OK, before I go further, I have only been shaving with a straight razor for this past week. I have "wet shaved" (if you want to call canned shaving cream and disposable razors that) for most of my life. Although as a young man I started out with a Gillette safety razor, it was lost somewhere along the way. I would not compare using a straight razor and actual soap to canned cream and disposables to save my life. Totally different. IMHO, just because the resemble each other don't mean they're the same.
But I have never used a styptic pen in my life. Usually when I cut myself I just let it bleed. The most I would do is use a piece of toilet paper and put pressure on the spot until it stopped, sporting those little bits of bloody tp for a little while.
I read with apprehension that they sting quite a bit, so I bought one, but was wary of using it.
Nicked myself under the lip a bit this morning. The styptic stopped it handily. And as for the sting, I pop needles of one kind or another into my body several times daily(diabetic). What sting?
Yeah, pretty mundane stuff, I know. But I think it's pretty cool.