I keep a Clubman stick around 'just in case' I need something stronger than cold water and the alum block.
Haven't had to use it in a loooooong time.
Haven't had to use it in a loooooong time.
The alternative to styptic is a good technique. Once you learn how to shave, styptic becomes obsolete....what alternatives they may have...
True. The pointed end of my Clubman pencil looks like the surface of the moon.. . . The larger "pencils" get cruddy after a few years.
Mine must be old. It didn't come in a plastic tube like that -- just the pencil inside the plastic on the card.I don't have to use a styptic pencil often but when I do , I use my Clubman styptic pencil
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I’m no expert but I think aluminum sulfate is a totally different thing than potassium alum. It stops bleeding much faster and feels different ( although I use it maybe once a year and gave up the alum block completely). I would never run the styptic all over my face.I Googled “What is a styptic pencil” and found that most of them are made from Anhydrous Aluminum Sulfate or Potassium Alum. It turns out that there are a whole host of common items that have astringent properties. Aloe apparently has styptic properties. I found a homemade styptic on the Internet made from:
Stop Bleeding Fast with Homemade Styptic Powder
Learn how to stop bleeding with styptic powder, a natural coagulant. It's easy to make, natural, and the ingredients are common pantry items!www.diynatural.com
- Yarrow: dried
- Cayenne Pepper: dried
- Stinging Nettle: dried
- Comfrey Root or Leaf: dried
- Cinnamon Powder: dried
- Turmeric Powder: dried
- Bentonite clay
They are different minerals, and many avoid the aluminum sulfate because of the aluminum. I personally don't have a styptic pencil. But i use the alum block almost daily.I’m no expert but I think aluminum sulfate is a totally different thing than potassium alum. It stops bleeding much faster and feels different ( although I use it maybe once a year and gave up the alum block completely). I would never run the styptic all over my face.
You must not have any bumps, pimples or skin tags. When those get in the way of a sharp blade a styptic pencil comes in handy.The alternative to styptic is a good technique. Once you learn how to shave, styptic becomes obsolete.
Same for me. Clubman, probably same vintage hope I never have to buy another. Rarely use it. Only for real bleeders. Minor cuts I prefer alum black blocksHappy New Year to you, sir!
I use a Clubman styptic pencil. It's only the second one I've ever bought -- the first, purchased at a Walmart in 1986, lasted me for many years, mostly because I usually shaved with an electric. This one has broken into 2 pieces. I'm still using the end that's pointed like a candle, the way it came. A little bit of the stuff goes a long way. So one purchase should really last.
That may not apply to everyone. I must say, I've never used or owned a styptic pencil or alum block, and I've been wet shaving 45 years. One key is, when I have to get up and out early, I shave the night before. That prevents early morning mistakes that happen when I'm half asleep or thinking about the upcoming day. Also, I use a mild razor. But most importantly, I've always had a relatively light beard. Those of you who have to fight to avoid Richard Nixon 5 o'clock shadow have a different situation. That's why I think you can't generalize about things like this.The alternative to styptic is a good technique. Once you learn how to shave, styptic becomes obsolete.
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This is my current Styptic Pencil. I bought it many years ago from one of the local Chemist Shops. It actually expired March 2020. It is Australian made and has helped me out of some very interesting shaves. You can get Styptic Pencils from most Shaving Supply shops but I just happened upon this one day and grabbed it.