The Alum Block

Gordy

Gordy

Legendary Member
Yeah it can be very difficult. I thought I was getting somewhere with my list until soaps like Wickham's Parma Violet came along, and there will always be more new soaps so I'm just choosing what's important to me, and reveling in the amount of choice available to us.
 
UKRob

UKRob

Forum GOD!
Lord Fatboy said:
They are good for foot complaints, but that's as close as I want an alum bloc to get to my face.
It *destroys* lather & brushes, it's terrible for your skin. I spread a *tiny* amount on the handle of any "slippery" DE/SE razors or brush handle, then get it as far away from the sink as possible. I used to use it on finger tips for skin stretching, but a thin cloth works better without the adverse effects. Witch hazel (and Lavender and rose water) does the same job better, and they are all very, very *good* for your skin. Alum blocs in shaving should have died out when their reason for being disappeared - to make 19th century French barber shops fractionally less caked in filth.
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Would you care to share your source for these comments - especially 'destroys lather and brushes'. I used is on my face for a long time with no ill effects - and given that it's a post shave I fail to see how I'd can affect either lather or brush.
 
Lord Fatboy

Lord Fatboy

Forgo Mud !
UKRob said:
Would you care to share your source for these comments - especially 'destroys lather and brushes'. I used is on my face for a long time with no ill effects - and given that it's a post shave I fail to see how I'd can affect either lather or brush.
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It's a salt, and if used for skin stretching it gets into your lather and brush.
 
UKRob

UKRob

Forum GOD!
Lord Fatboy said:
It's a salt, and if used for skin stretching it gets into your lather and brush.
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But where is the evidence that it destroys brushes? The problem with making this kind of comment is that a newcomer may take is as gospel and assume we know what we are talking about. If your's is a one-off experience of effect on a brush then it's OK to make the comment so long as you reference it to yourself - but making sweeping generalisations should be avoided in my opinion.
 
Lord Fatboy

Lord Fatboy

Forgo Mud !
UKRob said:
But where is the evidence that it destroys brushes? The problem with making this kind of comment is that a newcomer may take is as gospel and assume we know what we are talking about. If your's is a one-off experience of effect on a brush then it's OK to make the comment so long as you reference it to yourself - but making sweeping generalisations should be avoided in my opinion.
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Fair enough. I'd have thought the burlesqued tone would've been a clear sign not to take it as gospel, but this is a reference post, and I should have been more clear in saying "It is a mineral, so dissipates into a solvent, which cannot be good for your brushes, should cross contamination occur".
 
johnus

johnus

Well-Known Member
Seems that there's some confusion as to what Alum is used for: "An Alum Block is a crystal-like stone that is moistened with cold water and gently rubbed over the shaved area to act as an antiseptic and to combat razor burn. It can also help to stop bleeding from small nicks and cuts."
It's used after you shave and after you've washed the shave soap off of your face. Alum is applied and then rinsed off. It's followed by Aftershave and then Lotion.
Use it, like it, feel it has value.
 
RedSteve

RedSteve

Forum GOD!
I thought I'd give an early update on not using alum, then I might give another update in a couple of weeks.
From my early experience (haven't used alum since Tuesday, today is Saturday) I am not missing anything by not using alum. After each shave now, I clean off my face and wipe with cold water. I let my face air dry and my skin feels a lot softer and in better condition than when I used alum. I would always need to use a balm after my shaves when I used alum, but since Tuesday I haven't used any balm because the soaps I'm using left my face feeling so good. Its early days yet but I don't feel like I'm missing anything from skipping alum in my shave routine, it dried my face way too much and I needed extra product to bring it back to an acceptable condition. I will still have it on hand in case I have an awful shave, but my technique is good enough that I don't think I will need it anymore.
 
L

lloydrm

Forum GOD!
Lord Fatboy said:
Fair enough. I'd have thought the burlesqued tone would've been a clear sign not to take it as gospel, but this is a reference post, and I should have been more clear in saying "It is a mineral, so dissipates into a solvent, which cannot be good for your brushes, should cross contamination occur".
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What now?
 
RetLEO-07

RetLEO-07

Veteran
Been using an alum block since the get go. I only leave it on my face for the time it takes to get my cold towel ready and on my face. If you use proper technique there's no sting. If you've gone over a spot too much it'll let ya know.
 
R

R181

Grumpy old man
Since I started shaving with a straight razor about 5 years ago I have been using alum every day. The alum I use is the one sold as an antiperspirant in a screw up container. My skin has always been oily and subject to pimples into my 60s. The use of alum post shave has virtually eliminated that. Never had to use alum to aid in skin stretching as my hands are dry when I shave and so is the exposed skin after being gone over by the blade. Used post shave it has had no effect on my lather or brushes. I apply it post shave to a wet face, let sit for a couple of minutes then thoroughly wash off before applying after shave. Witch-hazel will do the same thing but I prefer solids for traveling. The only time I use a balm is if I royally screwed up my shave and that is thankfully very infrequent. Balms also seem to exacerbate my oily skin condition. My guess is that the use of pre and post shave products depends on what kind of skin you have.

Bob
 
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