Being that alum blocks are mineral rocks (?) am I correct in thinking that all blocks are the same, and that the difference in price is based on size, and name brand?
Are all Alum blocks the same?
- Thread starter bnndx2
- Start date
I have been wondering the same thing. Have been putting of buying one due to this reason.
I have used $14, $11, $8, and $.69 blocks, and they are all the same as far as performance goes...no need to go nuts, it's just a block of salt, pretty much.
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I'm pretty sure it's all the same stuff. The cheaper you can find it the better.
I tried to find some locally and ended up finding out that the "crystal" deodorants are either made of ammonium alum or potassium alum. I found most alum sold for shaving was made of potassium alum. I'm not a chemist nor did I do particularly well in chemistry class in college - so I am not an expert. I have heard people say that the potassium alum is a better, higher quality product. Maybe somebody with more chemistry knowledge could chime in here...
True, there are two (at least) kinds of "alum". The prevalent ones are potassium and ammonium as you say.
I'm not sure I'd classify one or the other as "higher quality" but I believe the potassium is more appropriate for use after shaving. I expect there are uses where the reverse is true. I have never tried the ammonium version so this is hear-say evidence.
Potassium for shaving use, aluminum for underarm use...
That pretty much sums it up.
Just bought an alum block for shaving at the local Indian grocery. $3.99, exact same size bar as Classic shaving sells for $8. Looks, the same, feels the same, smells the same, must be the same.
The best place that I've found is my local Indian grocery store. A nice-sized block (not huge, but not tiny either - it's not listed as to it's weight) goes for the princely sum of $0.99. I've also found this store to stock all 3 Godrej creams ($2.99 ea.), Mysore Sandalwood soap ($1.99 for a large bar) and Indian Gillette 7 O'Clock blades. Overall, it's a great shaving resource that I would have never known about but for the good folks here at B&B.
Another option is your local health food store. Look for "crystal deodorant sticks", but be sure to only buy those made from potassium alum - there are some made of ammonium alum that, if used on your face, will sting like a styptic does. A small crystal shouldn't set you back more than about $4-5. Search the internet or your local yellow pages, and good luck!
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Thanks!!!! I'll have to look for a local Indian grocery store. I'm not sure there is one. Also, I didn't think of the local health food store. I'll be passing one on the way home tonight, so I'll check there.
I don't know where exactly you're located, but it's hard for me to believe that your local health food store didn't have at least one of those "crystal deodorant" rocks. Did you ask an employee (or a manager/order person) about them?
If there's a Whole Foods anywhere near you, I'm sure you will find many choices there. If not, PM me and I should be able to get one of the Indian cheapies out to you.
EDIT: Here are a couple of local HFSs that I Googled up for ya:
Backyard Bison
685 Crowthers Road
Coopersburg, PA 18036
Phone: (610)346-6640
Bee Natural Health Store & Studio
21 North Main Street Coopersburg PA 18036
Phone 610-282-0230
Here's the nearest Whole Foods Market:
North Wales
1210 Bethlehem Pike
North Wales, Pennsylvania 19454
215.481.0800
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If you're ordering online,
shoeboxshaveshop: http://www.shoeboxshaveshop.com/ihaalumblock.html
amazon (sold by someplace named AKM Partners): http://www.amazon.com/Tulumba-Barbe...ef=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=hpc&qid=1264866464&sr=8-2
This is the one that I bought from shoeboxshaveshop. If you're placing an order anyway you might consider it. I know it's probably not as cheap as you might find at an Indian grocer, but it's convenient in that you don't have to go hunting to find it locally. And at least it's not $10.
