Notes

Morning Shaving Nicks, Alum Blocks and One Memorable Sting

Ten minutes in the morning are worth more than an hour at night.

At least, that is how I see it.

Breakfast, getting dressed, heading off to work. In the rush to get out the door, shaving is one thing I want to get done quickly.

Just use an electric shaver. Fair point, but…

If you want to avoid shaving cuts, an electric shaver seems like a good option.

Panasonic Lamdash, Philips, Braun. Starting with an affordable model and finding one that suits your skin and beard makes sense.

Electric shavers on Amazon US

See 2 electric shaver models

I have not tested these models. Prices, stock and delivery terms may change.

I do use an electric shaver myself.

I can see the appeal of higher-end models: automatic cleaning to make upkeep easier, features that help you shave quickly. There is also the satisfaction of owning a good tool. I think they have plenty going for them.

Honestly, though, an entry-level model is enough for me for now.

I gently pull the skin taut with my free hand so the blades can reach the hairs more easily. Before an electric shave, I also use Success pre-shave lotion.

It contains a smoothing powder to help the shaver glide over the skin. For me, applying it makes the shaver move more easily and the shave feel smoother.

I shake it well, apply it to my skin and wait until it is dry before shaving. I keep it away from any cuts.

In the US, Williams Lectric Shave is another lotion made for electric shaving. I have not tried it, so I cannot compare how it feels with Success.

Williams Lectric Shave, 7 fl oz — Amazon.com Paid link · Amazon Associates

Honestly, upkeep like regularly oiling the blades feels like a chore, and I tend to put it off. Of course, the lotion does not replace blade oil.

If a small step like this makes shaving more comfortable, an affordable shaver I can use without fuss suits me well. If I am a bit rough with it, at least I will not feel as bad as I would about damaging an expensive one. I can laugh about that.

Mostly on days off, though. I take my time shaving while watching the news. It is a perfectly pleasant way to spend a few minutes.

Weekday mornings are a different story.

I wash my face to wake up, feel a bit more human, then go straight to a quick shave with a manual razor.

For me, that is the quickest routine.

What it comes down to for me is how to use those few minutes in the morning.

Until my skin decides not to cooperate.

I shave the same way as always, or so I think, and end up with little nicks on my cheeks and chin. Then the blood starts to seep out.

Breakfast and getting dressed are still ahead of me, and here I am, staring down little red dots in the mirror.

Really? First thing in the morning?

But heading out while I am still bleeding is no good either.

I get to work, and a while later I look in the restroom mirror. There are little clumps of dried blood around my mouth.

…How long have those been there?

It is pretty embarrassing if I have already been talking to people. Even when the cuts are small, I want to take care of them before I leave.

An alum stone I will not forget

Those little shaving mishaps once led me to try a stone-like product made with alum.

I still remember the first time it touched my nicked skin.

It stung.

Actually, “stung” does not quite cover it.

That really hurt. Funny now, less funny at the time.

I had no idea such tiny cuts could make such a fuss.

Strangely enough, though, there was something about that sharp little sting that almost made me want to try it again.

To be clear: pain does not mean it is working better. I just have not forgotten that first encounter.

That experience got me curious about alum blocks, sold for care after shaving.

What is an alum block?

An alum block is a solid, stone-like shaving care product made with potassium alum.

It looks remarkably plain. No batteries, no complicated mechanism.

Brands including OSMA, Parker and Proraso sell them internationally.

The stone I tried before was a different product from the dedicated shaving products featured here; it was my curiosity about alum that led me to look into them.

Some people may wonder why they should spend money on such little shaving cuts.

But a solid alum block is used up a little at a time. Parker, for example, says its 125 g block can last for years.

How long it lasts depends on how it is used and stored. Still, if one block lasts a long time, keeping one around for those rushed mornings does not seem like a bad idea.

Then I found styptic pencils

A little more looking turned up another intriguing tool.

The styptic pencil.

As the name suggests, it is a shaving accessory shaped like a pencil.

Brands such as Clubman sell them, and some differ from alum blocks in both ingredients and intended use.

I have not tried the individual styptic pencils or shaving alum blocks featured here, so I used manufacturer information to put together a comparison.

Different forms and intended uses
A white styptic pencil beside its case

Styptic pencil

A narrow stick marketed for small, localized shaving nicks. Follow the instructions for the specific product.

Rasierstift — Priwo / Public domain · Unmodified

A white alum block to the right of a straight razor

Alum block

A mineral block marketed for broader post-shave skin care.

Alaunblocknebenrasiermesser — M. Leupold / CC BY-SA 3.0 · Unmodified

These photographs show examples of the two forms, not the products linked below. Sources and comparison details

Check ingredients and manufacturer sources

Alum block vs styptic pencil: what product information actually tells us

Styptic pencil

Shape and intended context
A narrow stick marketed for small, localized shaving nicks. Follow the instructions for the specific product.
One documented formula
OSMA lists aluminium sulphate and water for its 12 g shaving pencil in its official shop. This does not establish the formula for every styptic pencil.
OSMA Tradition — Crayon de rasage, 12 g (official shop) ↓

This is a comparison of product forms and manufacturers' published ingredients, not a clinical trial or evidence that one stops bleeding better. Check the exact product's formula, directions and regulatory status in your location.

Start with firm direct pressure using clean gauze or a cloth. Seek emergency medical help immediately if the bleeding does not stop or the wound is deep or large. The accessories below do not replace this care. NHS ↓

With a busy morning ahead

The best outcome, of course, is not cutting yourself in the first place.

Electric shavers are handy, and it is worth paying attention to your razor technique and the condition of your skin. If you do cut yourself, first apply direct pressure with a clean cloth or gauze. If the bleeding does not stop, or the wound is deep or large, seek emergency medical help immediately.

Still, I like that weekday routine: wash my face, then have a quick shave with a razor.

When something is such an ordinary part of every day, even discovering one small tool can make it interesting.

But that alum stone…

I really had no idea what I was in for the first time. I can laugh about it now.

Sources

Ingredient and product-use references are from manufacturers and a Clubman stockist; general first aid is sourced to the NHS. OSMA's 12 g product page does not establish the formula for other manufacturers' pencils. Checked 2026-10-20.

  1. NHS — Cuts and grazes
  2. OSMA Tradition — Crayon de rasage, 12 g (official shop)
  3. OSMA Tradition — Alum stone INCI (official shop)
  4. BLOC OSMA — 75 g alum shaving stone (manufacturer)
  5. Parker Shaving — Alum Block, 125 g
  6. Proraso USA — Post-Shave Stone
  7. Clubman Online — How to Use a Styptic Pencil
  8. Kao — Success Pre-Shave Lotion, 100 ml
  9. Panasonic — How to improve the shaving effect
  10. Lectric Shave — Pre-Shave Lotion (manufacturer)

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