3 Top Ways To Use Alum (Phitkari) & Rose Water For Hair Removal Permanently

alum for hair removal

Alum popularly called Fitkari (Phitkari) is commonly used for hair removal in India. I use alum powder mixed with rose water for unwanted facial hair removal. Usually here in India, we use bath powders from young age and most of these bath powders contain ingredients like turmeric that helps remove unwanted hair. Along with bath powders, we also use ingredients like alum powder for hair removal.

Which Alum To Use For Hair Removal?

When we say the word “Alum”, most of us think of it’s use in shaving but alum has other wonderful uses and benefits too. Though there are many types of alum, potassium alum is the one commonly used for household purposes. It is also the one that is most commonly referred to as alum. The chemical formula for potassium alum is KAl (SO4)2.H2O. It is the hydrated form of potassium aluminum sulfate and it’s nomenclature is potassium aluminum sulfate dodecahydrate. You can read alum in detail here.

Alum Common Names:

Potash alum is commonly called Alum | Picking Alum in English, Fitkari in Hindi, Phitkari in Urdu, Padikaram in Tamil, Patika in Telugu, Phatakadi in Gujarati, Phatikara | Patika in Kannada, Sphatikari in Sanskrit, Patki in Sindhi, Phatakiri in Bengali, Phatakadi in Malayalam, Tawas in Philippines and Turti in Marathi.

How To Use Alum For Hair Removal?

  • Alum has been used as a home remedy for unwanted facial hair removal from ancient times and it works really well and can be effectively used for both face and body hair removal.
  • A mixture of alum powder and water or better still rosewater can be applied all over the face and body. This paste tends to retard the body hair growth over time.
  • Alum when rubbed on the skin acts a mild abrasive and helps get rid of facial hair permanently. Rose water greatly prevents skin dryness caused due to alum.
  • Traditionally after bath, alum powder is mixed with rose water into a very fine paste and then the paste is applied on the face. Let the paste dry completely and once the paste is about to dry completely, start rubbing in a circular motion and gently remove the alum pack completely from the face. Since alum is a mild abrasive, when we rub it gently on the face, it weakens the hair roots.

How Long Will It Take Alum To Remove Hair

With regular use, facial hair growth will slowly diminish over time. The time it takes to remove unwanted hair will greatly depend on how thick and coarse your hair is. If the facial hair is very thick it will take some time for the hair roots to weaken. Even though rose water greatly prevents skin dryness, if you have extreme dry skin, alum can still dry out the skin so always apply moisturizer after doing this treatment…..

3 TOP WAYS TO USE ALUM & ROSE WATER FOR HAIR REMOVAL:

1. ALUM &ROSE WATER FOR HAIR REMOVAL:

alum uses for hair removal

Take a tsp of alum powder in a bowl. Add in enough rose water to form a thick spreadable paste and apply as a face pack. Apply this pack as a thin coat all over the face, wait for it to almost dry and gently rub in a circular motion and remove the pack off.

2. ALUM STONE FOR HAIR REMOVAL:

Phitkari For Hair Removal

If you have got alum in block form, break a small piece of alum stone. Now take a sandalwood stone and rub alum in circular motion along with rose water till it forms a paste. Apply as a face pack and rub it off gently when almost dry.

3. ALUM FACE PACK FOR HAIR REMOVAL:

alum powder for hair removal

Take half a tsp of alum powder in  a bowl. Add in half a tsp of multani mitti also called as fuller’s earth in English. Add in enough rose water to form a thick spreadable paste and apply as a face pack. Apply this pack as a thin coat all over the face, wait for it to almost dry and gently rub in a circular motion and remove the pack off.

alum and rose water for hair removal


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22 Comments

  1. Sowmya Sundararajan
    July 19, 2013 / 8:28 am

    Useful post. Never knew Alum could cure abscess

  2. Anonymous
    November 19, 2013 / 4:43 pm

    can also use alum as an underarm deodrant.use it after a bath. just rub the alum under the wet armpits.better than any deodrant / anti persiperant everrrrrrr.

