I don’t know if you are familiar with this small innocuous gents’
shaving accessory. Before the advent of the safety razor, it was an
essential part of a shaving kit. In the event of a small nick or cut,
a dab with the old styptic pencil would stem the flow of blood –
although it does impart a bit of a sting – just like magic! I don’t
know how it works and I don’t care – it just does.
I always carry one of these little demons in my wash bag and it has
come to my rescue on numerous occasions. Recently however I found
myself away from home and standing in front of a bathroom mirror with
my weapon of destruction in my hand . . . yes - my bloody razor of
course - what else?! (By the way aren’t those magnifying mirrors
found in many hotel bathrooms – you know, the ones with the light in
them - scary f***ers? I always seem to have hairs growing out of my
ears and nose that definitely aren’t there when I’m at home!) Anyway –
I digress . . .
Suddenly disaster struck and I nicked myself just under my nose.
Pain! Blood! No problem – reach for the styptic stick. Nowhere to
be found. Oh Hell! Show time less than an hour away. Ah well, just
have to resort to wandering around the room for ten minutes with a
piece of tissue stuck to my face. Glam eh??
Of course, once attached, this is easily forgotten about and I settle
back to watch TV. So, cut to a few minutes later when I happen to
catch sight of myself in the mirror. The tissue, now saturated with
blood, has dried out completely and stuck fast to my face. Oh F**k!
Grimacing into the aforementioned magnifying mirror, I gingerly try to
prise the tissue away from the wound. Almost . . . bugger! I’m
bleeding again – and worse, it seems, than before. And this is where
the madness takes over. I search through my wash bag once again in
the vain hope that the little styptic miracle was simply hiding from
me earlier. Then I see it. Smiling up at me. A Lynx roll-on
deodorant! I wonder . . .could it? . . would it work?
Desperate times call for desperate measures so I decided to give it a
go. Well! PAIN! OW! PAIN! Followed by a lot of swearing and some
very bizarre naked leaping and dancing.
I can happily report that a Lynx roll-on deodorant will stop blood
from a shaving cut more or less instantly. But you better brace
yourself for a bit of a shock!
Next time – the effects of red chillis when applied as a remedy for
haemorrhoids!
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20/03/2009 at 12:24 pm
Great story Pete, I have one of those as well, but rarely use it, as I prefer to have a piece of paper on my face for A SHORT TIME, as that stick bites and bites and bites !
20/03/2009 at 10:06 pm
Hilarious and splendid first blog entry, Pete! Well worth the wait, and eduactional as well!
22/03/2009 at 04:10 am
Yes, very funny indeed. Thanks for the heads up on Styptic Sticks. But I think I will leave it for cases of emergency only it seems if they bite. I’ll pass on the Lynx I think.
25/03/2009 at 09:06 am
I agree with Gordo, and would like to add the comment that you and Andy both have a gift for prose. Did your bleeding razor abrasion show at all during the performance ? In the interests of public safety, though, the best prepatory option for your “red chillis” home remedy might be a quick sounding out of a general physician (or even an immodest chemist).
30/06/2009 at 10:27 am
Hi Pete,
nice story. I just visualised the situation.
Still waiting for the red chilli story!