Looking for a Better Alum Block

[beachape]

Hello,

I've only been wetshaving for about a month now, but I enjoy using alum as an aftershave and as a deoderant. I purchased the alum bar from westcoast shaving and have also purchased an ammonium alum deoderant bar from whole foods.

My complaint about both my aftershave and deoderant bar is that they have a "chopped and formed" construction that causes lots of sharp edges. I have a feeling that at some point in the near future there will be no smooth comfortable surfaces to use on my face/arm pits.

So my questions:

1) Are all alum blocks "chopped and formed" with rough edges? If not, which ones keep a smooth surface for a long time? Any ones that are a good value? (if possible vendor recommendations would be appreciated as well).

2) I've rather enjoyed using my ammonium alum bar from whole foods as a deodorant. Is there any difference/benefit to using potassium alum (aftershave alum) for a deodorant bar?

3) Any recommended deodorant alums? I guess anything that is smooth and can fit the contour of the armpits would be good. The one i have now is a football shape, which is great....except that half of the football has jagged edges.

Thanks!

 

[jtrops]

My alum blocks are very smooth.

At one time I dropped my deodorant bar and a big chunk broke off leaving a sharp edge and a jagged surface. I just put it in hot water and rubbed it with a wash cloth to smooth it out and it has been fine since.

I don't think the edges are because of the way it was made, but more about the way it was finished. You should be able to smooth out yours pretty easily.

 

[RichGem]

Potassium alum and ammonium alum are functionally they same altho chemically different. Some, however, have found the potassium form to be a bit more effective as a deo and less irritating to the skin than the ammonium.

 

[Beardo]

Hello,
So my questions:

1) Are all alum blocks "chopped and formed" with rough edges? If not, which ones keep a smooth surface for a long time? Any ones that are a good value? (if possible vendor recommendations would be appreciated as well).

2) I've rather enjoyed using my ammonium alum bar from whole foods as a deodorant. Is there any difference/benefit to using potassium alum (aftershave alum) for a deodorant bar?

3) Any recommended deodorant alums? I guess anything that is smooth and can fit the contour of the armpits would be good. The one i have now is a football shape, which is great....except that half of the football has jagged edges.

Thanks!

1- No. I have a Bloc Osma and it's as smooth as a bar of soap. Of course, it cost $12, so the mark up has to go somewhere, but I have no reason to think it is functionally any different from the $2.50 bar at the local Indian supermarket.

2- After using Alum a few times, I found that it didn't agree with my skin. I've been using it as a deodorant ever since, and it works just as well as advertised. As you've probably heard, it doesn't prevent sweating, but your sweat will no longer have an odor to it.

3- Any Alum should be fine. I'd just make price the determinant, since they all blocks of potassium alum will be chemically identical to one another. I can see why you'd want a smooth block for you face, but unless you are tickle-ish or sensitive, a rough Alum block shouldn't be too annoying or painful to apply to your underarms. Good luck!

 

[Wingnut]

...1) Are all alum blocks "chopped and formed" with rough edges? If not, which ones keep a smooth surface for a long time? Any ones that are a good value? (if possible vendor recommendations would be appreciated as well).

Having a "chopped and formed" alum block is, I think, the exception rather than the rule. I've got a few suggestions for sources for other products that might suit you better: The owner of RazoRock is a vendor here at B&B, and his product is well-thought of. Alternately, if you have a Whole Foods locally, they sell a product as a deodorant by Lafe's which is a nicely smoothed block of pure potassium alum in a convenient container for about $4.00 that works quite well as a shaving alum. Also check out your local Indian grocery store (if you have one). They usually sell shaving alum bars for about a buck.

2) I've rather enjoyed using my ammonium alum bar from whole foods as a deodorant. Is there any difference/benefit to using potassium alum (aftershave alum) for a deodorant bar?

Although I have only used potassium alum as an aftershave, I believe that it is known to sting less upon application than ammonium alum; other than that, I believe that they are identical in both use and effectiveness.

3) Any recommended deodorant alums? I guess anything that is smooth and can fit the contour of the armpits would be good. The one i have now is a football shape, which is great....except that half of the football has jagged edges.

See above, the Lafe's deodorant alum works very well as both a shaving alum and a deodorant (though I think I wouldn't use the same one for both applications!)

 

[dcrosso]

Thai Crystal, purchased at Vitacost. They have a travel size and a larger size for at home. I have been using the travel size for my face and underarm. I think the larger size is the best way to go. Order one travel size for your kit and the larger for at home. The Thai Crystal comes in a nice container with a screw on top. It's easier to grip when applying to your face and underarm.

