Thread: the wonders of the styptic pen.

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.

Yeah, they are handy little things for sure! The good news is that they generally become much less necessary with the passage of time.

It's amazing how trepidatious people are when confronted with a styptic pencil. For some reason they think the heat of hell will descend on the spot they are treating. I don't mind the pencil, but I can't use an alum block after shaving, not a good reaction for me.

BTW NRNewb, have you tried Gold Bond Ultimate Diabetic Dry Skin Relief as an aftershave balm? I'm type 2 and find the Gold Bond, most days, is very soothing. Nevea for sensitive skins is the other one I use.

Originally Posted by Razorfeld

It's amazing how trepidatious people are when confronted with a styptic pencil. For some reason they think the heat of hell will descend on the spot they are treating. I don't mind the pencil, but I can't use an alum block after shaving, not a good reaction for me.

BTW NRNewb, have you tried Gold Bond Ultimate Diabetic Dry Skin Relief as an aftershave balm? I'm type 2 and find the Gold Bond, most days, is very soothing. Nevea for sensitive skins is the other one I use.

Not tried the Gold Bond, but I'll definitely give it a go. For after shave balm right now I have some old Sterling balm that
I dug up when I started this week. Haven't used after shave in years. Shaving before was a chore to get through quickly, and I would forgo that kind of thing.
Now it is something to enjoy. I plan to give Dove after shave balm a try, and will probably fall back on my old friend Old Spice for an afteshave lotion. Using a small bottle of Halston a friend gave me as a gift many Christmases ago.
I'm just wondering how all the scents mix.
My plan is pre-shave wash with Noxema, followed by shave, some type of balm or moisturizer, and a splash of after shave.

Originally Posted by Razorfeld

It's amazing how trepidatious people are when confronted with a styptic pencil. For some reason they think the heat of hell will descend on the spot they are treating.

Heat of hell? my aftershave is Ogallala's Special Reserve Bay Rum. Purchased it from Satan at a yard sale.

Originally Posted by Clint2014

Heat of hell? my aftershave is Ogallala's Special Reserve Bay Rum. Purchased it from Satan at a yard sale.

I get my goat's milk from him.

My new styptic is a cold water rinse and witch hazel splash. Styptics and alum blocks are hard to beat when you get started with wet shaving, though. I always preferred the gel.

That's good news for me, SRNewb! I haven't needed my styptic pen so far, but had wondered about the sting. I'm also diabetic, and am accustomed to the finger-sticks and insulin injections. So your remarks are reassuring.

Here's to forgotten styptic pencils and a low A1c!!

Originally Posted by Dzanda

That's good news for me, SRNewb! I haven't needed my styptic pen so far, but had wondered about the sting. I'm also diabetic, and am accustomed to the finger-sticks and insulin injections. So your remarks are reassuring.

Here's to forgotten styptic pencils and a low A1c!!

I would rather use the styptic than test my blood sugar any day of the week. I barely feel my injections(twice daily) but the testing I don't enjoy at all.

[QUOTE=SRNewb; but the testing I don't enjoy at all.[/QUOTE]

Ah,the daily testing. I with you, not enjoyable. Annoying to say the least, but in my case brings up my early childhood back in the dark ages where my fingers (and toes) were tested numerous times in a day because I was suffering from a blood disorder they knew very little about. And that just made me look at the clock - two hour after meal check, right now!