Thread: leaving scars nicking yourself?

Scars are just reminders of a life well lived.

Low angles and a sharp razor indeed work well. The other day I failed on the former and put a 1/16"+ deep cut into an old bit of scar tissue on the edge of my lower lip. Thanks to the wonderfully sharp razor, the sucker bled at most 2 full drops before sealing on its own, allowing me to finish up the shave without a hitch.

So that's the benefit of a sharp razor (and a reminder for me not to rush my shaves). Also, it really helps to have great "brakes" as soon as you feel the unfortunate bite of a razor.

I lost my styptic pencil so typically just stick a small bandage over a cut that won't stop bleeding, and I've only had one gash that left a significant scar.

Maybe your stretching isn't up to par, low angles and tight skin, is the remedy for cuts while shaving. As to scars, 18 years old or 70 , men get scars it's part of living. Your too damn vain if this is bothering you. Tc

Originally Posted by tcrideshd

As to scars, 18 years old or 70 , men get scars it's part of living. Your too damn vain if this is bothering you. Tc

Its not like im sitting here frantically worrying about my scars and putting cover-up make-up on. I just want to know the best approach to avoiding a scar during the process. If i am already stopping the bleeding and can do one more step to limit the scar, its absurd not to do it just because of the notion of people getting scars is natural.


thanks for the name of steristrips. I didnt even know about them. Never been in surgery before. Ill have to go buy some later for when i slash myself again.

A few recommendations for you:

Stretch the skin and shave with short and LIGHT strokes. It's a whisker removal program, re-lather and go for another pass if the shave isn't quite there.

Check yourself. I've been honing for quite a while and just to check myself I did a razor swap with a gentleman who I figured was a good honer. His edges were good as were mine that he tried. Don't trade with someone who will blow smoke up your tail, trade out with someone who will shoot you "straight".

Slow down. If you are in a hurry, go to the double edge. I've learned my lessons on trying to rush a straight shave, you can't.

Soaps and Creams: Cushion and slipperiness are key...that razor must slide over the skin. Use a quality shave soap/cream

A trick I learned WAY back. Go to a pet store and find a "nick" powder. It's usually by the clippers. If alum won't stop a bleeder, this is where it's at. Mine is called "Quick Blood Stopper". I think it's just powdered styptic.

Best of luck to you, man up, own it! If all you experience is smooth sailing, how can you appreciate the calm after the storm?

Like TC said, Super glue works a treat clean and dry the area make sure you don't glue your hands to your face seriously, only last week my Dog cut his pad on some glass I used Superglue to close it.

Mom always made butterfly bandages fir all my nasty cuts. As good as stitches IMO. PLENT O SCARS...Lve um all. Great story tellers.!

Originally Posted by tcrideshd

Good advise, super glue works a treat, my guys love it, cause without it I get out my fishing line and needle and apply their stitches. Tc

Originally Posted by celticcrusader

Like TC said, Super glue works a treat clean and dry the area make sure you don't glue your hands to your face seriously, only last week my Dog cut his pad on some glass I used Superglue to close it.

Yup, super glue was discovered by accident as a alternative to stitches on cuts and wounds in WW1 and WW2.

Scar consists of a different type of tissue than your regular skin. Some people react, create, more visible scars with the extreme being keloid in people of African descent.
Antibiotics etc wont affect scar formation unless we are dealing with an infected wound. The reason for that is that antibiotics are just that, they kill bacteria but they play no role in scar formation or tissue healing.
The best you can do if the cut is long/wide is to use a steristrip to attach the edges as close as possible. That will allow the cut to heal with a very thin scar and not as visible.

Originally Posted by alex1921

The best you can do if the cut is long/wide is to use a steristrip to attach the edges as close as possible. That will allow the cut to heal with a very thin scar and not as visible.

Ah yes, my plastic surgeon also had me use steristrips