Thread: Cat Scratch Fever!

I went to meet with a friend for lunch today. He wasn't aware the I had started to shave with a straight. He thought I had gotten into a fight with a cat or something, as I have quite a few little nicks here and there and.... everywhere. Anyway, to chronicle my shaving wounds I have taken some pictures of my ugly mug in hopes that you gentleman may get a kick out of it. Oh and yes, my friend thought I was crazy for trying to learn with a straight, most of my friends do. Anyway, onto the pictures


Here I am with a goofy smirk on my face. I never know how to smile.
As you can see I still have some zits which do get in the way.
There are several cuts around the chin area.



Close up of the chin and an even scarier shot of my face.



Underneath the chin. Everything you see there was done during my
first shave. I am hoping they all heal up and go away soon, as they
do get in the way a bit.



And finally, the cou'de gra the nice gouge I took out of my left cheek.
The picture is a bit fuzzy, and it has also healed up quite well. Surprisingly
it doesn't give me any trouble while shaving.



There you have it, my war wounds. Nothing major yet, though those
cuts under my chin do give me some trouble. And yes, the hair does get in the way a little while I shave. Damn hippies!

Matt

Hi Matt. Thanks for sharing the pics.

Just generally, how do those cuts come about? Does the blade stop moving and dig in? Are they mainly from against the grain passes?

They look like they should heal up OK in a few days or so. Don't know how often you shave, but it might be a good idea to hold off until they heal.

Ah, I had long hair once - those were the days. Then I became as bald as a badger at a barber's convention....

James.

Oh dude, thats horrible. One word, Neosporene. Has your razor been honed professionally? Those look like the kind of cuts that come from an improperly honed razor.

Originally Posted by AFDavis11

Oh dude, thats horrible. One word, Neosporene. Has your razor been honed professionally? Those look like the kind of cuts that come from an improperly honed razor.

I agree --with the little I know , I don't think you should be wacking yourself up that bad. The only time I've seen this is in a post with someone who used one of those feather blade straights. If you are happy and encouraged with results like this, then I say you are a good man but believe me the results should be better and I don't think your getting the full glory of using a straight.

Justin

I agree with Alan. If you have to muscle the razor through the sahve AT ALL then your blade is not sharp enough. It should just glide ofer the skin easlily and cut through the whiskers like a hot knife through butter. Your face is still new to this so it will love you for some moisturiser right now.

X

STOP! Wait, halt...someone.

I haven't started with the straight yet but is that how it normally goes? For the first few shaves? For the first many shaves?

Should I be having second thoughts?

By the way, that sucks man. Hope your face heals. I agree...Neosporin!!!!!!

DUM, DUM, DUM, D-DUM, D-DUM...CATSCRATCH

Originally Posted by Jimbo

Hi Matt. Thanks for sharing the pics.

Just generally, how do those cuts come about? Does the blade stop moving and dig in? Are they mainly from against the grain passes?

They look like they should heal up OK in a few days or so. Don't know how often you shave, but it might be a good idea to hold off until they heal.

Ah, I had long hair once - those were the days. Then I became as bald as a badger at a barber's convention....

James.

Originally Posted by AFDavis11

Oh dude, thats horrible. One word, Neosporene. Has your razor been honed professionally? Those look like the kind of cuts that come from an improperly honed razor.

I really doubt it's the honing, as most of the cuts you see are from the first shave which I did right after getting the kit from Tony, I was very excited. I have done all the tests described in the Razor section, and both the arm test and the hht were passed with flying colors (though it took me a bit to get the hang of the hht). I usually go pretty slow when I strop as well. Laying the blade flat on the strop with no pressure on the blade it self. The blade continues to pass the test well so I don't think I ruined it stropping. Plus, as mentioned, the majority of the cuts were from the first shave when the blade was new and untouched by any except Tony himself.

No, I attribute these bad boys to poor lubrication and poor technique. You are right James, the blade usually just kind of stopped and dug into my poor, unsuspecting flesh.

I was using William's Shaving soap, and was really having a hard time to get a good, lubricating lather. It either dried quickly, or was too runny. Either way it didn't work, plus it irritated my skin.

I went and got some Proraso today, along with some of their pre-shave cream. This worked much much much better, as you can read about in the soap section under "The Right Tools". The pre-cream got my skin nice and smooth and ready, and the shaving cream really built into a good lather that really helped to lube my face well. It also sustained well throughout the shave. I nicked my self once, but it was on an overgrown zit that couldn't be avoided , SO IT DOESN'T COUNT HAHAHA . The Proraso made a big difference and it made the shave go a lot smoother. as I was able to let the blade do the work and just glide right through the hair. Thanks for the concern you guys. I feel so loved! Ha ha.

Matt

Originally Posted by Bear

STOP! Wait, halt...someone.

I haven't started with the straight yet but is that how it normally goes? For the first few shaves? For the first many shaves?

Should I be having second thoughts?

By the way, that sucks man. Hope your face heals. I agree...Neosporin!!!!!!

DUM, DUM, DUM, D-DUM, D-DUM...CATSCRATCH

You can't stop now man! And no, I don't think it is normal. I would hate to think I ruined your experience just because of my misfortune. As I said, it was largely the lack of good lather. And my over eagerness probably didn't help much either haha. Continue on courageously, and if you cut your self up as bad as I did, then you have my empathy. Just make sure your face is well lubricated and that you don't put much pressure on the razor. GO SLOW and I am sure you will do fine.

Matt

Glad to hear things are going a bit better now.

James.

Originally Posted by Bear

I haven't started with the straight yet but is that how it normally goes? For the first few shaves? For the first many shaves?

No definitely not. With good prep and a properly honed blade your face will just tingle a little, perhaps feel a bit raw. Kinda like your gums feel after the dentist is done poking around in there. It mellows out very quickly as your face gets used to teh heavy depiling of the top layer of skin that the straight razor accomplishes.

X