Although shaving cuts are unlikely to land you in intensive care, they can sometimes yield surprising amounts of blood. Understanding how to stop nicks from bleeding after shaving is about knowing the right tools for the job. This checklist provides you with guidance on cleaning up shaving nicks, and all the steps to treat the wound.
Checklist: How to make razor cuts stop bleeding
- Assess the damage: Most shaving cuts are tiny lacerations, which are unlikely to cause a scar. However, if you find yourself with a real war wound, it would be sensible to head to the hospital and get some stitches.
- Apply firm pressure: Take a piece of clean tissue paper and apply firm pressure to the cut. This will help to reduce the flow of blood, creating a better environment for clots to form.
- Clean the cut: With either clean water or antiseptic carefully clean the cut. It’s important to get right into the wound to protect against infection. So grit your teeth and make your mom proud.
- Use a styptic pencil: Once your wound is clean, take a styptic pencil and wet just the tip. Gently rub it on your hand until you start to see a white residue appear. Now apply the pencil to the cut. Larger nicks may require a couple of applications, but you will be amazed at how fast-acting it is. The ingredients in the styptic pencil will serve as an anti-hemorrhage to prevent further bleeding and seal the wound.
- Protect your pencil: Styptic pens have a tendency to crumble when they get wet. Unfortunately, the majority of brands have not addressed this pet peeve, and use cheap packaging solutions that offer little protection. A few choice products, such as Glyder, have adopted a more innovative retractable casing. This allows you to wet just the tip of the pencil so that the brittle shaft of the pen is kept safe and sound while the wicked tip does its work.
- Let it breathe: It can be tempting to grab a band-aid for an extra layer of shaving cut protection. Band-aids can be breeding grounds for bacteria and must be changed regularly to avoid the wound festering and becoming prone to infection. By giving your shaving nick some air, you encourage it to dry out and coagulate. This forms the best barrier to infection, and it’s totally natural.
- Block before balm: Once your styptic pencil has had the chance to work some magic, it’s time to slap on some of that irresistible musk. There are few things as refreshing as a generous splash of aftershave on a freshly razored cheek. Revel in the moment, take a deep breath, and admire your handiwork.