Thread: Witch Hazel instead of Alum block?

I was just wondering. Does the witch hazel based products, such as Thayer's are a substitute for the alum block after the shaving routine?

I suspect you will get a wide range of differing opinions on this as everyone seems to have his own post-shave ritual

However, I tend to use one or the other. Mostly I use Thayer's witch hazel, but around 20-25% of the time I will use alum instead. I generally don't use them both together.

Edit: they both (to my knowledge at least) tend to serve the same purpose: that of an astringent.

I always use witch hazel after a cold water splash during my post shave routine. It closes the pores, cleans the skin, soothes the skin, and has an antiseptic effect due to the alcohol in it. I haven't used an alum block, but from what I've read, it seems to do the same thing.

I just use witchazel,Thayers cucumber/aloe. In the summertime I keep it in the fridge; the splash feels delicious!

Witch Hazel is an astringent in its own right. Personally, I use both after a shave and then and aftershave for good measure. Then again I do have a bit of OCD...lol

I use alum... let it dry a bit as I'm cleaning up my cave. Then I rinse it off and pat my face dry a bit with the towel and drive the witch hazel to it... maybe a couple applications. If it was an irritating shave (still new at this) I don't apply aftershave, if it went great I put on some AS. I do love the way my skin feels after the witch hazel though. By the way the alum goes over my whole face (forehead, temples etc) as does the witch hazel. It really has cut down on the blemishes and breakouts.

I use them both, heavy on the alum, let it settle for 5 minutes, as I clean up the Shave Den (small cramped bathroom), "pad" the face with cold wet towel, then really heavy on the Thayer's Lavender. Then throw on the Secret Weapon, Clubman Pinaud.

Women go crazy over Clubman Pinaud.

Originally Posted by Hirlau

I use them both, heavy on the alum, let it settle for 5 minutes, as I clean up the Shave Den (small cramped bathroom), "pad" the face with cold wet towel, then really heavy on the Thayer's Lavender. Then throw on the Secret Weapon, Clubman Pinaud.

Women go crazy over Clubman Pinaud.

Rats! I must be doing something wrong.

Swiss Miss, SWMBO, has not thrown my body to the floor and ravaged me.

I use gallons of Pinaud Clubman.

John, I beg of you, what am I doing wrong?

Signed,

Horndog

Yes, they both do the same thing, but many people use both and it hasn't hurt anyone yet.

Make yourself happy!

Will N.

I think maybe it's that women go crazy over Clubman Pinaud when it's got Hirlau on it.