Alum Block Burn - Question

So obviously the general theory is that when I use an alum bar after a shave, and it burns a bit, that my razor is not 100% up to snuff or I am applying too much pressure/angle whilst shaving. My question is the following, however...

Is it possible that my skin is just sensitive to the Alum bar? It burns mildly upon application on my neck, after a shave of course. My neck is and has always been particularly sensitive. I don't ever show any overt signs of burn or irritation, however. I don't get bumps, general redness, or otherwise. Perhaps since I am still new and adjusting this is normal, but I think I am relatively well dialed in. The burn is by no means prolonged or intense, but it is there. I have a pretty good grip on the sharpness of both of my razors, and they seem up to the job as well. Typically this happens in 2 or more passes.

Any thoughts or experiences appreciated. Otherwise I love the bar and the way my skin feels after its application (once the singe passes).

-Ted

It might be that you are still learning angle and pressure. Mine used to burn after use, now it's just a few here and there, I mostly don't even feel it

I think a razor burn is characterized by redness and you are not showing any redness. Would what you are experiencing be more of the typical stinging sensation caused by an alum block? Since you are getting it after 2 or more passes you may still be getting things dialed in. Things like angle, pressure, lather and may be the edge is now degraded too.

Bob

It is cleaning your wounds. You just spent 20 minutes scraping your skin. It will get better. If it is too much try Thayers witch hazel instead. It won't stop a weeper like alum might but will clean you up without irritation

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Originally Posted by BobH

I think a razor burn is characterized by redness and you are not showing any redness. Would what you are experiencing be more of the typical stinging sensation caused by an alum block? Since you are getting it after 2 or more passes you may still be getting things dialed in. Things like angle, pressure, lather and may be the edge is now degraded too.

Bob

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I am definitely still dialing a few things in. Perhaps I should wait a day between shaves and let things heal a little bit, then start again. Normally as a matter of course I only shave every other day, but executive meetings at work this week have me shaving a lot more often than normal. I will continue to work on angle and pressure....even though I think I am going light, perhaps I need to take a look at that and just keep applying less and less.

The good news is that even after 2 passes my shaves are extremely close at this point, so at least I am getting the hair off, even if at the minor expense of a little burning.

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

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Originally Posted by pixelfixed

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

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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!

when I first started using the SR I would get a sore face ( not every time but a lot of the time) so I started using the alum and yes it stung but I felt it was worth it in the end result. After about 100 or so shaves something clicked and I have not used one since and I have not had a sore face in over 200 shaves now. My theory being that you are still learning and have issues whether it be the razor, stropping or technique. Yes it will go away with time and experience

On occasion I have been called insensitive, but I rarely experience any tingle or burn from alum.

I never used it. I get red blotches from it, even in areas I didn't shave. I simply use a balm, sometimes followed by an aftershave.

After 2 more shaves, I have made 2 changes that seem to have had a great benefit thus far...
I eliminated using the pre-shave oil I have been using for 3 years (mostly cartridge shaving) from TAOS. I felt since I started with straights that it was a bit "sticky." This has certainly been a help. I also focused on a significantly lighter touch to my face with the blade, which also has helped. The burn is significantly reduced at this point. Using the alum pre-shave just to judge how my skin reacts to it without any initial irritation still tingled slightly, which I expected.

Overall I am happy with the progress and will keep pressing on....what a learning curve!

Thanks for posting the update, glad it is working out for you.

Bob