Alum block thoughts.

Hi all

As usual i have a question.
The shaving has been going well with the shavette and i have been getting some pretty good shaves and in the meantime i have enjoyed going through the sample set from truefitt & hill (truly some wonderful products). Anyway i purchased an alum block as most people seem to have one and they are quite cheap so it couldn't hurt much.
Now apart from the obvious qualities of stinging like hell and stopping the nicks from bleeding, does the alum contain any other beneficial side effects?
I think i caught somewhere about them containing essential salts that benefit the skin.
Anyway who better to ask than you guys.
I look forward to being enlightened and on a better note my first SR turns up on monday, a beautifully restored German Halma and i can't wait to see what i have been missing.

Best regards to all

Ritchie

Hello Ritchie,
I love the alum bar, use it every shave. I have used it on skin irritations and to help with acne, it is making a difference. I added one to my primary first-aid kit.

It has antibacterial properties that help keep razor nicked/burned skin from infecting. It absorbs oils on your face to help prevent zits. It can also help you keep a grip on your slick skin when pulling it tight to get a closer shave. It can even be used as a deodorant. It's like a little block of do-it-all. Pretty awesome stuff.

I LOVE my alum block! Use it after every shave as the first step of the post! (well after a tepid water rinse/towel) as the others mentioned it is great to reduce irritation and oils and minor nicks. I also use it as a gauge for how good the shave was! The less "burn" the better the shave!

I have noticed my skin is clearer and "taut" after using the straight/alum block. It seems to smooth everything...

Mine usually burns like mad, but it's a good guage of how I did shave wise (Less burn = better shave) but the biggest benefit IMHO is that you can use it on your fingers to help you get traction for skin stretching.

Try this, wet your fingers then rub them on the alum block, after you do that I will bet you can stretch your wet facial skin pretty taught for shaving.. :)

I just ordered some razorock.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by weirdbob

It has antibacterial properties that help keep razor nicked/burned skin from infecting. It absorbs oils on your face to help prevent zits. It can also help you keep a grip on your slick skin when pulling it tight to get a closer shave. It can even be used as a deodorant. It's like a little block of do-it-all. Pretty awesome stuff.

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+1

My daily deodorant is Osma Alum Block Deodorant, alum in a handy shape and container.

Alum does help me with razor burn during the summer months. If the alum is "burning like hell", its because you have used too much pressure, too steep of an angle...you get my drift. It is a direct indicator of a good shave or if you have done something "not so nice" to your face. A tingle is fine, a burn indicates an error. I too include it as a part of my post shave regimen.

There are two main types of alum. The alum block is usually the naturally occurring crystalline rock composed of hydrated potassium aluminium sulfate (potassium alum) with the formula KAl(SO4)2·12H2O. The other is what is found in styptic pencils or powders composed of usually anhydrous aluminum sulfate Al2(SO4)3·6H2O (notice no potassium). The alum block is milder than the styptic pencil. Both are powerful astringents causing substantial vaso-restriction which stops bleeding often on contact. The styptic burns more, but it is a better blood stopper than alum. That is why I use both. I also have some alum as a deodorant. It inhibits bacterial growth. The alums also absorb moisture. This is why the face feels so taught after using the alum block and after drying. It is usually best to rinse the alum off then moisturize, but some guys like the feel and use their aftershave balms right on top. Alum block and styptic pencil are complimentary, if not mandatory, tools in my shaving kit.

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The alum block is fantastic as an astringent and skin toner as well as everything mentioned above. Add witchhazel after it and that'll reduce razor bumps and spot inflammation and also acts as an astringent. I use both without any issues, but I would say if you use both make sure your soap is very moisturizing - goats milk/shea butter soaps work well for me.

For the first couple years I was very indifferent to alum, didn't really care if I tried it or not. I probably figured that my post shave routine was too complex anyway, and was fine without it :rolleyes:. Then I got a RazoRock alum stick in with some free samples, and after it sat for a couple months I finally gave it a try. Instantly sold on it, and now it's an integral part of my post shave for all the reasons previously mentioned by our fellow members. I highly recommend it.

I often use my Osma brand block after a shave (DE only shaver) but I've never really noticed a benefit of doing so. Kind of the same with witch hazel. I do it because lots of others say to do it but if I don't I never really notice any difference. I figure it doesn't hurt but I'm not convinced it really does much that a cold water rinse doesn't. Now, a styptic pen, well, that's saved my bacon more than once.

Styptic pencil and cold water rinse is pretty much enough for me too. The alum block and witch hazel are in my tool kit but I do not use them every time for the same reasons that you mention. With a great shave I really just need the cold water rinse; even the styptic pencil goes unused most of the time now.