Printable View
Hello, I see alot about alum blocks and just wondered if that is a standed for after the shave. Im new with 7 shaves down and do get a little razor burn on a couple of them is that what the alum block will help with. Now im using EVOO then lather shave rinse with warm water then thayers withchazel followed by Ogalla baw rum and sandelwood aftershave. Am i on the right track
Glenn
Your post shave routine is whatever works for you. Typically you will want some astringent and then an aftershave, as you're doing. To answer your question, yes, an alum block will take care of razor burn and small nicks.
My post shave drill is a warm water rinse, alum block, cold water rinse, astringent (Lucky Tiger Face Tonic in my case), and aftershave. Depending on the weather, I may follow this w/ a scent free moisturizer
I like the RazoRock. It's smaller than a block but it has a nice base to stand on. The alum block that I bought is going to take 5 years to wear down.
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!!!
An alum bloc is part of my every shave routine...wouldn't be without one :)
rgc58,
I, along with many others, find the using the alum block is most refreshing, and positively adds to the shave :)
I use it just after the cold water rinse.
It is very useful as a feedback on the quality of the shave:
1) No sensation - excellent shave
2) Little tingle - good shave
3) Stings - not so good shave
4) Smarts like *** - very ****** shave !!
Please test a small area of your face/neck to make sure that the alum doesn't bring you out in a rash, which it does for a few people !
Good luck !
Have fun !
Best regards
Russ
Gentlemen:
Somehow my daily shave seems incomplete without that exhilarating touch of the alum block. It's one of the many treats strung along my shaving ritual. Just in case the world comes to an end, my stash includes a half a dozen alum blocs waiting to be called into service. I mean you never know.
Here is my routine for using the alum block:
Warm water rinse
Run alum under cold water and paint the face
Cold water rinse
Witch Hazel
Aftershave balm
Aftershave or cologne
Then I can't wait for the next morning to celebrate the shaving ritual all over again.
Regards,
Obie
I use RazoRock too, it's a great product. My post shave routine is similar to Obie's, except instead of Witch Hazel I use Trumpers Skin Food.
Trumpers Skin Food before balm and aftershave?
Hello, Shoki:Quote:
Originally Posted by Shoki
Yes, Trumper's Skin Food is wonderful stuff. I use it often. With Trumper's skin food you don't need balm. At least I don't when using it, similar to the way my good friend Ryan does. Apply it after the alum and cold water rinse. Sometimes I use it instead of balm. I let it sit on my Hollywood face while I clean up and then apply aftershave. Good stuff.
Regards,
Obie
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.
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by nessmuck
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!
So I guess the routine I tested last night was SERIOUS overkill:(:Quote:
Originally Posted by MHV
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 :)
Alum every time I shave.
Exactly how I do it!Quote:
Originally Posted by rgc58
Occasionally I replace the whitch Hazel with an Alum Block, they are basically filling the same role, to me that is:)
I agree, I also have the RazoRock & it's a fantastic product. The base makes it easy to air dry, and the block has a nice round end to it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Shoki
I've only used my Razorock two times now but I love it. Mine goes: Warm water rinse, paint face with Razorock, cold water rinse, Pinaud Clubman aftershave, Nivea aftershave balm.
Had my first shave with post alum block treatment today. I will definitely be including it in my regular routine from now on.
I've just started using alum, and for that matter using witch hazel, but I used them both every time I shave. I don't use any after shaves yet, but that's because I'm pacing myself.
That's a lie. I'm just trying to outsmart the wife, is all.
I shave, pat dry, wet the alum block and rub over my face, rinse the brush and scuttle, rinse my face with warm water, dry and pat with witch hazel.
Absolutely love the way it feels afterward; during, not so much.
Gad,
I just looked up Nivea balm on ebay - is there anything cheaper that works?
Huh??? Not sure what you're looking at but my Nivea ASB is about six bucks and change at Walmart. But something cheaper that works would be Corn Huskers Lotion (also available at Walmart)Quote:
Originally Posted by tombuesing
I only recently started using an alum block but must say I really like it. Another neat little feature that alum blocks bring to the fight is applying it to your fingers before the shave. This provides traction on wet skin to stretch the skin.
The nivea I saw on amazon was $23. I'll look at the stuff at walmart - that sounds about right.
I just picked up some Nivea about two days ago, two shaves, about $7.00 Wal Mart, feels great.
Got my alum block from Mama Bear this morning, used it, felt great; then applied the Nivea about 20 minutes later.
Before even starting to shave with a straight (still a beginner mind) I regularly suffered from razor burn on my neck.
It wasn't until I did a lot of research on shaving creams/after balms/pre shave oils and ordered what I thought adequate did I make a great discovery.
The Bluebeards Revenge Post Shave Balm is AWESOME for small nicks and more so razor burn.
I smashed the front of my neck over the Adams apple on my last shave trying to get a good shave on those persistent whiskers... which I did but ended up with a pretty good burn.
Bluebeards Revenge did the trick! I moisturize only after ten minutes has transpired after application.
Has a bit of a sting initially but not too bad and has worked for me every time.
I wish I had known about this product YEARS ago!
Love it!!
And best of luck!
I think that's for 4 bottles.
Quote:
Originally Posted by tombuesing