I went on a unicorn hunt this morning. At least it felt that way. I was searching for something that no longer seemed to exist. Only in this case the mythical object was a styptic pencil.
Some of you are probably thinking, a what? Wondering what this object could possibly be? What would you write with a styptic pencil?
The answer is nothing. They aren’t for writing. They’re just sort of pencil shaped. It’s an astringent. It stops minor bleeding by kind of sealing up the would. Powdered alum can be used for the same purpose, but that’s hard to find too.
I guess maybe we don’t cut ourselves shaving as often as we once did. Once upon a time the styptic pencil was the go-to thing for fixing minor little boo-boos like razor nicks. Many probably used the old tiny little bit of toilet paper method, which also works. Except you have to remember to remove the tiny little bits of toilet paper or people tend to look at you funny.
But the styptic pencil has become a rare item. Possible because razor nicks have become a rare item. I have noticed myself that the advent of the four and five blade razor seems to have reduced the number of nicks I get. Still, they come in handy when you need them. Only it seems they have become a forgotten item.
I finally found one… after going to four different stores. And encountering a number of people who looked at me with strange, questioning looks on their faces, wondering what I was talking about.
And I can see why. A styptic pencil can last a long time, so they might not be something people sell a lot of. In fact, they last long enough that they are perhaps passed down in families from generation to generation. Until we have come top this generation, who are all wandering around with little bits of toilet paper stuck to them because they are not familiar with wonders of the styptic pencil.
There was one of them laying around the house, but I’m not sure where it went. Honestly, I think it may have been passed down to me by my father. It may go back further than that. But it went missing so I wanted a new one. I finally found it, and will now cherish it and care for it and hopefully pass it on when I am gone.
A treasured heirloom. Maybe not quite a unicorn, but almost as rare.
