Thread: I've started to cut myself regularly

I've been using my straight razor since late December with pretty good results. Yes I cut myself early on, but then was doing great with no cuts. My routine has remained the same except I am using the Strop more. Any suggestions?

slow down and don't assume you know what you're doing. It's easy as you get better to think you're doing better than you are and to get cocky.... I approach every shave as a beginner.... just my 2c

Steady constant controlled attention to entire edge. Are you getting nicked, sliced or weepers? Nicks are from not controlling the whole edge. The toe will get you or the heel will get you if you are paying to close attention to the middle of your razor. Slices are from a bad motion or blade angle. Be careful how you move the blade in relation to the edge and watch the angle you bring the edge to your face. Weepers... Thin skin. I don't know. Everything seems fine but that one spot where you may have used more pressure and shaved some skin. Lighter pressure

If you are muscling through shaves on a dull blade that is another sure way to cut yourself.

It might just be over confidence.

JT is correct.
You cannot take your eye or your brain off that edge.
Gets the best shavers from time to time

Of course there is also the option that if you have been shaving with the same edge from the beginning that your edge is starting to slip in quality, with the gradual deterioration of your edge you started to use a little more pressure and now you are using enough pressure for a few nicks here and there, also skin stretching is important for no nick shaving. No saying that we are not all correct either, a few little things could be going on.

I agree with RezDog. There's a good chance that you're blade could use a touch up. Also make sure that you are holding the blade flat enough to youre face. An overly aggressive angle can tear you up.

Be certain that you are not slicing with a square-point. Sometimes muting the point will help. YMMV
Otherwise, excessive blade angle will cut. It is not a substitute for a proper edge.

At one point, I started getting cuts out of the blue. Turned out I had (without realizing) begun resting the edge on my skin at the start of a stroke. No-no!

Something changed :<0) Look at your blade under magnifier if you can. You may find some tinsy winsy chips. If not do what everybody else suggested.