I walked into the shop to begin my journey in the safety razor game and was told that the Alum Stick was a must buy. "You are just starting and will probably nick yourself frequently and this will help with healing and bleeding" they told me. And so, I bought it. I have used this item a handful of times, but not because of nicking myself. And it does its job. However, with that in mind, it is not a permanent resolution and can only do so much. It's good for stopping the bleeding if you're still shaving but I would recommend following up with a topical ointment to help the healing process.