Thread: sweat ruins lather...?

Summer has arrived and I am sweating even when sitting and reading the forum. Likewise I'm sweating while shaving. Now sweat is nothing else than salt water.

I noticed once that I rubbed one part of my face with alum block during shaving and after that it was impossible to lather that part of my face properly. Is alum block a salty-something as well...?

Could it be the case that sweat works the same way as alum block? Could it be that when I sweat "secretly" under the lather - it ruins the lather unnoticed just on the skin level and thus makes the shave less comfortable...?

Maybe many of us are sweating after having a hot shower in a hot and humid bathroom. Maybe this is why cold water shave is preferred by many.

Just a thought. :-)

Cheers

Alum block does have a drying effect. I never use it. I also never shower before a shave. I think it is a part of "prep" that can be eliminated with no negative consequences. I've considered eliminating showers altogether, but the wife might start complaining. Actually, she'd probably complain either way, so the heck with it.

I once removed a wet alum block from my bowl prior to whipping up soap with my boar brush and found it impossible to build up any lather.
I don't know that sweat reduces lather (I'll keep an eye on that) but I quickly found that alum and soap definitely don't mix.
Interesting post Szarvi.

Originally Posted by ace

Alum block does have a drying effect. I never use it. I also never shower before a shave. I think it is a part of "prep" that can be eliminated with no negative consequences. I've considered eliminating showers altogether, but the wife might start complaining. Actually, she'd probably complain either way, so the heck with it.

Until pretty recently people almost never bathed.

Alum actually is a salt. As to sweat, maybe the salt I don't know.