Thread: Alum block

I am new to straight shaving and using the Alum blocks but I have found the following method to work well for me.

Finish your shave, warm rinse to clean pores and cold rinse to close them.

Leave your face wet and cold, rinse your alum block briefly under cold water and then apply to the face using a gentle circular motion on the shaved area of your face.

Let your face dry naturally, dont dry it out straight away. Let nature do its thing, it only takes a couple of minutes. If you need to dry quickly, then lightly dab your face a couple of times to speed things up but try and avoid rubbing your face dry as it can cause uneccessary discomfort.

By now, the astringent quality in the alum will be taking effect, and depending on how much irritation or razor burn you have, and how sensitive your skin is, you will nonetheless be feeling some degree of "tightening" of the skin.

This is the alum blocks astringent quality coming into play, and it is now toning your skin. From what I understand, it should be noted that it can be a little painful for some guys who have particularly sensitive skin, or who have a few nicks/cuts, or have shave burn.

I find that when I have a good shave, with no irritation, cuts or razor burn etc, that when I apply the alum block, the "tightening" phase is almost reduced to nothing .. it is barely noticeable. This I suppose could be used as some guage as to how good a shave you have had, at least in some basic fashion.

I love the alum block, but I do not use it every time I shave, and you don't have to either. Some swear by it and use it every day, some use it once in a while like me. The choice is yours

Sometimes when I use the alum block, I cold rinse again a few minutes after my final cold rinse, and then rub in a little proraso green pre/post shave cream, and then apply a moisturiser of choice, for me TAGMSC a/s milk, or Trumpers Coral Skin Food and then some a/s or cologne before I head out.

I hope that helps and whatever you do, have fun

i use it the same way as shorty i guess you can use it to find out how well your doing if it stings a hell of lot all over then maybe your presing to hard on the razor, i know it stung all over my face at the start but now hardley any. which is great

Here's something to consider when using styptic pencils and alum:

They both contain an aluminum based mineral. aluminum based minerals have been scientifically linked to increased risk of alzheimer's disease.

Just some more fat to chew on there.

I keep the styptic around only for bad bleeders.

I tried to do the same thing as shorty and it HURT all over my face. I'm not talking a little bit of tingeling I'm talking real BURN.

I washed it off with water, alcohol and then applied TAGMSC asb and Coral skin food but I was hurt bad for the next 2 days.....

Needless to say NEVER again.

Now I just use it to stop the serious bleeders by pressing a corner into the wound and moving it around a little bit. That works just fine for me...but NEVER again as an aftershave....hurts just thinking about it.

It hurts me when i apply it, but it reduces the red marking i get after shaving from applying too much pressure.

Originally Posted by FUD

Here's something to consider when using styptic pencils and alum:

They both contain an aluminum based mineral. aluminum based minerals have been scientifically linked to increased risk of alzheimer's disease.

Just some more fat to chew on there.

I keep the styptic around only for bad bleeders.

Actually, it has not. This is another urban legend. The supposed link with aluminum has been studied to death, but to my knowledge most of the studies found no relationship and of those that did, each one was found to have been completely confounded with other issues. Do not fear aluminum unless it is in the form of an automobile approaching you at 60 MPH!

Cheers,
Ed

Originally Posted by LX_Emergency

I tried to do the same thing as shorty and it HURT all over my face. I'm not talking a little bit of tingeling I'm talking real BURN.

I washed it off with water, alcohol and then applied TAGMSC asb and Coral skin food but I was hurt bad for the next 2 days.....

Needless to say NEVER again.

Now I just use it to stop the serious bleeders by pressing a corner into the wound and moving it around a little bit. That works just fine for me...but NEVER again as an aftershave....hurts just thinking about it.

I have had a couple of occasions where "the burn" is painful, usually when I multi-pass and am in a hurry, or when I am shaving on consecutive days.

Here I am guessing that the irritation (burn) occurs when the skin has been "hammered". For those with sensitive skin then, I suppose it would follow that the effect of irritation is amplified if similar circumstances were applied and could be quite painful.

I don't know as if there is any solution to the irritation as such though, it sounds as though your skin doesn't want to play ball with alum as an aftershave.

I think I'll not try to find out. Could a an allergic type reaction. Since starting the straight shave I found out there's quite a few things my skin can't handle.

My block came in just yesterday. I've only used it the once but it will become a regular part on my shave in the future. All I experienced was a little tingle in the places where I get a sting from alcohol based aftershave and a sting in the little nick on my neck. All in all not unpleasant at all. Nice toning action I really liked that, and it left me scent free for my balm of choice.