Thread: Skipping the Alum

I couldn't agree with Bob more.

No shaving regimen is set in stone. It ought to be tailored to what suits the individual shaver.

Nor does it have to be the same before, during and after every shave.

Originally Posted by edhewitt

I used to use alum, but stopped as I didn't like it very much, I know razorfeld thinks alum adversely affected his skin, I would just give it a break for a week or so and see how you go.
I gave mine away, which cheered up a fellow member here
Steph, brut aftershave makes a pretty good underarm deodorant, I imagine it's what magnum P.I. would smell of

HI Ed, If you've got any more stuff to give away, you can always toss it my way
Andrew

Originally Posted by AndrewJM

HI Ed, If you've got any more stuff to give away, you can always toss it my way
Andrew

From what you are throwing at razors I don't reckon you need charity Andrew
But on a serious note the big cull was late last year, I cleaned out all the bits and bobs that were gathering dust, the only stuff I have in excess is soap and cream and I intend to use them up myself, however as I said, I am happy to send you some sample sized bits of most of them, I have a few that I want for me alone, but the rest of ems a different story

Originally Posted by edhewitt

From what you are throwing at razors I don't reckon you need charity Andrew
But on a serious note the big cull was late last year, I cleaned out all the bits and bobs that were gathering dust, the only stuff I have in excess is soap and cream and I intend to use them up myself, however as I said, I am happy to send you some sample sized bits of most of them, I have a few that I want for me alone, but the rest of ems a different story

Hi Ed, good to see you're still up and awake like me past 1am

Im not throwing much at razors, so to speak... I just figure Im late to the game and needed to play a little catch-up

2 customs and 2 cheapies, plus shaving cream etc to make the experience enjoyable.

Anrew

Originally Posted by AndrewJM

Hi Ed, good to see you're still up and awake like me past 1am

Im not throwing much at razors, so to speak... I just figure Im late to the game and needed to play a little catch-up

2 customs and 2 cheapies, plus shaving cream etc to make the experience enjoyable.

Anrew

I was only playing, and am glad that you can have the things you want . Did you get alum? If so, what are your thoughts?

The skin tightening feeling is normal with alum regardless of technique but it's very much a personal preference thing. Some people love that feeling and some can't stand it. IMO it's beneficial as a post shave product but others have found the opposite.

It's already been mentioned here but the best thing would be to skip the alum for at least a week or two and see what happens.

Seems to me that you are at the height of summer down there and things are probably pretty hot and dry. It stands to reason that anything that isn't moisturizing will be an issue. But it might not be the alum as much as the soap or cream you are using that's drying up your face.

I have to admit that there are more than a few creams and after shaves that do not work for me in the heat of summer. Take for example Edward Jagger (EJ). It's ok stuff, I love the scent. During the humid summers here the cream drys me out, and the balm just bogs down on my face... it feels like its melting within the skin itself. Now I only use EJ in the spring and fall.

I found a nice mentholated cream and aftershave that works really well for me in summer. But before I found it, I thought it was the alum too. I honestly don't think it was...

If you're using alum as a deodorant keep in mind there are two alums. Ammonium and Potassium. The ammonium type is used in deodorant and the potassium type is what goes on your face.

Originally Posted by edhewitt

I used to use alum, but stopped as I didn't like it very much, I know razorfeld thinks alum adversely affected his skin, I would just give it a break for a week or so and see how you go.

Originally Posted by BobH

Looking at the replies so far all I can say is the use of any product used in a shaving regimen that has an adverse effect on you should not be used. I also think most pre and post shave products are not strictly necessary either depending on a persons skin condition. Since everyone does not have the same skin condition/type you have to experiment which combination of pre and post shave products do or do not work for you.

Specifically in the case of using an alum block post shave for me it has a beneficial effect that I discovered after not using it in over 40 years of shaving. The main use of it for me is not as a replacement for a styptic pencil although I do have a styptic pencil that is very rarely used.

There is also the case where a pre or post shave product has no effect, good or bad, and/or you just plain don't like it so why even use it.

Bob

Thanks Guys

I'm not really sure whats happening with my skin. Shaving with a straight gives me the closest and most comfortable shaves I have ever had. But lately even my old favourite Proraso green has been leaving me with red skin. I can't seem to shave with my DE or my shavette either unless I want a red bumpy neck. I'm finding that a cool water shave with no pre shave, Arko face lathered then a good rinse with cold water is all I need to keep my face feeling great. I add a few drops of alcohol free balm or some neat almond oil and all is good. I used to love splash on AS but the alcohol seems to inflame things too.

Maybe my skin has got sensitive in my old age or maybe I have become intolerant and sensitive to any sign of irritation or redness, as for me a perfect feeling and looking shave is a DFS with not a hint redness let alone a bump. Or maybe for me I have found the perfect way to shave and everything else falls short.

It seems like I'm rapidly ruling out what either I or my skin doesn't like. Funny thing is my taste in scents is rapidly changing too, I seem to have gone off the strong smelling scents and am moving towards the more subtle ones…..maybe I'm pregnant…lol

Originally Posted by earcutter

Seems to me that you are at the height of summer down there and things are probably pretty hot and dry. It stands to reason that anything that isn't moisturizing will be an issue. But it might not be the alum as much as the soap or cream you are using that's drying up your face.


I have to admit that there are more than a few creams and after shaves that do not work for me in the heat of summer. Take for example Edward Jagger (EJ). It's ok stuff, I love the scent. During the humid summers here the cream drys me out, and the balm just bogs down on my face... it feels like its melting within the skin itself. Now I only use EJ in the spring and fall.


I found a nice mentholated cream and aftershave that works really well for me in summer. But before I found it, I thought it was the alum too. I honestly don't think it was...

Its my first "real" summer in Australia (Last year I worked in an air conditioned mall) and I am working physically now so I do sweat a lot. Yep its having an effect for sure. All the things my skin loved it seems to hate now, however I was using a DE and I thought I would never escape the neck bumps.

I can get a perfect shave now with no irritation but I'm very limited to what I can use, if I want the perfect result. Arko seems to be the best at the moment, if I use oil I break out, and many other products seem to dry my skin.

It's funny though because I have spent a fortune hunting for a good soap and now It seems my skin loves one of the cheapest…