I've exeled...
Good luck!

I have been using an alum block for a couple months .I purchased at Classic Shaving. It stings some times but only slightly. Not like alchohol based products. I agree with the previous posters that it will tell you if you have been too harsh on your skin. My suggestion is to use helium on your blade when you shave, this will keep the lightest touch possible.JUST KIDDING but I try to imagine it so that the pressure on the skin from the blade is very little. Could also be that the blade is not quite as sharp or smooth as you need.

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Originally Posted by fccexpert

Alum, the specific compound, is potasium aluminum sulfate (aka potasium alum). The term alum is also used for a clase of compounds: bisulfates containing both a monovalent metalic cation (potasium in the case of potasium alum) and a trivalent metalic cation (usually aluminum, but there are others such as vanadium or cobalt).

Your alum block is almost certainly potasium aluminum sulfate. Who told you aluminum would be bad for your skin?

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I've seen it in the posts here, not exactly where.

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Originally Posted by fccexpert

Alum, the specific compound, is potasium aluminum sulfate (aka potasium alum). The term alum is also used for a clase of compounds: bisulfates containing both a monovalent metalic cation (potasium in the case of potasium alum) and a trivalent metalic cation (usually aluminum, but there are others such as vanadium or cobalt).

Your alum block is almost certainly potasium aluminum sulfate. Who told you aluminum would be bad for your skin?

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Originally Posted by mkevenson

I have been using an alum block for a couple months .I purchased at Classic Shaving. It stings some times but only slightly. Not like alchohol based products. I agree with the previous posters that it will tell you if you have been too harsh on your skin. My suggestion is to use helium on your blade when you shave, this will keep the lightest touch possible.JUST KIDDING but I try to imagine it so that the pressure on the skin from the blade is very little. Could also be that the blade is not quite as sharp or smooth as you need.

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That's probably what I did, just way to much pressure! Thanks!

Alum can be an ammonia based compound too. I can't speak from experience but believe this would sting somewhat more. Perhaps this is the confusion.

Alum has been used in cosmetics for a long time because it acts as an astringent and has antibacterial properties, you may find this article interesting: Alum - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
However, recently there have been a completely unproved and controversial proposal for a "linkage" between aluminum and Alzheimer's disease. This theory probably comes from the observation that people with Alzheimer's disease have elevated levels of Aluminum in their brain. Of course, nobody knows whether it is this condition that allows the accumulation of the metal ion in the brain or whether intake of the metal ion caused this disease.

Does Aluminum Increase Your Risk For Alzheimer’s Disease? | The Diet Channel

There is also old research that suggests that aluminum is toxic to the nervous tissues in animals.

Alzheimer's Again Linked To Aluminum

However, to date, the linkage between aluminum and Alzheimer's has not been scientifically demonstrated.

Aluminium and Alzheimer's disease - Alzheimer's Society

The only reason why I would say that aluminum could be bad for your skin is that it may over dry it. In fact, I was growing very fond of the alum in styptic pens and wanted to buy an alum block. I have since discovered that alum is not good for my very sensitive skin, and gives my a rash but sodium chloride has the same effect. This should not be reason for you not to use it, many people do with good results.

Al raz.

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Originally Posted by AlanII

Alum can be an ammonia based compound too. I can't speak from experience but believe this would sting somewhat more. Perhaps this is the confusion.

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Yes, Ammonium, Methyl ammonium and hydroxylammonium can all act as the monovalent cation. So can hydrazinium. The trivalent cation will still most likely be aluminum.

The sting is normal and as has been said indicates areas for improvement. I find when I use the alum block I don't get any redness.

As a side note, my one issue with alum is that you can't use lotions right after without splashing some water on your face to remove the dried salts first. In the same way it destroys lather is destroys lotions, they clumps up and are useless.

Just FYI this is my routine. After the shave I splash with hot water and apply the alum. Then I clean up my shave area and let the alum do its thing. Then I splash my face with cold water and pat dry with a towel to help remove the alum. Then it's a witch hazel splash which I let air dry and then lotion. Yeah, it's a lot but I like the routine.

