Men often suffer from various ailments that typically occur after shaving their face and scalp. Guys with sensitive skin and a propensity for ingrown hairs or razor burn have it worse.
You can take care of your skin with a pre-shaving product to prevent some of these issues from occurring. By way of an example, here’s the pre-shave product from Proraso that I use on both my face and scalp prior to shaving to condition the whiskers and skin.
But post shave, you can also help your skin since the damage occurs while shaving. This is where an after shave product like alum or after shave comes in handy.
Shaving alum and alcohol-based after shave can be used separately or together after shaving to soothe the skin and kill bacteria. Alum is scent free whereas after shave often has a fragrance to also leave a nice scent on your skin.
Below we’ll discuss aspects about alum and after shave and why you might choose one over the other.
Alum vs after shave comparison
While you can use shaving alum, after shave or both products following shaving, each one offers different benefits. Here’s a comparison.
| Shaving alum | After shave | |
| Use | Moisten the alum stick with water and then gently rub on the skin after shaving. Leave on skin or pat dry. | Pour an amount in the palms of your hands and apply the after shave directly to the skin post shave. |
| Format | Typically sold as a block or in a deodorant-style container. | Sold in glass bottles (liquid) or plastic squeezable bottles (gels and lotions). |
| Frequency | Use after shaving. Those with sensitive skin might limit use to several times per week. Alum can be a bit abrasive so don’t rub too hard. | Use after shaving. Daily use is generally fine unless you find it dries your skin. In that case, you might switch to a soothing lotion. |
| Ingredients | Potassium alum. It’s a 100% natural product. | Usually alcohol-based. Could be liquid, gel or lotion format. |
| Benefits | Soothes the skin and can help clot cuts. Slight stinging afterwards lets you know where you nicked or cut yourself to help improve shaving next time. May help to reduce ingrown hairs and razor burn. | Acts as an astringent to tighten the skin. Alcohol helps kill bacteria from cuts. |
| Side effects | Stinging feeling from cuts and nicks. You can get blood on the alum stick from cuts. | Alcohol-based after shave can sting your skin especially on cuts. Alcohol also has a drying effect on skin. |
| Scent | Typically odorless since it’s a natural product. You can use after shave or cologne afterwards. | Various scents similar to cologne but not as strong. |
Bottom line: While each product has benefits and some overlap, you need to decide which benefits you require if you’re only planning on using one product.
What is an alum stick?
An alum stick or alum stone is typically about 100 g and is made from potassium alum which is a chemical compound also used as a natural deodorant. Alum also has commercial applications such as leather tanning and dyeing among others.
The aluminum found in it is different from the chemical aluminum in case you’re worried about the dangers that aluminum-based body products (commercial deodorants and antiperspirants) often cause people to worry about.
An alum stick is usually sold in a small closable plastic box whereas the deodorant style product can be applied from the plastic container just as you would a regular deodorant or antiperspirant.
Depending on how frequently you use it and the size, an alum stick can last months or even years so purchase a good quality one that you’ll expect to keep for some time.
How do I use shaving alum?
For shaving purposes, you wet the alum stick under running water for a second or two and then glide the product over the skin you just shaved whether on your face or scalp. Use it somewhat like an electric shaver i.e. gently run it up and down your skin especially on cuts and irritated areas.
You can then let the alum dry on your skin or rinse it off and pat dry your skin if desired.
If you’re planning on using a lotion, balm or other after shave product, splash some water on your face first to rinse off the remaining alum, pat dry and then use the after shave.
How effective is shaving alum on nicks and cuts?
While the main benefit of shaving alum is to soothe skin and as an antiseptic following shaving, it does have blood stopping abilities too. Rubbing the alum stick on a small cut or nick can help to stop the bleeding faster than just letting it clot.
In my experience it can help with small cuts and nicks but larger cuts often need to clot on their own or require the help of something else.
If you’re looking for a specific product to stop bleeding quicker after cutting yourself, consider a styptic pencil since its main purpose is to stop the bleeding from cuts.
Summary
Shaving alum is an after shaving product you apply after you’ve shaved to soothe the skin while potentially also helping to stop cuts from bleeding. Alum is typically scent free since it’s a natural product.
After shave is traditionally alcohol-based which has the effect of killing bacteria from cuts and also leaving a nice scent on your skin. It does tend to sting upon application especially on cuts.
You can use the products separately or together. If you find you cut yourself and suffer from ingrown hairs and razor burn, alum may help. After shave on the other hand also helps with cuts and leaves a nice smell too.
You might also consider using a pre-shave lotion or oil applied directly to the skin should you find that you continue to have issues such as ingrown hairs, nicks or cuts or razor burn. The pre-shave product helps to add a layer of protection on the skin prior to shaving. Shaving cream can then be applied over top as usual followed by shaving.