Thread: Why use Alum

Last but not least it's a mighty fine shave test. If you are clumsy with a razor you face will burn. Little burn or none means you didn't abuse your skin.

By the way make sure you don't get ammonium alum that's for under arm perspiration. Potassium alum is for the face.

Thanks
I stopped in on the way home from work to AOS and got one of their Alum blocks, came in a nice plastic carrier... Used it this morning with almost no sting

I just ordered an Osma Block yesterday and it was shipped out in the afternoon, should have it by Friday. Here's to hoping I like it.

I just started using it recently. I use it to give my fingers traction in stretching skin and then after my last pass I splash my face with hot water to open it up good and rub it on. I like how it tells me the parts of my face I did well on or not and think it is a great metric for quality of shave. I let it soak in while I brush my teeth and put on anti-perspirant (which I have yet to try using it for also) then I do a cold water splash to rinse it off and close things up. Pat my face dry and put on some thayers witch hazel with a cotton pad and then follow with a balm. Winter now and the humidity drops to under 40% in my apartment so the balm is crucial to preventing my face from drying up and cracking. I think the extended shave ritual of the wet-shaver has helped remove dead skin anyway but I need something moisturizing during the winter like a balm to prevent trouble. In the summer I would use a more traditional aftershave like proraso splash instead of the with hazel and balm.

For me the Alum is a great addition and this Osma Block seems like it might last forever. Any ideas how long they last?

I received mine on Thursday so I've gotten 3 uses out of it now. I like it alot! It doesn't burn like I thought it would and that coupled with the Witch Hazel and balm my face feels great.

Any ideas how long they last?

several lifetimes, I would guess. DON'T LEAVE IT IN WATER OR IT WILL EVAPORATE! store in a cool dry cupboard or something because mine hasn't chnaged size or shape since I started shaving 18 months ago... apart from that one time when it mistakingly got put in the soap dish by one of my siblings and is now the alum block equivalent of two face

I have been using it for a few days now, I like it, it has a nice feeling when I rub it over my face after shaving before I cold water and witch hazel/asb... Well worth the 15 bucks for the block and it will likely last me years so it's cheap all things considered

I use it. It's cool and refreshing, helps to reduce irritation and it's antiseptic. I just make it part of my routine. Warm water to rinse off the lather, cold water splash then alum block, aftershave splash and I'll rub in a little Feather Kanwa or Kiehl's moisturizer. Most days I can go about my life and not think about my face at all after this. YMMV.