Thread: How much do people cut themselves?

The cuts I've gotten on my face are really no worse then you would get with any other razor. If you're reasonably careful you should be fine. I think the potential for bad cuts is to the hands. Whether while shaving or maintaining your razor, be particularly aware of where both hands are and where they're going.

Jordan

I got one or two cuts when I first started out. Never on the neck, mostly always on the my cheek and those were from not paying attention or rushing the job. Now, I rarely ever get a cut. In fact the last cut I ever got was when the wife and I were away and I brought and used my old DE instead of one of my straights. I got a nice gash under my jaw.

I think that cutting yourself is something you always hear people saying and or talking about however, the reality for us that actually use a straight is that it is uncommon and it's not even something I think about any more.

Shimmy, your right on the whole concept...don't think/treat it as a chore. Pamper yourself, get some good soaps and creams, a good brush and mug and start your collection of straights. You'll never regret it. There is a great bunch of guys here and more information then you'll ever be able to digest. Glad you found us.

-Pary

Originally Posted by jnich67

The cuts I've gotten on my face are really no worse then you would get with any other razor. If you're reasonably careful you should be fine.

+1 on this for my $.02.

I've been shaving with a str8 for about a month, and only nicked myself once on the neck when I was trying to figure out the angles in the mirror (knock on wood. Full disclosure--I have a full beard and only shave my cheeks and the vertical part of my neck). I'm still trying to figure out how to approach my adam's apple, as the beard grows at a funny angle there.

I used to shave with a trac-2, and don't ever remember nicking myself with that either.

Start slowly, and carefully, and only approach the blade to your skin when you are ready. ALWAYS move the blade in the "right" direction.

Good luck.

Jim

Originally Posted by jnich67

The cuts I've gotten on my face are really no worse then you would get with any other razor.

While I've found this to be true, there is the very distinct possibility that the cut will be longer than those caused by a DE or cartridge razor. I still have the vestiges of a two-inch cut near my left ear. It was no deeper than what a DE would have given me, but it's a good deal longer.

If you start off slow and shave from the dominant hand side burn to jaw first for a few days and then move to the cheek and then switch hands and do the same on the other side of the face follwed by each side of the neck up and down and then take on the chin a little bit at a time, you will likely have less nicks than the person who takes on the whole face from the first. The method described lets you get used to the feel of the razor and the angles necessary to cut. This establishes a comfort level as you learn more.

Good Luck.

Lynn

I have had two semi-bad cuts and both of those have been on my thumb!!!
Not paying attention when switching hands will do it in a hurry. On my face, I always had more nicks and cuts with a DE and even more than with a Mach3. With a straight, almost never.

Newb here....

Every time but very shallow. The stiptic pencil is my friend, followed by a rubbing alcohol chaser. I will point out that I am still learning to hone and am starting from a dull razor so each time is either a little better or a little worse as I figure out what I'm doing wrong.

Today's lesson was an edge that is sharp enough for a great WTG shave may not be sharp enough for a great XTG shave and I am experiencing my first case of whisker burn. You can't see it happily, no rash, but I can feel the burn.

- Bob

Here's my opinion: you can still cut yourself even if you have lots of practice and a well-honed straight, and it really doesn't matter if it happens because you are not paying attention or there was an earthquake or whatever. What counts is that you can cut yourself - more so than with an electric, for example.

Have I cut myself - heck yeah, but while I don't enjoy it particularly, it won't stop me in the least. I may have put a couple of small permanent scars on my face but that's OK with me (last time wasn't too long ago - wife and kids around me egging me to hurry up to go out together + a vicious spike wasn't a good combination )

Nevertheless, I haven't used anything else on my face since my very first straight shave, and I don't want to.

Cheers
Ivo

Originally Posted by izlat

Here's my opinion: you can still cut yourself even if you have lots of practice and a well-honed straight, and it really doesn't matter if it happens because you are not paying attention or there was an earthquake or whatever. What counts is that you can cut yourself - more so than with an electric, for example.

Have I cut myself - heck yeah, but while I don't enjoy it particularly, it won't stop me in the least. I may have put a couple of small permanent scars on my face but that's OK with me (last time wasn't too long ago - wife and kids around me egging me to hurry up to go out together + a vicious spike wasn't a good combination )

Nevertheless, I haven't used anything else on my face since my very first straight shave, and I don't want to.

Cheers
Ivo

.....Agreed!