Skipping the Alum

I have been using Alum since I started wet shaving. I also use it on my finger tips to aid grip when stretching. I have always applied the alum post shave with cold water then removed the Alum after a few seconds with a cold water splash.

Lately my shaving technique has got much better with a straight and the alum doesn't sting much but I do notice it tightens my face. I have also noticed lately that I am suffering with dry skin more regularly. I used to think when I DE shaved the tightening and the drying was more to do with my poor technique then the product but now I am unsure.

I am wondering has anyone decided to skip the Alum and found their skin improves? Comments please :)

I never knew about alum for the first 3 yrs. And have since decided that if I went that long without, that I dont really need it.

Alum can dry the face but it also acts as an antiseptic which helps keep the pores healthy. I use it after every shave but always finish with a quality shaving balm which unlike aftershave will rehydrate the skin. In fact I may go a little overboard Proraso pre and post leave to soak in then apply the balm. This works for me

I guess you could stop using alum and see if your dry skin condition ceases or start using an AS balm. I always had fairly oily skin and zits which stopped when I started using alum block regularly and no AS balm. I can see if you had normal to dry skin to start with using alum might dry your skin out a little too much.

Bob

Alum is also an excellent deodorant.....I have not bought mainstream deodorant since discovering alum. It als is good for post shave touchup as it gets the stray whiskers to stand tall.

Funny you should mention alum's use as a deodorant. The alum I use post shave is sold as a deodorant locally and saves me ordering "shaving" alum block on line.

Bob

Yeah, that alum is pretty versatile stuff. Definitely a nifty old school secret.

I've never used Alum Block. I use Styptic pencil when I need to, which is very rare these days, and use moisturizing balms after my shaves instead of after shaves.

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 :)

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

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.

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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 :)

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

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Originally Posted by AndrewJM

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

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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 :)

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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 :)

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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

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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

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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.

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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.

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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

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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

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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...

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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…

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Originally Posted by kevinred

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

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LOL - I got to tell you... its that, or male menopause!! That's pretty radical. :)

How confusing!!

kevinred, name the baby after Ed and make him the Godfather so he will have to pay all the bills. Since I've stopped using the alum block my face has cleared considerably. That's my result. As for Proraso, if it's got menthol and/or eucalyptus in it stay away from it if shaves with it leaver you less than satisfied. I do love my cold water shaves.

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Originally Posted by thebigspendur

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.

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I was curious about the difference between the two types of alum so asked a Pharmacist about it. The upshot was that the main difference was that the ammonium one would sting more on a cut. Like I say, I have been using Henri Bernard deodorant crystal post shave for going on a year now with no side effects that I can notice. There is no ingredients list on the container so which type it is who knows other than it is sold as a deodorant. So I don't know why one type would be for one use and the other for a different use.


Bob

As an after thought I should say that I am not recommending using an alum crystal product labelled as a deodorant for post shave use, only that I do use it for post shave.

Bob