Thread: Alum Block Burn - Question

Try not using the alum next time . Try some splash on aftershave if it burns put some kind of baby powder with cornstarch on your face & neck to stop the burn. If this happens I believe BobH is correct it is probably a degraded edge on the razor. You will need to hone that razor there is probably a tiny spot on the blade making big things happen.

try using the alum block without shaving.... if it burns, it's your skin, however... if it doesn't......

I am fairly certain (because I am a noob) that the razors I am using are shave ready. My TI clips the tops off of most arm hairs on a light pass over them, and certainly gets pretty much all of them at mid-length (I leave a little oil on the blade so that the trimmings "stick"). I understand this to be somewhat subjective, but in my book that is pretty darn sharp. lol

I am having a hard time with the HHT as sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

I also think I really need to focus on stretching the skin. It is mighty hard on a few places on my neck, and thinking about it, there is a correlation between those spots and the ones that BURN versus the ones that tingle.

it took a few months for me for the Alum block to stop any burn as such on me

Purely learning the art is all I can put it down to, Like
learning to prep right
learning the right angles
learning to reduce pressure
learning not to go for BBS straight away
learning that I killed my edge a bit while
learning to strop
learning that my attempts at touch up honing after realising I killed the edge was crap compared to a pros buttery super sharp edge.

keep at it, as it is all in the learning curve unfortunately

but with more time & practice comes the rewards,
now I rarely use or need the Alum at all.

Edit: I have blades that can pass a HHT easily mid to end of the hair, but are still harsh on the face when shaving so need some rework to achieve both sharp & smooth
this is why the only true honing test is the shave test.

Alum will always burn a bit,so will your aftershave,using that perameter for blade sharpness is B.S

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

Alum will always burn a bit,so will your aftershave,using that perameter for blade sharpness is B.S

agreed, but I can also tell which parts of my face are getting too many passes or too much pressure by how much burn I get....

I've almost always experienced a little tingle when using alum. Once in a blue moon, the only sensation I feel is my skin tightening...but the planets have to be aligned just so. If you want a really satisfying burn, try Captains Choice Cat O Ninetails.

Thank you all for the great feedback. I will take quite a bit away and see what I can do to make these shaves a bit better!