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As I journey into my first shave I want to have most everything I will need. I read a lot where people compaired the pencil to the liquid but nothing about powder. So from the vast majorty of experience on this site, which works better; The pencil or the powder ?:)
I definitely prefer the styptic pencil.
Very little mess, and gets the job done perfectly.
That said, both works just as described. The bleeding stops pretty much instantly
You can always make a powder out of the pencil if you need to.
Or you can use the 'old cooks' trick and use ground black pepper.
Pencil....'cuz that's what I have.
I also have some blue liquid that claims to stop bleeding, but it is utterly useless. :banghead:
I have a little vial of yellow powder called nick relief, as I've only used it twice in a year and a half and that was with a DE razor, it's turned into a solid. Any small nick I've had seems to close on it's own with some cold water.
Gentlemen,
I prefer the pencil. It is convenient and compact. As you well know, this is a wonderful product for quickly sealing the nick.
They are so cheap, I have both.
I've been shaving for a few months now with a straight and today was the first time I needed a styptic pencil. Within seconds of applying the pencil, the bleeding stopped and everything was good.
Pencil has never let me down, and they last forEVer.
I got a shave in a foreign country once where the barber, by no fault of his own, gave me a few small nicks. The aftershave he used, however, sealed them right up, and actually left my face feeling great. Been looking for some kind of aftershave like this since then but have never found any.
The pencil is quick; but the powder is weak. HOG
I figure if you bleed a lot and often, The powder or alum is for you. If not, you can benefit from the styptic pencil. They reaally sting! Awesome! I, personally have been on the same one for 6 years! It looks like a stalagtite, but still works on the occasion!:)
The pencil is a quick & clean way to go. It works so good for me, I see no need to experiment with other products.
As a straight razor user, and also a Barber in PA, I have used both. Both have their good points. I picked up the Clubman styptic pencil from my local Walmart, and the powder, Nick Relief, I got from the local Sally Beauty Supply.
Here is my take on both. I liked the pencil a lot, but if you rinse it off after using it, you have to be sure to dry it well, or the remaining water on it will cause it to dissolve, and won't last as long. The powder was fine as well, but when my 3 yo got hold of it and dumped it on the floor, I resorted to improvisation to refill it.
IMO, it is more economical to buy the pencil, and if you own a mortar and pestle, break the pencil up and pulverize it and grind it into a powder, and once it is ground up into a fine powder, put it in a small container, like the powder comes in. This way you get the benefits of the powder form (you don't have to worry about the pencil dissolving, and having to dry it after rinsing it off), and the cheap cost of the pencil. In my experience, about half of a pencil will fill the container the powder comes in, and where I am, a vial of powder costs ~$2. A pencil costs <$2 at walmart, so you're cutting your cost in half.
Not to mention the powder has a bit of a yellow tint to it, and I didn't like that, especially if it got on clothing.
Just my 2 cents worth :)
I haven't tried the powder, but I've used liquid and the pencil and prefer the liquid. i find it tidier and less apt to sting, but still effective. They are all pretty cheap, and they all work, though, so it is mostly personal preference.
I didn't vote because I've no experience using the powder. I use an alum block as part of my post shave treatment. However, if I cut myself, dipping the styptic pencil in warm water seems to be more effective than just applying it wet with cold water. Of course, YMMV.
But like I said, I've never used the powder, but I will note that the pencil is easier to dip into water if you need to control the temperature like I do.
I have tried them all as much as I like old school Pacfic Shave nick stick is the best product I have used. Applies like a roll on deo. No mess no white residue. Just works.
After the 3 in Gash i gave my self the other day i went for the new skin!! LOL. but i generaly use the pencil
I didn't vote for either because I use Kutkit Styptic Swabs when I get a nick. They are available at Rite Aid Drugstores.
Here is the link: Kutkit Styptic Swabs for Men and Women, 12 ct. : cotton balls & swabs
Prevention being the best medicine..... don't cut yourself.
Quote:
Originally Posted by nun2sharp
Well said! But when that rare cut occurs I reach for my styptic pencil, wet it, wipe some on the wound then apply pressure for about 15secs. Accept for arterial cuts it stops immediately with no mess and no fuss. I just keep shaving and can even go over that area again without incident.
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I used a general drugstore pencil, liked it, until i dropped it, turned it into a spike! Then I stepped up to Osma's pencil, very effective, but apparently one needs to dry it well prior to sealing it up in the tube/vial -- it ended up fracturing, splitting apart, then turning to mush.
I'm going to try Pacific Shaving's roll on applicator Nick stick and see how that works ...
Wow, I've always used the pencil, didn't even know there was powder. After reading most of the above, will probably stick with the pencil.
Although the Nick Stick is smooth and easy in application and reasonably effective, I think the standard pencil is more effective at immediately sealing a nick/cut, perhaps due to a higher concentration of aluminum sulfate/titanium dioxide ...
alum block hands down IMO.
+1 for the block, boys.
I love my alum block for general after shave irritation, but I still reach for the styptic pencil if I get a nick during a shave. They seem to be better at stopping the bleeding and sealing the cut than the alum block. Just my opinion and YMMV.
