Today we I am going to talk about a tool that hopefully you won’t have to use very often, but one that every man should have in his shaving kit: a styptic pencil.
Styptic pencils used to be a staple in every man’s shaving kit. I would bet your grandpa definitely had one. But for whatever reason, the knowledge and use of styptic pencils has faded over the years.
We are going to change that today though. After reading this article, you should know everything you could possibly need to know about styptic pencils: what are they, how to use one, how to shop for one and which styptic is the best one for you.
What is A Styptic Pencil?
Dictionary.com defines a styptic pencil as “a pencil-shaped stick of a paste containing alum or a similar styptic agent, used to stanch the bleeding of minor cuts.” In other words, it’s simply a small stick that is made from a composite of alum and/or other styptic agents and it’s purpose is to close cuts and stop the bleeding.
So just like alum blocks, styptic pencils are made from a type of alum. However, the type of alum that styptic pencils are made with is significantly stronger. Alum blocks are typically made with the more mild potassium alum while styptic pencils are more commonly made with the stronger aluminum sulfate.
What does a styptic pencil look like? Well they come in a variety of sizes but for the most part they look like a piece of chalk. They are generally thin, white sticks but they do come in a variety of lengths and diameters. There are “travel size” styptic pencils that are thin and a little shorter and then there are “jumbo” styptic pencils that are thicker and a little longer.
Do I Really Need A Styptic Pencil?
Why Can’t I Just Use An Alum Block?
So if styptic pencils and alum blocks are both made with a form of alum, what’s the point in having both of them? Because they each serve a different purpose and should be used at different times. Let me explain.
Let’s start with the purpose of an alum block. Alum blocks are a great astringent and antiseptic. Plus, they are really easy to apply to your entire face and neck after every shave. And yes, one of the benefits of an alum block is that they can help close up small cuts and weepers, but that’s not the primary reason for using an alum block.
Alum blocks are a great astringent. They are an antiseptic so they help kill bacteria and prevent infections. They provide feedback on how well you shaved. They help minimize the effects of razor burn. And the list of benefits goes on…. And since they are so easy to apply, there’s no reason not to use one after every shave.
Styptic pencils on the other hand really only serve one purpose: to close a cut and stop it from bleeding anymore. That is why they are made with a stronger form of alum, aluminum sulfate.
So a styptic pencil is kind of a last resort to close a cut if you have already used an alum block and it just wasn’t quite strong enough to close it up.
So let’s say you’re shaving with a new safety razor and still learning the technique or you just started using a sharp new double-edge blade and you cut yourself. And after your shave you grab the alum block and apply it all over your face, but there’s still a couple stubborn cuts that just won’t seem to stop bleeding -- that’s when it’s time to grab your styptic pencil. Your styptic pencil should be able to pack a little more punch and stop the bleeding.
Styptic pencils certainly sting a little when you use them, but don’t let that dissuade you from getting one. Isn’t it worth a few seconds of stinging if it prevents you from having to walk around with little pieces of tissue on your face or having to worry about a cut opening up again later?
You should definitely buy an alum block and it should be able to treat the vast majority of your small nicks and weepers. But when an alum block can’t stop the bleeding from a shaving cut, the styptic pencil is the go-to tool.
How to Use a Styptic Pencil
Styptic pencils are pretty simple to use. With just a little practice, you should easily be able to close up any minor shaving cuts. Hopefully this won't be a part of your post-shave routine very often, but here’s a step by step guide on how to use a styptic pencil.
- Rinse the affected area off with cold water.
- Wipe off any excess blood that is coming out of the cut.
- Grab your styptic pencil and get the tip of the pencil wet by running it under cold water. A dry styptic pencil won’t work. However, make sure you’re only getting the part of the pencil wet that you will be applying to the cut. As you use the pencil over time, it will start to erode just like a normal pencil. However, if you get the entire styptic pencil wet, it will erode much faster.
- Alright, it’s time to apply the wet tip of the pencil to the cut and close it up. What’s the best method for applying it? Well there’s not really a “best” way to do it. It’s really more art than science. In other words, not every guy is going to apply the styptic the same way, and that’s okay. Some guys like to dab the styptic pencil to the affected area. Some guys like to color over the affected area like they are using a crayon. Some guys like to roll it over the cut. It really doesn’t matter how you do it as long as it works for you.
- Keep applying the styptic until it looks like that cut is closed and no more blood is coming out. Did we mention this is going to sting? Well it does, but just suck it up for a few seconds because most cuts should be fully coagulated pretty quickly.