  3. Coral crue
    January 30, 2015 / 7:39 pm

    how interesting. do you have any remedy for dark circles under eye and pigmentation around the mouth. tried lots of things already.

    • Ramya Venkateshwaran
      February 1, 2015 / 5:22 pm

      For both these problems, take fresh Aloe Vera gel and apply daily all over the face, wait till dry and then wash it off. Be consistent with applying the gel to see results. Aloe Vera gel is very good for treating pigmentation…..

  4. Anonymous
    November 14, 2015 / 6:22 am

    Pls let me know where to get sandal wood stone. Your posts are very very informative. Keep going Ramya. Thanks a lot for the wonderful work you are doing.

    • Ramya Venkateshwaran
      November 21, 2015 / 12:58 pm

      I haven't purchased sandalwood stones at all and the 2 stones I have at home was given to me by my mother in law. But I tried looking online for you and found this: http://www.dollsofindia.com/sold/puja-items/other-puja-items/ (I haven't purchased anything from them before so I would suggest you check it out properly before buying) and also amazon.in also was selling sandalwood stones but I think it is out of stock now …

      • Anonymous
        April 5, 2022 / 11:58 am

        How often in a week should I use alum + rosewater to reduce facial hair growth?

  5. rekha
    May 31, 2016 / 6:51 pm

    Hi ramya really I like your post….. and learn lots of medicines from you..

  6. ramya
    October 6, 2016 / 9:54 am

    nice post

  7. ramya
    October 6, 2016 / 9:55 am

    Nice post

  8. Anonymous
    December 8, 2016 / 3:36 am

    Could this remedy be used for boils in the genital area?

  9. Deepika Goyal
    April 15, 2019 / 10:48 am

    how often should it b done

  10. Mahira
    February 17, 2021 / 9:03 pm

    I heard alum should be used with Luke warm water…is it necessary for water to be warm?

  11. Ramya (Wildturmeric)
    Author
    April 10, 2021 / 1:39 pm

    Alum does not have any magical hair removal properties (I have already mentioned it in the post), it is a mild abrasive so when used as a scrub it helps weaken hair overtime. Here in our village it is used both as an aftershave and also for hair removal so everyone is aware of this. Calling an ancient practice “braindead” is really ridiculous….

  12. Shyamala shantaram
    May 6, 2021 / 10:11 am

    How long should I use aloe Vera to remove pigments?
    I tried for a month. But no results.

  13. Divya
    August 29, 2021 / 11:12 pm

    Can we use alum and rose water mixture for below 10years ..

  14. Janice
    September 6, 2021 / 5:22 am

    Is the alum the one for pickling or is another type of alum. To use for getting rid of hair on face, legs and private areas.

  15. Ole
    April 5, 2022 / 7:57 pm

    If Alum and Rose Water would permanently remove hair, that would be some fake chemical Alum and Rose Water 😛

    Alum is Alum, some people think there is a difference, but there isn’t, it was the first type of aftershave 30.000+ years ago, but it does NOT, remove hair or make them stay away in any way!!! That is a hoax!!!

    • Ramya (Wildturmeric)
      Author
      April 19, 2022 / 6:07 pm

      Hi Ole, alum and rose water does not have magical hair removal properties (only licorice has been clinically proven to have hair removal properties), but alum is a mild abrasive and when we use it as a scrub, it weakens facial hair overtime like Indian herbal face wash powders and the result is permanent…..:)

  16. Yogesh Punde
    August 20, 2022 / 11:40 am

    It available in Pooja sahitya local stores

  17. Easha
    March 15, 2023 / 3:10 am

    I appreciate your meticulous information. You just gave us very valuable tips. I can’t thank you more. Take love.

  18. Sanaa
    July 26, 2023 / 11:22 am

    Hi Ramya, then is it ok to use alum powder with licorice/mulethi powder instead of Multani with rose water for hair removal and hyperpigmentation?

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