 

[natchez]

I have used both types for face and pits and have found no discernible difference. The deodorant type in large screw-type packaging seems to fit the bill at the lowest cost.

I do use the same one for both purposes, I just rinse it in between face and pits

 

[ferroburak]

I have a cheap one with sharp edges. Razorock's alum on the other hand looks nice.

 

[Bertilak]

Look in stores or on-line for the one pictured below. It is attached to a plastic base that makes a convenient handle. The 4.25 oz size (big!) can often be found for $5-$7. This is the most convenient and cost effective alum I have seen.

The packaging does not admit to it being "alum" as they are afraid to scare off people not wanting anything to do with aluminum, but the one pictured is indeed pure potassium alum (potassium double sulfate of aluminum).

"Crystal" and "mineral salt" seem to be the favorite euphemisms used by this and other brands -- those words are more comforting and look so much better on the shelves of your favorite "natural, green, organic, healthy, lifestyle, food" store.

 

[beachape]

Thanks all. I think I'm going to pick up a bloc osma and a thai crystal. Hopefully those won't scratch me up.

 

[kreese]

Does anyone happen to have a picture of the type of alum bar they buy from the Indian groceries?

There is a large Indian population here in Singapore, and I thank them wholeheartedly for their thick beards and the wealth of shaving products that are available here as a result. Mustafas, a large department store in Little India, is the mecca for Singapore wetshaving. I feel like a kid on Christmas morning everytime I go there and stare at the walls of shaving wares!

I got into wetshaving here and was lucky to be able to find cheap razors (Feather knockoffs labeled as Shogun) and many brands of razor blades - Gillette green Super Stainless being my go-to blade. While I have access to Tabac and Old Spice, my current favorite aftershave is Denim original - one of many varieties found here and there.

Now that I'm about 9 months into the habit I rarely cut myself, but when I do it takes a while for it to stop. I want to buy an alum bar, but for the life of me it seems like they are not available here. Ironic, I feel, considering that those of you back stateside find them at Indian stores. A pharmacist told me that I might be able to find a styptic pencil (I remember seeing those for a buck or two at the local grocery store back home!) at one of the fancy French cosmetic stores, but I refuse to pay something like $10-15 or whatever huge markup there will be on what is basically fancy face-chalk.

I've all but given up on finding local alum, but maybe with an image reference I will eventually come across one as I get to know Little India better.

Cheers.

 

[Swampfox]

, if you have a Whole Foods locally, they sell a product as a deodorant by Lafe's which is a nicely smoothed block of pure potassium alum in a convenient container for about $4.00 that works quite well as a shaving alum.

That's the one that I use. We don;t have a Whole Foods in Greensboro, so I get mine at Earth Fare. I sue Lafe's liquid deo as my deo and it has worked better than anything else yet.

 

[mblakele]

Does anyone happen to have a picture of the type of alum bar they buy from the Indian groceries?

There is a large Indian population here in Singapore...
[cut]

I've all but given up on finding local alum, but maybe with an image reference I will eventually come across one as I get to know Little India better.

I don't know about Indian stores, but Jason (dridiot) is your next-door neighbor, and sells alum blocks. You could PM him and see if he can give you a local discount, or tips on where to find it locally.

 

[Sydney Guy]

Most of the Indian stores in Sydney stock the Original Nice Cool Shaving Alum pictured here
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/group.php?do=discuss&group=&discussionid=1145

 

[beachape]

Just got my amazon shipment in!

Got a 4.25 Thai Crystal Stick
AND
a Bloc Osma Alum

Both appear to be much better quality than the alum bar from west coast shaving. Smooth without that chopped and pressed (air hole filled) appearance. Don't get me wrong, westcoastshaving is a good place...but I wouldn't waste your money on that alum bar.

I'm most impressed by the Thai Cystal Stick. Its much larger than the tiny bloc osma and would be great for using on the face. Its also $5. Quality looks great. I read a few posts that confidently said it is pure potassium alum (not ammonium alum) so thats good too!

Maybe I'll follow up later to see how they stand up to regular use.

 

[kreese]

Thanks for the tip. I'll look into that!

I don't know about Indian stores, but Jason (dridiot) is your next-door neighbor, and sells alum blocks. You could PM him and see if he can give you a local discount, or tips on where to find it locally.