Thread: Alum Use

Gents -

Had my 5th shave today. Have to admit it's getting better all the time. WTG strokes all gave a very acceptable shave (albeit with several nicks and significant burn on the neck), even with my thick beard. ATG stroke on the right cheek gave me BBS (didn't do a second stroke anywhere else)!

Used an alum block for the first time today in order to quell the bleeding and tighten the rest of the skin. Two questions on the alum:

1. Does Alum really work to stop bleeding? I had a fairly signficant cut below the left nostril, holding the block there for a minute didn't seem to do much other than get blood all over the block (perhaps I didn't wait long enough?)

2. How do most people work the alum block into their general shave routine? I also use Bay Rum as an after shave astringent and a very soothing lotion to stop the burning from the former.

Cheers,

- HJ

Alum will only stop the bleeding of very small nicks or cuts.

You don't need to hold it there - it just needs to be passed over a wet face. Holding it in place won't do anything more IME.

If you want to stop more serious nicks and cuts, you need either a stypic pencil or some kind of liquid stypic relief. You can generally find a stypic pencil in the shaving isle of your local drugstore.

After I finish a shave, my routine (includes alum) is as follows:

-Warm water rinse
-Cold water rinse
-Run alum over my face
-Wait one minute while I clean up a bit
-Cold water rinse
-Dry my face
-Apply thayer's witch hazel
-Wait one more minute while I clean more
-Apply aftershave of my choice

I've found that this routine helps to reduce irritation. I've found that It will just about completely squash minor irritation, but for more serious irritation it will only calm it a little. If you have bad irritation the only cure is to stop shaving for a day or two and let it heal.

My routine is remarkably similar to Pjrage. I hit the alum block, however, between the warm and cold water rinse...probably better his way.

I've used alum as a routine toner like this for about 15 years. It stings a bit and that serves to provide good feedback on how well I've shaved (try for bbs and no sting).

On the rare bad nick....you may have to hold the block against the cut with a little pressure. This will work. With little bleeders, a quick pass of the block will work.

Best.....

Jim

Same as above only I do the Alum before the cold water rinse...like Jleeg

Now Byron Todd and I had this dicussion long ago and he does like Pjrage does, and adds an actual iced towel after the cold water rinse.... Sounds refreshing

It probably doesn't matter if you do it before or after the cold water rinse. I just do it this way because I figure I start to gently close the pores with the cold water, and then finish closing them with the alum. I dunno. I've often wondered if it might be better the other way around. Like if the alum worked better if it could really get into the pores, and the pores weren't already closed/closing up from the cold water.

I doubt there's much of a difference either way, but now I'm curious to give it a go the other way just to see for myself!

I agree with the comments already posted.
In my personal experience the alum block will stop the bleeding from minor nicks, but not larger cuts. I've also found that a stiptic pencil won't stop bleeding from large cuts either. I've been told that the stiptic pencil is merely the same material as alum (potassium alum), but ground up and re-formed.
Cold water rinses probably help stop bleeding too.
When I get a real cut I soak up the blood with a paper towel, apply anti-biotic gel, and continue to blot until bleeding stops, then apply more anti-biotic. Lynn suggested this approach. It seems to help the cuts heal faster.
Good luck.

I FIND THE BEST WAY TO STOP BLEEDING CUTS IS NOT TO CUT YOURSELF