- Hopefully the cut is closed now, but you will probably notice that there is white residue over the affected area now. You will definitely want to rinse this off, but I would recommend waiting a few minutes before doing so. You don’t want to just re-open the cut so let the styptic stay on the cut for a few minutes to make sure the cut will stay closed, and then gently rinse the white residue off.
- After you’re done using the styptic pencil, wipe it down and dry it off. Put it back in its case or store it in a place where it will stay dry. Again, water will make it erode so if you want it to last a long time, you need to keep it dry.
Factors to Consider When Shopping for A Styptic Pencil
Shopping for the right styptic pencil should not be that difficult. There’s really only a few ways styptic pencils can vary, and once you figure out your preferences, it should be pretty straightforward to find the right one. So what are the factors you should take into consideration when shopping for a styptic pencil?
Do you want a traditional styptic pencil or do you want something else like a liquid roll-on styptic?
This is probably the biggest factor that will determine what styptic pencil you end up buying. So far we have really just discussed the traditional styptic pencils, but there are also some liquid styptics out there that are applied in a variety of ways. Some are applied via a roll-on applicator while others are applied by just dropping some liquid styptic right on the cut. There are advantages and disadvantages to both and neither is inherently “better”, but it just depends on what attributes you prefer.
How strong do you want your styptic to be?
Most styptic pencils are about the same when it comes to their potency and how well they can close up nicks and cuts. As long as you buy a quality styptic pencil, it should do an excellent job at clotting the blood. However, some of the liquid styptics tend to be a little less powerful and they may not close some bigger or deeper cuts quite as well as the classic styptic pencils can.
Would you prefer a styptic that may not be as strong but is a little easier to use and less messy?
So if liquid styptics aren’t as powerful as styptic pencils, why would anyone buy one? Because most men find them a little easier to use and much more convenient to store away after using. Styptic pencils can break and are messy, but with a liquid styptic you can just put the cap back on and toss it in your Dopp kit and know it’s not going to make a mess.
Is durability a concern?
Both styptic pencils and liquid styptics should be durable and last a long time, but it is much easier to accidentally break a pencil than it is to crack the tube that the liquid styptic comes in. Regardless, both options should last a long time if you take care of them.
8 Great Styptic Pencil Options
Clubman Pinaud Travel Size Styptic Pencil (0.33 ounces)
The Clubman Pinaud styptic pencil is one of the most well known (and highly regarded) styptic pencils out there.
Clubman actually has a few different options when it comes styptic pencils, but this is their “travel size” pencil because it is a little smaller in size. It weighs in at 0.33 ounces or a little under 10 grams.
Don’t let the smaller size fool you into believing this pencil won’t last a long time though. It will. In fact, I think it’s misleading to say it’s just a “travel” styptic pencil because assuming you’re not having to use it very regularly, this could last you for a long, long time.
This is actually the styptic pencil that I keep in my Dopp kit because it is so effective. I very rarely have to use it because my alum block can typically take care of any cuts or weepers I get from a shave, so I like the smaller size because it takes up less space in my Dopp kit. But on the rare occasion that I do have to use this pencil, it works great.
The Clubman Pinaud pencil is a no frills styptic pencil that gets the job done and stops the bleeding. It’s active ingredient is aluminum sulfate (56%) so it is perfect for treating the occasional, infrequent shaving cuts.
Another great feature is that it comes with a container. It’s not the thickest or most durable case, but at least it adds some protection and prevents it from making a mess when you store it away. This is a huge advantage as styptic pencils can be a little messy after being used. Do you really want to just throw a styptic pencil in your Dopp kit and let it get that white residue on everything? The case helps prevent that.
Overall, I’m a huge fan of Clubman Pinaud’s travel size 0.33 oz styptic pencil. If you’re looking for a classic styptic pencil that does exactly what a styptic pencil should do, this is a great option.
Clubman Jumbo Styptic Pencil (1 Ounce)
If you like everything you just read about the Clubman Pinaud travel size styptic pencil, but just wish it were a little bigger -- I’ve got great news! Clubman Pinaud also makes a “Jumbo” styptic pencil.
And that jumbo moniker fits perfectly because this pencil weighs in at a large 1 ounce (28 grams). That’s basically triple the size of the travel size styptic pencil.
Why would anyone want Clubman Pinaud’s Jumbo styptic pencil instead of the travel size? Well the most obvious reason is that it should last you a lot longer. I really don’t think many of you will need anything this big, but this will definitely last longer as long as you don’t break it.
But secondly, and more importantly, the bigger size and thicker pencil may be easier for some men to grip. You shouldn’t be using a lot of force when applying a styptic pencil to a cut, but some guys do press too hard and it’s easier to break the thinner styptics. It’s going to be much tougher to snap this beast into two.
Other than the size and weight, there’s really not much different from the travel size. It is made with the same ingredients with the active ingredient being aluminum sulfate (56%). It also comes with a case so it’s just as easy to store away and pack in your Dopp kit when you travel.
Either of Clubman Pinaud’s styptic pencils are great options for someone that wants a traditional styptic pencil. They do as good of a job as any at clotting up cuts and closing them up. It really just comes down to which size you prefer. Personally, I just need the smaller travel size, but if you think you need something bigger, then the Clubman Jumbo styptic pencil is a great option.
Woltra Styptic Pencil Small Twin Pk. (0.25 ounces)
The 0.25 ounce Woltra styptic pencil is another great option and is very similar to the Clubman Pinaud travel size.
The benefit of Woltra’s is that it comes 2 to a pack, but the drawback is that they do not come with any type of case or container. I’d recommend you check the packaging or contact the distributor to confirm, but I haven’t been able to find any 0.25 ounce Woltra’s that come with a case or lid. However, it does look like the larger 0.875 ounce Woltra styptic pencil does come with a case.
Just like with the Clubman Pinaud’s, the active ingredient is 56% aluminum sulfate. I’m not sure what the inactive ingredients are but this thing is incredibly effective at closing up shaving cuts.
If you’re looking for a small styptic pencil that won’t take up much space in your Dopp kit, then this is a great option. You will need to find some type of case or bag to store this in, but it will last a long time if you take care of it.
The quality of Woltra’s styptic pencil is just as good as Clubman’s but I prefer the Clubman Pinaud because it comes with a case. Yes, Woltra includes 2 pencils in your purchase, but I don’t really care about having a “spare” styptic pencil just taking up space.
Clubman Dab-On Nick Relief (0.25 ounces)
Clubman makes some of the best classic styptic pencils out there, but they also make a styptic solution that comes in a liquid form. Their Dab-On Nick Relief is a great alternative for men they don’t want to use a traditional styptic pencil.
Instead of a white styptic pencil, the Dab-On Nick Relief comes in a container that looks like a tube of chapstick. It is filled with 0.25 ounces of liquid that is made with the active ingredient of aluminum sulfate, just like their styptic pencils. It has a long list of inactive ingredients in it which includes the following: witch hazel, distillate, water, propylene glycol, panthenol, horsetail extract, passiflora incarnata (Passionflower) fruit extract, diazolidinyl urea, methylparaben and propylparaben.
Clubman’s Dab-On Nick Relief is really easy to use. All you have to do is shake the tube for a few seconds and then apply the tip of it to any cut. This should clot the blood and stop the bleeding.
I don’t think the Dab-On Nick Relief is as strong as a traditional styptic pencil, but it’s still really effective. It certainly depends on how big or deep the cut is though.
And while the packaging claims that it is “sting free”, I still got a pretty good sting from using it.
It’s tough to say how long this product shouldlast because it’s all dependent on how often and how much you have to use it, but it should last most wet shavers a long, long time.
If you’re looking for an alternative to a styptic pencil, this is a great option. It’s really quick and easy to apply and while it’s not as strong as their pencils, it should get the job done on the vast majority of minor nicks and cuts.
My Nik Is Sealed Styptic Pen (0.17 oz)
My Nik Is Sealed styptic pen is another great liquid styptic pencil option. It has a very similar design and performance to Clubman’s Dab-On Nick Relief.
It is slightly smaller than the Dab-On Nick Relief as the tube only holds 0.17 ounces of liquid styptic, but that amount of product should still last for a long time. The ingredients in it are purified water, aluminum chloride and SD38B Alcohol but it may also have tocopheryl acetate (Vitamin E) and aloe barbadensis leaf juice.
The design of the product is simple which makes it easy to use and very effective. The tube is filled with liquid styptic and at the top it has what they refer to as a “roll-on application”. It’s essentially the same design as that of roll-on deodorant. So to use it, all you have to do is gently roll it over any nicks or cuts and the liquid styptic will come out and treat the cut.
The liquid styptic from My Nik Is Sealed styptic pen should dry really quickly on your skin, and another benefit is that unlike styptic pencils, it shouldn’t leave any white residue behind.
Overall, the My Nik Is Sealed styptic pen is really easy to use, does a good job of closing up any cuts and won’t make a mess when you put it away in your Dopp kit. The cap fits snugly over the top of the roll-on applicator, so it’s not going to come off and leak all over the place. It’s a really good design.
Pacific Shaving Company Nick Stick (0.25 oz)
If you’re not familiar with Pacific Shaving Company, they are a relatively young company but have a really good line of products. If you’ve recently shopped for shaving cream in a Target or CVS, you’ve probably seen their products.
Pacific Shaving sells a really good natural shaving cream but they may be best known for their caffeinated shaving cream and caffeinated aftershave. Really interesting products that you should check out if you haven’t already.
Today we are going to take a look at their styptic, which they call the “Nick Stick”. The Pacific Shaving Company Nick Stick is another one of the roll-on styptic applicators. It looks like a tube of chapstick but it is filled with 0.25 ounces of a liquid styptic. The ingredients in the Nick Stick are SD alcohol (ethyl alcohol), aloe carbadensis (aloe vera) leaf juice, water (aqua), aluminum chloride hexahydrate, tocopherol (vitamin E), citrus aurantium bergamia (bergamot) fruit oil and hydroxypropylcellulose.
The liquid styptic inside the tube is applied via the roll-on applicator at the top. So all you have to do to treat a cut is shake the Nick Stick a little and then press and roll the applicator over the cut. This should stop the bleeding after a few seconds of application.
The Nick Stick’s roll-on applicator is self-sterilizing but you may want to gently wipe it down afterwards anyway to get any excess blood off and prevent it from crusting the top.
One of the biggest differences between the Nick Stick and old-school styptic pencils is that it has a pretty exhaustive list of ingredients. For example, it contains vitamin E and aloe which help to soothe and heal the skin. Which is awesome and we love those ingredients, but I don’t think it’s necessary.
Remember, the only purpose of a styptic pencil is to close the cut. If you want to get other benefits, you should be using a high quality aftershave or moisturizer that can be easily be applied to your entire face. The Nick Stick is only for spot treatments.
The primary benefits of using the Nick Stick instead of a styptic pencil are that it is really convenient to use and it’s not as messy. A styptic pencil isn’t hard to use, but you do have to get it wet and then figure out the best way to dab it on.
With the Nick Stick though, all you have to do is press the roll-on applicator to the cut. Also, styptic pencils leave white residue behind, but the Nick Stick doesn’t leave any visible residue behind. The drawback though is that the Nick Stick probably doesn’t have the power that a styptic pencil does.
Overall, this is a really good and durable option. If you don’t need something that is quite as strong as a styptic pencil but want something that has a little more kick than an alum block, the Nick Stick should get the job done.
Kutkit Sanitary Styptic Swabs
Kutkit’s Sanitary Styptic Swabs are a little different than anything else we are looking at. How so? Well they are kind of a hybrid between the traditional styptic pencils and the new type of liquid styptic roll-on applicators.
Kutkit’s Sanitary Styptic Swabs comes with a set of 12 disposable swabs. The active ingredient is 21.3% aluminum chloride-6-hydrate while the inactive ingredients are water, propylene glycol and glycine.
These are really easy to use. Just take one of the swabs out of the packet and hold it with the colored ring end up. Next, bend the colored ring tip to the side and break it off. Once you break this end off, the liquid will drop to the bottom and fill up the application tip. Then, all you have to do is press the applicator tip to the affected area.
The benefits of Kutkit’s styptic swabs is that they are easy to use and clean up afterwards. All you have to do is toss them in the trash!
I think the biggest drawback is that a pack won’t last near as long as a styptic pencil. You could use the same styptic pencil for years, but you will have to get a new pack of Kutkit’s styptic swabs after only 12 uses. You can’t use them multiple times.
Infa-Lab Magic Touch Liquid Styptic Nails Stop Bleeding Skin Protector
Infa-Lab’s liquid styptic is a popular option for guys that don’t want to use and maintain a styptic pencil or use one of the roll-on applicator.s Instead, this is a straight liquid styptic option that is made with 0.5% aluminum chloride and 0.10% benzalkonium chloride.
This stuff works really well at closing up a small cut and sanitizing it to prevent any infection, but it can be tough to apply on your face and neck. It has a nice teardrop applicator at the end that controls the flow of the liquid well, but it’s not always easy to get in the right position. It works better when you can hold the bottle upside down, not sideways.
If you do end up going with Infa-Lab’s liquid styptic, it should last you a long time. It comes with 0.5 ounces (15 mL) of product, and it should only take a few drops each time you need to use it. Take care of the bottle, don’t spill the product and you can use this a long time.
Styptic Pencils Are Like Health Insurance
Having a styptic pencil is like having health insurance -- hopefully you don’t have to use it very often, but when you do, you sure are glad you have it.
In all seriousness though, I use my styptic pencil very rarely. I’d say 99% of the small cuts and weepers I get, my alum block takes care of them with no problem. But when the cut is a little deeper or bigger, the styptic pencil comes in extra handy. Styptic pencils are very affordable, easy to use and last a long time if you take care of them, so hopefully you will consider into buying one and tossing it in your Dopp kit.
