Thread: Alum blocks

Is there a chance by anyway that these blocks can cause ingrown hairs? I use an alum pencil for the first time the other night and used it all over my face and now have some serious case of ingrown hairs! Fyi I was using a de to get real close after I used a straight razor. Any responses will be appreciated and thanks.

I cannot say if that could have caused your ingrown hairs, but I suspect that what you used might be the culprit.

You most likely used a styptic pencil and that is not the same thing as an alum block. the styptic is very harsh and closes off nicks and cuts. The alum block that you want to use on your face is potasium alum and us almost always sold as shaving alum. It is an astringent and will not stop bleeding in a cut, but it will serve the same purpose and using witch hazel or any other astringent and closes your pores and tones your skin while calming down burn.

I buy mine at the local Indian market for a couple of bucks and they last years if you don't drop them. I am going to guess that your ingrown hairs are from scraping around with the DE and the combonation of the styptic pencil.

Will N.

Originally Posted by WillN

I cannot say if that could have caused your ingrown hairs, but I suspect that what you used might be the culprit.

You most likely used a styptic pencil and that is not the same thing as an alum block. the styptic is very harsh and closes off nicks and cuts. The alum block that you want to use on your face is potasium alum and us almost always sold as shaving alum. It is an astringent and will not stop bleeding in a cut, but it will serve the same purpose and using witch hazel or any other astringent and closes your pores and tones your skin while calming down burn.

I buy mine at the local Indian market for a couple of bucks and they last years if you don't drop them. I am going to guess that your ingrown hairs are from scraping around with the DE and the combonation of the styptic pencil.

Will N.

You're right I did use a styptic pencil! Now that answers my question a bit better!

I doubt that was the issue. I suspect the way you used the DE is what did it.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

I doubt that was the issue. I suspect the way you used the DE is what did it.

I might tend to agree with you on that 1 as I'm not used to using a DE and I was using a feather blade in it. But it's probably a combination of the both!

I have never been able to get an alum block to last that long. How big are the ones you purchase and is there a brand name?

Originally Posted by LeBois

I have never been able to get an alum block to last that long. How big are the ones you purchase and is there a brand name?

I know they sell true alum blocks at the Art of Shaving or just about any wet shaving website will sell them.

I got mine here.

I just got cheapies off eBay. Don't even remember the brand. I love them. No ingrowns. No probs. Glad I bought 3 though, 'cause I've already dropped/shattered 2...

Originally Posted by LeBois

I have never been able to get an alum block to last that long. How big are the ones you purchase and is there a brand name?

My daily use block was about 1 1/2" cubed when I bought it. I got it at Whole Foods. I have used it almost daily (~300 times/year) for almost 4 years and it is still 80% of its original size. I don't wet the block. I just leave my face wet from the final rinse and rub it all around. It sits in a little dish on my counter and dries in between uses.