Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 17

Thread: What is this?

  1. #1
    Member FarNorthAK's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Eagle River, AK
    Posts
    47
    Thanked: 3

    Post What is this?

    My brother and I recently went to the only barber that I could find in my area that does straight razor shaves, looking for some tips and a nice shave. The shave wasn't great as we were both bleeding and a bit raw afterwards, but he gave me this to use for a face gripping agent.

    Does anyone know what this is?

    Anyone know a good barber in or near Anchorage, AK?
    Attached Images Attached Images  

  2. #2
    Never a dull moment hoglahoo's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Tulsa, OK
    Posts
    8,922
    Thanked: 1501
    Blog Entries
    1

    Default alum block

    Looks like an alum block:
    An alum block is used both to seal nicks and cuts, and as an after-shave treatment. The alum block is used by wetting it with cold water and rubbing it onto wet skin. The blocks are most commonly made from aluminum potassium sulfate, and are therefore milder than styptic pencils. They also take longer to seal cuts, therefore making them more useful as an aftershave treatment.
    Find me on SRP's official chat in ##srp on Freenode. Link is at top of SRP's homepage

  3. #3
    The original Skolor and Gentileman. gugi's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Posts
    17,410
    Thanked: 3906
    Blog Entries
    1

    Default

    yeah looks like alum, may be the sodium kind, you want the potassium.

    as far as the shaving the best way i'd say is to learn yourself. you'll get all the help you need here.

  4. #4
    Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Posts
    39
    Thanked: 2

    Default

    ditto what they said

  5. #5
    ---
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Posts
    1,230
    Thanked: 278

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by FarNorthAK View Post
    he gave me this to use for a face gripping agent.
    Looks like alum block to me too.
    If by "face gripping agent" you mean something to help you stretch the skin, then yes, rubbing your fingers on damp alum block does improve grip.

  6. #6
    The Hurdy Gurdy Man thebigspendur's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2005
    Location
    New Mexico
    Posts
    32,737
    Thanked: 5016
    Blog Entries
    4

    Default

    My my another "professional shave" story.

    We really should have a separate thread where everyone who gets a barbers shave should post their experience and they can all commiserate together. We can call it the shave of shame or something like that.
    No matter how many men you kill you can't kill your successor-Emperor Nero

  7. #7
    Large Member ben.mid's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    Oxfordshire, England
    Posts
    3,096
    Thanked: 763

    Default

    Alum will make your fingers stick well, but it'll kill the lather & make the blade skip if you go over the spot your fingers have touched. I tried a few shaves with Alum as a pre shave. Forgot to wash it off once & had to start from scratch as the brush was contaminated.

  8. #8
    Member FarNorthAK's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Eagle River, AK
    Posts
    47
    Thanked: 3

    Default

    Thanks, maybe that was why my brother was bleeding so much after his shave! the barber used the block constantly!

  9. #9
    Indisposed
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Posts
    6,038
    Thanked: 1195

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by thebigspendur View Post
    My my another "professional shave" story.

    We really should have a separate thread where everyone who gets a barbers shave should post their experience and they can all commiserate together. We can call it the shave of shame or something like that.
    You hit the nail on the head with that one, Spendur. Or better yet, post it as a sticky to deter new members from getting a barber shavette shave. How many guys have been turned off of straight razor shaving because they went to the barber first?

  10. #10
    Aspiring Newbie
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    Guelph, Ontario
    Posts
    261
    Thanked: 23

    Default Heh...

    I go to an old barber who still uses a razor to clean the back of your neck. Last time I was there he cut me. How do you cut the flat part of a neck? :P

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •