Thread: Alum Blocks

I love my alum block and I have been using one for a number of years. They last forever, but you don't get to drop one on tile but once maybe twice! They really will cool down burn and help to condition your skin.

As stated above a rub on your fingers will help you to stretch your skin wihtout slipping.

After a shave I rinse / wet towel wipe then wet the alum block a little and wipe it all over. Go brush my teeth, etc. and rinse off with cold water followed by an aftershave balm and follow up with my favorite aftershave.

There is a local Indian grocery that sells a block of alum in the shaving section for $2.99 and the cheap cardboard box says "Nice Cool Alum Block". At that price you can afford to drop one every now and then!

I hope that helps.

Will N.

Alum is an astringent, so you may want to avoid overuse of the same in your routine: Alum, Witch Hazel, Alcohol, all share the property of tightening your skin and calming the burn. But you can also irritate yourself if your skin is already a bit dry or sensitive.

I do a final cold rinse (VERY cold, straight from the tap in Canadian winter), pat lightly my face, then glide the alum block over my face. Before, I used to leave my face moist, and it was putting a lot of alum on my skin.

I let it rest while I cleanup the sink, and go back for another cold rinse. Pat to dry, apply a bit of AS or balm, or both, depending on my skin's mood, and I'm good to go before the cleaning lady arrives, as the other guy says.

OK, that tears it. 3+ years into this glorious psychosis I've yet to engage an alum block of any sort. This RazoRock has my attention, time to go fetch one.

Once I started using an Alum block after my head shaves. I finally became free of bumps on the noggin (ingrown hairs). My shave routine always ends with alum then a cold H20 rinse. Then AS and balm and I'm good to go.

My alum is darn near gone...and I ordered one from Classic Shaving.com LONG time ago...

Is it me...or do they send their packages by runner on foot? Meaning I ordered my block a month or so ago and I have yet to receive it, was the same bloody way with the order I made before and that was on a tub of Taylors Sandalwood...downright irritating.

Any case, an alum is a good tool post shave to see if you went too deep in a place, I use it as a tool to spot check and to know where to lighten up if need be next shave. And it is also good for the skin, tightens everything up and so on...then rinse with cold water and add WH or balm and good to go.

Originally Posted by nessmuck

Another use for the alum block is , wet your fingers and then rub your wet fingers on the block and then you will be able to stretch your skin without your fingers slipping!!!

I really need to try this. That has been one of my biggest hurdles in shaving is stretching the skin while I'm all soaped up.

i love my alum block, after my first shave it burnt like a crazy fool but now its more of a gentle sting than anything. although this thread reminded me i forgot to use it last night

oh well there is always the next shave

Alum eveyday would not be without it!

Originally Posted by MHV

Alum is an astringent, so you may want to avoid overuse of the same in your routine: Alum, Witch Hazel, Alcohol, all share the property of tightening your skin and calming the burn. But you can also irritate yourself if your skin is already a bit dry or sensitive.

So I guess the routine I tested last night was SERIOUS overkill:

1) Cold Rinse
2) Pat Dry (face)
3) Rub moist Alum Block on my face (no burn at all, hooray!!!)
4) Wait 'til it dries then cold rinse
4) Witch Hazel (just a small amount on my hand patted on to my face...no burn...HOORAY!!!)
5) Let the WH dry then....
6) Dominica Lime Bay Rum..again I just get a very small amount on my hand and pat my face (No BURN DOUBLE HOORAY!!!)
7) ASB then moisturizer

I guess what I'm saying here is...How can I get even more product on!!! JK.

Thanks,

I am still very green when it comes to the whole routine...but if you don't experiment how will you know what works and what doesn't?
It's in the name of science!
...and the save, of course