Please read: a quick and interesting note on Alum Block

Matt555 · Jan 18, 2010

GFT Alum Block: $21

Art Of Shaving Alum Block: $18

TOBS Alum Block: $14

Crystal Body Deodorant: $2.49

Understanding all these items are identical: Priceless

That's right. Maybe this has already been covered, but the famous Crystal Rock body deodorant is pure alum block. Save yourself a ton of money!

jumpo64 · Jan 18, 2010

I got my Alum Block from West Coast Shaving for $8, good value in my opinion.

Drubbing · Jan 18, 2010

Or go to almost any Indian supermarket and pick one up for $2.

Rancor16 · Jan 18, 2010

I knew all my Indian friends would come in handy some day! They'll lead me to the cheap shaving supplies $$$$$ =P In all seriousness, I've been dieing to check one of those things out, now I've got a good reason to haha

Matt555 · Jan 18, 2010

jumpo64 said:
I got my Alum Block from West Coast Shaving for $8, good value in my opinion.

Yes, I think the block you get from Westcoast is pretty huge though, 4oz I think, therefore a VERY good deal. Actually, everything on Westcoast is priced super competitively and that's why all my purchases so far have been through that site.. The little Crystal Rock brand I got for $2.49 is a travel size and only 1.7oz.....

So nonetheless, the one from Westcoast may even be an equal or better value!!!!! But 18 bucks for an AOS brand one, holy sh*t!

jumpo64 · Jan 18, 2010

Yeah, the one from West Coast is giant. About the size of a bar of soap and comes in it's own case. Should last me a couple years w/ daily use.

Thebigspendur · Jan 19, 2010

Matt555 said:
GFT Alum Block: $21

Art Of Shaving Alum Block: $18

TOBS Alum Block: $14

Crystal Body Deodorant: $2.49

Understanding all these items are identical: Priceless

That's right. Maybe this has already been covered, but the famous Crystal Rock body deodorant is pure alum block. Save yourself a ton of money!

Not true. The deodorant blocks are usually made of Ammonium Alum which should not go on your face. It is way too strong. Just make sure the product contains Potassium Alum.

For the cheapest checkout Tolumba.com.

The Seeker · Jan 19, 2010

Thebigspendur said:
Just make sure the product contains Potassium Alum.

Exactly. Sometimes you may see 'Potash Alum', this is the same as Potassium Alum.

Ignatius · Jan 19, 2010

Thebigspendur said:
Not true. The deodorant blocks are usually made of Ammonium Alum which should not go on your face. It is way too strong. Just make sure the product contains Potassium Alum.

For the cheapest checkout Tolumba.com.

+1

Be careful most of those natural deodorants are not the same as what we call alum.

Matt555 · Jan 19, 2010

True! But if they are all natural, 100% alum, how are they not the same? Why is one suitable for the face and one for the body? Now I am going to have to buy one you guys are talking about to compare!

mr_economy · Jan 19, 2010

Matt555 said:
True! But if they are all natural, 100% alum, how are they not the same? Why is one suitable for the face and one for the body? Now I am going to have to buy one you guys are talking about to compare!

There's nothing wrong with putting either one on your face, but once you've tried both types of alum you'll definitely realize that ammonium alum is much harsher than potassium alum. It burns more and can result in irritation that you won't get from potassium alum.

Greybeard · Jan 19, 2010

Matt555 said:
True! But if they are all natural, 100% alum, how are they not the same? Why is one suitable for the face and one for the body? Now I am going to have to buy one you guys are talking about to compare!

Go to a Dollar store or a Thai grocery store and buy a crystal deodorant made in Thailand.
They're potassium alum.

- Peter

Barbiere di Figaro · Jan 19, 2010

mr_economy said:
There's nothing wrong with putting either one on your face, but once you've tried both types of alum you'll definitely realize that ammonium alum is much harsher than potassium alum. It burns more and can result in irritation that you won't get from potassium alum.

Hi Kyle,

Isn't that the difference between the normal alum blocks and alum sticks?

I think that the sticks are harsher as they are to be used to stop bleeding. An alum block would do that to probably but isn't meant just for that.

Eric

Matt555 · Jan 19, 2010

WOW! I was pretty confident I knew what I was talking about, guess not. I am going to pick up some of the other type to compare. I have noticed after rubbing the crystal brand on my neck, it turns really red and then fades and I am fine. Maybe that wont happen with the Potasium alum and it wont burn as bad? Thanks guys.........

Bertilak · Jan 19, 2010

These can be found in many places -- Amazon, Whole Foods, and more. Potassium Alum, 4.25 ounces. Closeable container. Base acts as a convenient handle. About 8 bucks American.

mr_economy · Jan 19, 2010

Tuttoitaliaonline said:
Hi Kyle,

Isn't that the difference between the normal alum blocks and alum sticks?

I think that the sticks are harsher as they are to be used to stop bleeding. An alum block would do that to probably but isn't meant just for that.

Eric

Hi Eric,

I believe the sticks, which I would call styptic pencils, actually contain ingredients like aluminum sulfate and titanium dioxide to help stop the bleeding, which are both different from the alum used in shaving blocks and natural deodorants.

Styptic pencils sting much worse than both ammonium alum and potassium alum in my experience. Styptics are also much better at stopping bleeding. If I have tiny cuts after a shave then an alum block is fine, but any large cuts that bleed a lot require the styptic pencils instead of alum.

Barbiere di Figaro · Jan 19, 2010

Hi Kyle,

You could very well be right. But do these styptic pencils contain alum or don't they and are these completely different? ( I have them both but haven't checked ingredients yet)

Eric

mr_economy · Jan 19, 2010

Tuttoitaliaonline said:
Hi Kyle,

You could very well be right. But do these styptic pencils contain alum or don't they and are these completely different? ( I have them both but haven't checked ingredients yet)

Eric

Hi Eric,

I use the Clubman brand styptic pencil, which I find at my local Walmart. According to the product page on Drugstore.com, it contains aluminum sulfate and titanium dioxide. Aluminum sulfate is not actually alum, though it is chemically similar.

The alum deodorant stick that I have previously used as a post-shave alum treatment is the Crystal Stick Body Deodorant, which according to Drugstore.com contains ammonium alum. It was the first alum I tried, and it stung a lot when applied, although less than a styptic pen.

I can't find a link to the alum block that I use now, since I bought it from a small market in France. But the wrapper it originally came packaged in showed it contains potassium alum. If I have a rough shave, it stings a little bit, but less than the Crystal Stick Body Deodorant and much much less than the Clubman styptic pen.

DerFly · Jan 19, 2010

For the Aussies here, the generic crystal deodorant available in Priceline etc., are Potassium Alum. About A$5.00 or therabouts.

pauls51 · Jan 19, 2010

DerFly said:
For the Aussies here, the generic crystal deodorant available in Priceline etc., are Potassium Alum. About A$5.00 or therabouts.

I picked up one of those a couple of weeks ago for $4.50 from Priceline in Chaddy

Search

Please read: a quick and interesting note on Alum Block

Matt555

jumpo64

Drubbing

Rancor16

Matt555

jumpo64

Thebigspendur

The Seeker

Ignatius

Matt555

mr_economy

Greybeard

Barbiere di Figaro

Matt555

Bertilak

mr_economy

Barbiere di Figaro

mr_economy

DerFly

pauls51

Similar threads