I use alum after a shave. The sting is no guide to shave quality for me. It pretty much stings my skin whether i've had a shave or not. I know this because i've tried it after using scrubs & soaps. I've got irritatingly sensitive skin. I've grown to like it though. The sting, not the irritatingly sensitive skin!

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Originally Posted by Alraz

Alum has been used in cosmetics for a long time because it acts as an astringent and has antibacterial properties, you may find this article interesting: Alum - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
However, recently there have been a completely unproved and controversial proposal for a "linkage" between aluminum and Alzheimer's disease. This theory probably comes from the observation that people with Alzheimer's disease have elevated levels of Aluminum in their brain. Of course, nobody knows whether it is this condition that allows the accumulation of the metal ion in the brain or whether intake of the metal ion caused this disease.

Does Aluminum Increase Your Risk For Alzheimer’s Disease? | The Diet Channel

There is also old research that suggests that aluminum is toxic to the nervous tissues in animals.

Alzheimer's Again Linked To Aluminum

However, to date, the linkage between aluminum and Alzheimer's has not been scientifically demonstrated.

Aluminium and Alzheimer's disease - Alzheimer's Society

The only reason why I would say that aluminum could be bad for your skin is that it may over dry it. In fact, I was growing very fond of the alum in styptic pens and wanted to buy an alum block. I have since discovered that alum is not good for my very sensitive skin, and gives my a rash but sodium chloride has the same effect. This should not be reason for you not to use it, many people do with good results.

Al raz.

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I'm not sure how aluminum would dry your skin. Alum, however might since it is somewhat hydrophilic. Sodium chloride is table salt; it is very hydrophilic so it almost certainly will dry your skin. Remember, it is used to cure meat.

Oh yeah, salt will most certainly sting if you have any nicks or irritation. Hence the phrase "pouring salt on a wound" as an analogy for making a bad situation worse.

The alum usually stings me a bit because I still have some problem areas - but that sting doesn't last long and it prevents irritation that would otherwise last much longer. So it's a bit like splashing on an alcohol after shave, except the alum is much better for your skin IMO.

It seems to work well if you rinse your face with hot water after the shave, apply the alum and then leave it on while you clean up your shave gear. After a minute or two of that, splash cold water on the face. This gives the alum time to do its job and the cold water rinse gets rid of any excess - some people get a chalky deposit if they don't rinsie it off, can't say I've noticed it myself.

It seems like a small bar but it lasts a long time. I've lost more of mine by dropping it and losing a couple of chunks than from actually using it!

I use potassium alum after every shave and follow that with some Thayers alcohol free witch hazel and I'm good to go for the day.

I agree that alum is a litmus test for me as to whether or not I've given myself and irritation free shave. Most days during alum application to my wet face I've just rinsed with ice cold water I have absolutely zero irritation and the smoothed block slides around most of my face like it's on glass. That's a great start of a day I tell ya!

Other times even the smallest nick or isolated weeper will be indicated by the sting of the alum. IIRC the first few times I shaved I had a stinging face from the alum.

Does the alum sting your cheeks as well? Does it seem to sting some areas of your face more than others?

Chris L

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Originally Posted by Chris L

I use potassium alum after every shave and follow that with some Thayers alcohol free witch hazel and I'm good to go for the day....


Chris L

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The lable may claim to be alcohol free, but the list of ingredients includes glycerine, which is an alcohol. It also includes tocopheryl, most likely tocopheryl acetate which will hydrolize to tocopherol (another alcohol) on your skin.

The reason why the labels says: "alcohol free" is because it is. This has nothing to do with the chemical name for alcohols (compound containing the hydroxyl [OH-] functional group). The FDA requires requires that cosmetics and drugs follow the Fair Packaging Act of 1967. Any product that claims it has special properties that will enhance or alter the molecular structure of the user has to be labeled with ingredients listed in International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients format. International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients (INCI), is a special naming convention which classifies ingredients used in cosmetic and body care manufacturing based on scientific, Latin or English names. This nomenclature is different from that followed by chemists and the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC). In the INCI nomenclature, there is only one entry for the word "alcohol" in that list and it is reserved for ethyl alcohol. also known as ethanol, alcoholum / ethanolum. Note that this list is so specific that denatured alcohol, even though is the same chamical (but with another compound added to make it unsuitable to drink) has a different entry. Other (chemical) alcohols, such as glycerol, have different entries in the INCI database.

