Thread: Proraso styptic gel

I've never liked styptic pencils because of the way they degrade quickly on contact with water... within a few uses they tend to go all gnarly on me.

When I binned the last one, I decided to try the Proraso Istantaneo gel, which is an alternative to styptics.

Anyone else tried this stuff? It's weird as hell! It comes out of this tiny toothpaste-tube as a clear, thick, menthol-smelling goo. Sticky doesn't even start to decribe it. You use a tiny drop on a cut and wham! it stops the bleed by creating this sticky clear plug. Then comes the weird bit...

Once it dries in place it becomes a clear, transparent, hard plastic coating. It's like you've put some superglue on your face and let it dry. This small dry plug of clear plastic is stuck hard to the skin. Of course, the bleed has been stopped in its tracks.

Later, the plastic shell either falls off or you can slowly prise it off in one piece. What's left behind is a clean, blood-free wound.

If it's a bad cut (I've only suffered this on a finger), it also glues the wound together. The longer you keep it on, the more permanent the mend of the cut.

It's amazing stuff and I've started usng it on the tiny bleeds you sometimes get from going over an ingrown hair. It's not much more cost than a styptic, lasts longer, so I recommend you guys try it out!

Sounds interesting. Where did you get it? Sounds a bit like Histoacryl, the stuff that is used by doctors to glue small lacerations and by plastic surgeons to glue the epidermis.

Wow, I'd like to get my hands on that. I agree that styptic pencils are a b**** to use. I was thinking of grinding mine into a powder. Sometimes I get cuts I can't ue CA on.

This is where I bought it: http://www.carterandbond.com/detail....ands%3AProraso

It's a UK site, but maybe someone can find a supplier in US too?

Hmm, doesn't seem to be a U.S. carrier of the stuff. Sound like a handy item for the first aid kit.

You can actually order for the USA, but the postage makes single orders pointless. I plugged in an order for 20 tubes sent to USA to see what the p&p cost would be and it's £12.50 on top of the cost of the products at £59.80.

It might be worth someone in the US bulk ordering and sending out to those interested using USPS? I think this would be a cheaper option than if I were to bulk order and send individually using international post from UK, otherwise I'd be happy to do this.

Any other ideas?

Would be awesome to aquire some of this stuff. I've sliced myself pretty badly a couple of times - not even shaving but just lowering the razor after it was already lifted off the skin. Was still half-asleep. Pencil didn't do anything.

I guess the idea is similar to crazy-glue / liquid bandage.

I'm guessing here, but perhaps Giovanni of Tryphon might get some on his site? (I might have see a posting on his forum about this)....

This stuff sounds very interesting. I did a quick search and found two places within Australia that stock this product.

Male Grooming Boutique (this one says they ship internationally)

Shaver Shop

Wal Mart sells Pinaud styptic pencils. They may
carry the gel as well. It seems like I've saw
liquid styptic along side the sticks.

Also some of the chain pharmacies that
carry Pinaud products may carry the gel.

Probably worth a look.


Terry