Shaving Soap with Optional Alum Styptic for a Traditional Wet Shave

Whether you have sensitive skin or the thickest of stubble, these traditional shaving soaps will give the closest of shaves, keep the razors sharp for longer and leave the skin calm and in good condition.

£4.00 — £13.00

Discover traditional wet shaving – with historically authentic shaving soap and volcanic alum styptic.

Use this soap for professional shaving, exfoliating, as a face or hand soap, as a shower gel, or even for any dreaded cleaning tasks of washable surfaces. The soap is kept in its original concentrated gel-like consistency.

There are two choices of soap:

Hemp Oil Shaving Soap

Fascinated by this soft soap or black soap as it is known in British historical texts from the 12th century, at Natural Spa Supplies we have set out to recreate the 12th century hemp oil recipe, although we will admit that we do not cook it over an open fire! The soap is green and it is highly suited for shavers with very sensitive skin.

INGREDIENTS Cannabis sativa oil, aqua, potassium hydroxide. In other words, 100% British hemp oil, lye and water.

Savon Noir, Olive Oil Shaving Soap

Olive oil soap soap is still the soap of choice for shavers in olive producing regions. This soap is amber in colour and it is suited to shavers of the most bristly stubble.

INGREDIENTS Aqua, Olea europaea, potassium hydroxide.
In other words, water, black olive oil, and lye. Traditionally lye is made by percolating water through wood or plant ash.

Alum Styptic

The small piece of alum (2-3cm long) comes from a volcanic source from the dessert surface in Morocco. It is not the same as ammonium alum which is industrial waste. Volcanic alum is kinder to the skin and more effective. Volcanic alum can also be used as a natural aftershave. Being an astringent, alum will close the pores and reduce shaving rash. It has no fragrance. Rinse the crystal after use and dry it.

How to Wet Shave with Traditional Soap and Alum

Apply a knob of hemp oil or olive soap to the wet and warmed skin, massage into a fine lather, preferably with a shaving brush, leave for 1-3 minutes, giving time for the soap to soften the thick stubble, then shave and rinse.

Apply volcanic alum as a styptic for any shaving nicks. Dip the alum crystal in water and rub it over the nick. Warning – it will sting! However the bleeding will cease in about 10 seconds. Also rub alum over the shaved area if you are very susceptible to shaver’s rash. Nicks and rashes are much less likely as shaving is easier with this soap and it contains no irritating ingredients.

More uses of Alum

Did you know you can also use volcanic alum styptic for insect bite relief – just drop saliva on the bite and rub the crystal over the bite, starting at the edge (to stop the bite spreading) and working inwards over the bite. Large pieces of volcanic alum are used as a highly effective and safe deodorant, great for people who are sensitive to commercial deodorants and who want an unfragranced deodorant which really works.

The benefits of using traditional shaving soap and alum styptic

All shavers report an extremely close shave. Some shavers report the need to shave less frequently compared to other products they have used.

The soap does not occlude the skin and shavers can see the area they are shaving well, giving more control

The slip of this soap, with low drag, makes shaving easier, reducing shaving rash and giving less nicks

The razors blades stay sharp for about twice the normal time compared to the use of standard shaving creams. This is because black soap softens the stubble and the blades are subject to less blunting.

That the skin is left smooth and in good condition. Even shavers with sensitive skin will notice the difference once they shave with traditional shaving soap.

WARNING

Do not get soap in the eyes. If you do get soap in your eyes flush with plenty of running water.

Using alum on broken skin and shaving nicks will sting. Guaranteed!

Keep away from pets and children.

Keep the alum dry between uses. Do not leave the alum on fragile surfaces. The alum is best kept in something made of glass, ceramic or non-porous stone, or wrapped in an old cloth or PVC.

When traveling, be sure that the lid of the soap jar is securely tightened to avoid leakage. Wrap the piece of alum.

FAQs

Question: I have really sensitive skin and react to most shaving products – will I be able to use traditional soap and alum?
Answer: So far, even men with sensitive skin have given both the hemp and olive soap as well as the alum, the thumbs up. You can reduce the time it is left on the skin if you want to err on the side of caution. Rinse well.

Question: I’d like a bigger piece of alum to use for shaving an deodorizing. Can I get one here?
Answer: Please go back into the shop where you can buy large pieces of alum. You can also buy the larger jars of traditional soap in this shop.

Ethics of Using Traditional Shaving Soap

Hemp Soap: 100% British grown hemp seed, oil pressing, soap manufacture, packing and innovation. Long Live British Manufacture!
Savon Noir, Olive Oil soap, made in Morocco, helps to support developing countries.
Traditional low-tech products
100% biodegradable
Fully recyclable or reusable packaging
Safe for septic tanks and grey water recovery systems
No additives, fragrances, preservatives – great for sensitive skin
Multipurpose
Left as a concentrate to reduce postal costs, use of packaging materials and storage areas