You can check this database here:

Cosmetics - CosIng

and read more about this convention here:

International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Also notice that often (bout not always) the labels apply to the compounds as they are mixed, not to their final molecular formula found in the finished product. A good example of this is soap, which results after the saponification of fatty acids with a strong base. The ingredints list could include the original fatty acids and the lye (strong base) used but not the final compound, including glycerin that result from the saponification raction. However, in the US, soaps that do not claim to have an effect other than cleansing, are exempted from this classification and the FDA does not require a label including the ingredients.

I hope this help clear out some confusion. I would agree that it would be nice to have a single naming convention but his has just been plain impossible so far. ;-)

Al raz.

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Originally Posted by Alraz

The reason why the labels says: "alcohol free" is because it is. This has nothing to do with the chemical name for alcohols (compound containing the hydroxyl [OH-] functional group). The FDA requires requires that cosmetics and drugs follow the Fair Packaging Act of 1967. Any product that claims it has special properties that will enhance or alter the molecular structure of the user has to be labeled with ingredients listed in International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients format. International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients (INCI), is a special naming convention which classifies ingredients used in cosmetic and body care manufacturing based on scientific, Latin or English names. This nomenclature is different from that followed by chemists and the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC). In the INCI nomenclature, there is only one entry for the word "alcohol" in that list and it is reserved for ethyl alcohol. also known as ethanol, alcoholum / ethanolum. Note that this list is so specific that denatured alcohol, even though is the same chamical (but with another compound added to make it unsuitable to drink) has a different entry. Other (chemical) alcohols, such as glycerol, have different entries in the INCI database.

You can check this database here:

Cosmetics - CosIng

and read more about this convention here:

International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Also notice that often (bout not always) the labels apply to the compounds as they are mixed, not to their final molecular formula found in the finished product. A good example of this is soap, which results after the saponification of fatty acids with a strong base. The ingredints list could include the original fatty acids and the lye (strong base) used but not the final compound, including glycerin that result from the saponification raction. However, in the US, soaps that do not claim to have an effect other than cleansing, are exempted from this classification and the FDA does not require a label including the ingredients.

I hope this help clear out some confusion. I would agree that it would be nice to have a single naming convention but his has just been plain impossible so far. ;-)

Al raz.

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So presumably if it contained isopropyl alcohol it could also be called alcohol free by these standards. Not exactly honest in my opinion. This is as bad as so called fat free food products that list vegetable oil in their ingredients, missleading at best, and an outright misrepresentation in my book.

I personally could not agree with you more but the rules are the rules... ;-). A lot of effort has been placed in unifying chemical nomenclature in science but there is never an agreement because people are: 1) reluctant to change what they have been using for ages with success; 2) learn new tricks... ;-). The breaking point always seem to be that the old literature has the old terms and that using the new ones would confuse the audience... ;-) This is also a problem with units.... ;-). In the case of cosmetics, I sort of understand the rationale of the legislation, namely, to give an edge to those that do not have any chemical knowledge. However, it also creates problems. To follow your example and kick it up a little notch, if the product contains methanol, it would say alcohol free ;-).

Al raz.

Think I got it figured out with the help of Chris L. I drop the angle of my razor to almost having the spine on my skin, and it worked out great! Hardly no sting at all, except where I nicked myself due to the new technique, (DOHHH)! It actually felt good after the alum! Actually thanks to all of you for all your posts! God Bless You!:tu

I too have recently purchased an alum bloc, probably the same brand that you have.
I am a convert.
I do not get any stinging or burning sensation when I use it. I love the way it braces my skin--a great way to finish off the shave.