Thread: Alum Use

Same as above only I do the Alum before the cold water rinse...like Jleeg

Now Byron Todd and I had this dicussion long ago and he does like Pjrage does, and adds an actual iced towel after the cold water rinse.... Sounds refreshing

It probably doesn't matter if you do it before or after the cold water rinse. I just do it this way because I figure I start to gently close the pores with the cold water, and then finish closing them with the alum. I dunno. I've often wondered if it might be better the other way around. Like if the alum worked better if it could really get into the pores, and the pores weren't already closed/closing up from the cold water.

I doubt there's much of a difference either way, but now I'm curious to give it a go the other way just to see for myself!

I agree with the comments already posted.
In my personal experience the alum block will stop the bleeding from minor nicks, but not larger cuts. I've also found that a stiptic pencil won't stop bleeding from large cuts either. I've been told that the stiptic pencil is merely the same material as alum (potassium alum), but ground up and re-formed.
Cold water rinses probably help stop bleeding too.
When I get a real cut I soak up the blood with a paper towel, apply anti-biotic gel, and continue to blot until bleeding stops, then apply more anti-biotic. Lynn suggested this approach. It seems to help the cuts heal faster.
Good luck.

I FIND THE BEST WAY TO STOP BLEEDING CUTS IS NOT TO CUT YOURSELF