Thread: styptic pencil just for show?

One of the first things I did when beginning to shave with a straight razor was purchase a styptic pencil from the local pharmacy. This took place approximately three months ago and I've used it from time to time... perhaps once every two weeks.

However, it seems like an exercise in futility. I'll get a nice little knick or gash and go digging in the cupboard for the pencil....moisten, apply, etc...... and -then just watch my face continue to bleed. No effect whatsoever except for a nice stinging feeling. Now I'm not talking about skin-splitting, scar-forming flesh wounds...just the odd cut here or there.

Anyone else have this problem?

i have a styptic as well and to be honest.. i have never used it.. i hardly cut myself i guess.. and when i do.. it's so small i don't really worry about it. don't boxers use them all the time with success?

Mine has always worked just fine for me...

If you don't already, try not only rubbing it over the cut, but holding it on the cut for a few seconds.

If it's a weeper, I usually skip the stypic altogether and just catch it with the alum block once I'm through shaving.

I have one but I have yet to take it out of the package. When I cut myself I just let it bleed until I'm done, then I rinse my face off. After that if my face is still bleeding I will finish getting ready and then come back and clean up the scabs. The only time that doesn't work is when I cut deep then I just hold pressure for a bit and continue on.

Adam

Shoot, I've never owned one and probably never will. Nicks every once-in-a-while are a natural part of the hobby but nothing that cold water has ever been able to stop. My philosophy on it, and take it for what it's worth, is that ya gotta man up to the mistake that caused the nick, splash some water on it and move on. In fact, one of the primary reasons for starting to shave with a straight was that I was in school to be a dental assistant despite having a SEVERE mental reaction to the sight of blood...I took care of that fear in the first two weeks of shaving.

I've got a styptic pencil and have mixed experience with it. Really, the only thing I use it for is to try to staunch the bleading from a darn mole I have at the corner of my jaw/neck line when I'm unlucky enough to slice it off. Sometimes the styptic stops the bleeding cold. Other times it does nothing. I guess in the end, I can neither explain nor advise, but only tell you my experience...

I don't get many cuts anymore,but it may benefit newer shavers to know that if you dip the styptic in hot water,then twirl it right on the cut,with the intent of getting some of the "white stuff" into the cut,it will work well and stop bleeding more quickly.

mine seems to work well, but I never wet it. Perhaps that is the problem? I wet it after to clean off the blood stain.

Mine always works fine for me. I get it wet with hot water and then rub it around the cut area. I then dab the area dry with toilet paper, and then re-apply the styptic if needed.

I did the same as most of us - I bought a styptic pencil prior to shaving with a SR for the first time, expecting some blood loss. Problem was I had a blood less first shave. And second. And third. I think that I've only used it once, maybe twice at the most, and it seemed to work. If I cut myself at all it is usually just a weeper or two, nothing that cold water won't take care of.