Thread: Help with Cuts

I'm 45 days into SR shaving and although I'm experiencing shaves with little or no cuts I occasionally cut myself like this. Is it a matter of blade angle or placing the razor on my skin before its moving? Id appreciate any thoughts.

For me, placing the blade against the skin _before_ beginning the stroke led to more cuts than I get currently. Start the motion of the shave stroke before placing the blade to your skin and see if you fillet yourself less.

Of course, keep the blade angle at 30 degrees or less, depending whether you are doing WTG, XTG, or ATG strokes.

One final note. Until I had shaved for several months, I frequently nicked myself. Something to keep in mind as I believe this just comes with the learning curve.

I have to agree with everything said above.
And a lower angle does reduce cuts and gives a much better shave in my experience.
Also starting your motion before touching the razor to your face will dramatically cut the cuts down

Shave on and also be sure to just shave the lather. Many times the lighter touch will also help in the situation

It looks like when you place the razor to face, the angle is too great, with too much pressure. At 45 days into things, and assuming around 30-45 shaves to your belt, it can be easy to sometimes get a little lackadaisical with technique, which can result in mishaps. No matter how proficient one becomes using a straight, you sill have to keep mentally into the game, and stay on task.

All good thoughts above. In my case the final piece of the puzzle for eliminating nicks came down to paying more attention to stretching the skin being shaved.

Seems I forgot to mention my worst cut came from using way too much pressure. A straight razor with a shave-ready edge requires a light touch, thus the saying:

“Shave the lather!”

Stretching the skin was also something that took many shaves for me to realize the importance of doing so.

Originally Posted by Speedster

Stretching the skin was also something that took many shaves for me to realize the importance of doing so.

How many besides me have had the skin stretched tightly only to have it slip from under the fingers just as you start your pass? If you have, then you know what's about to happen.

That i a matter of not pulling back properly on the skin.

Originally Posted by cudarunner

How many besides me have had the skin stretched tightly only to have it slip from under the fingers just as you start your pass? If you have, then you know what's about to happen.

I've had it happen more than once.
That is also a reason I am picky with my shave soaps. Some leave your skin too slick to get a good stretch

Originally Posted by ovidiucotiga

That i a matter of not pulling back properly on the skin.

Sorry but no cigar as the skin was properly stretched, what causes the problem is quite similar to what Dieseld said. 'Slickness'.

I haven't had this happen in years now as I quickly learned to keep the finger tips dry and be careful of what soaps I use.

Originally Posted by Dieseld

I've had it happen more than once.
That is also a reason I am picky with my shave soaps. Some leave your skin too slick to get a good stretch