you'd all be ashamed of me!!

nav1

Active Member from afar
2018 Sabbatical Fail
Joined
Aug 23, 2012
Deviating from the ways of the traditional wet shaver...I only ever used 1 or 2 balms as I was never into the whole aftershave thing.

In the past week, I've gone a step further and have ceased using even balms!

Now I rub my alum block for about fifteen seconds and wash it off then dry my face and I'm done.

I find that I'm left with soothed skin and zero irritation. I also find my skin feels fresher for longer into the day as the greasy feeling doesn't develop like with balms, especially in the slightly warmer weather of India.

So my new post shave routine is just an alum block (50 cents for a massive 125g block!).
 
I'm with you mate.

Nowadays the only thing that touches my neck is witch hazel (which also goes on the cheeks) and after that is dry I splash on a healthy dose of aftershave on the cheeks.

Never been happier.
 
I use aftershave but that's it.
Darwin is similar to the humid parts of India so I know exactly what you mean about balms feeling you greasy.
Please don't tell me you want the menthol back?

I think we should start a "dial it back" campaign, with one soap, one brush, one razor himself as our leader.

Pfft who am I kidding? There are only a few of us under @psmiths thousand number mark as it is, key alone under the 100
 
Not anymore I wouldn't think!


Hey - Happy shaving :)
 
Deviating from the ways of the traditional wet shaver...I only ever used 1 or 2 balms as I was never into the whole aftershave thing.

In the past week, I've gone a step further and have ceased using even balms!

Now I rub my alum block for about fifteen seconds and wash it off then dry my face and I'm done.

I find that I'm left with soothed skin and zero irritation. I also find my skin feels fresher for longer into the day as the greasy feeling doesn't develop like with balms, especially in the slightly warmer weather of India.

So my new post shave routine is just an alum block (50 cents for a massive 125g block!).

Hey that's great. We're all just looking for what really works..
 
I use aftershave but that's it.
Darwin is similar to the humid parts of India so I know exactly what you mean about balms feeling you greasy.
Please don't tell me you want the menthol back?

I think we should start a "dial it back" campaign, with one soap, one brush, one razor himself as our leader.

Pfft who am I kidding? There are only a few of us under @psmiths thousand number mark as it is, key alone under the 100

Bangalore is hardly humid compared with Darwin but the daily temperature itself is a bit on the warm side for me so not a great combo with my slightly oily skin.

Haha no, you need the menth much more than I do. I don't crave cold here, just things that keep me comfortable. It's basically shorts/t-shirt weather for me.
 
Home concocted Lemon Murtle shaving soap hot and cold washers and total bliss. :)

Lemon myrtle shaving soap?
OMG that sounds devine! I just love lemon myrtle! You make it with tallow?
 
@nav1 I make it with Tallow, Kokum butter and coconut oil with a bit of Castor oil. h and some Shea Butter, :)

WOW
I think you should sell me a chunk :)
Lemon myrtle is my favorite scent and your soap sounds awesome!
 
WOW
I think you should sell me a chunk :)
Lemon myrtle is my favorite scent and your soap sounds awesome!

We've been trying to get @bald as to sell us some of his home made soaps for a while now. It's the Adelaide shavers that get to try samples of his stock and the rest us can simply watch and dream...
 
I use balm as my skin dries out a huge amount - especially during winter. Even with a luxurious heavily super-fatted shave soap my skin is dry post-shave. I use witch hazel (or alum) for astringent/cleansing and then rub in a pure oil such as jojoba oil. That does the trick but I often use balm as well. My skin really dries out!!!
 
I use balm as my skin dries out a huge amount - especially during winter. Even with a luxurious heavily super-fatted shave soap my skin is dry post-shave. I use witch hazel (or alum) for astringent/cleansing and then rub in a pure oil such as jojoba oil. That does the trick but I often use balm as well. My skin really dries out!!!

I thought I'd end up with dry skin after just alum as my skin is prone to dryness then gets oily after a while.

Luckily, it doesn't dry out but remains neutral, which is why I'm so happy with using just alum. The fact that it really protects my skin from heat irritation is the biggest benefit for me :D
 
I use alum after every shave. It's a great astringent & I've never had an issue or irritation since I started using it. (It's also cheap as chips & a block lasts forever).
I also find that my head gets as greasy as old ham if I use anything else (or nothing at all) after a shave.
 
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I use alum after every shave. It's a great astringent & I've never had an issue or irritation since I started using it. (It's also cheap as chips & a block lasts forever).
I also find that my head gets as greasy as old ham if I use anything else (or nothing at all) after a shave.
Alum: as @raulski states, "It's also cheap as chips & a block lasts forever". With a disability in my left hand, alam on my fingers provides the grip I need to hold a straight. Cost effective, extremely efficient and feels great on application.
 
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