Thread: How much do people cut themselves?

Hi guys,
I'm interested in starting to use a straight and have been hunting around for a little while, notably after I read a particularly good book about how we should enjoy shaving rather than treat it as a chore. Now most of my friends have said something along the lines of "but you'll cut yourself" and I know everyone says that once you're good you don't but how much did people cut themselves when they were learning and now that they're experienced?
Also if there are any members in New Zealand it'd be awesome if i could get in contact as an experienced person less than 1000km who could help me learn to hone would be good.

You'll nick yourself a couple of times, but as long as you are careful in your movements, they won't be much more than very shallow cuts.

The thing is: learn to shave with a razor that is truly sharp: i.e. one that is sharpened by one of the people here who hone razors.
You are much more likely to cut yourself with a dull razor.
The reason is that you have to make more effor to cut the hairs, and unconciously you will start to use more pressure / pull harder. That is when accidents happen.

But after the initial learning period you will virtually not cut yourself anymore. I know I don't.

Originally Posted by Bruno

You'll nick yourself a couple of times, but as long as you are careful in your movements, they won't be much more than very shallow cuts.

The thing is: learn to shave with a razor that is truly sharp: i.e. one that is sharpened by one of the people here who hone razors.
You are much more likely to cut yourself with a dull razor.
The reason is that you have to make more effor to cut the hairs, and unconciously you will start to use more pressure / pull harder. That is when accidents happen.

But after the initial learning period you will virtually not cut yourself anymore. I know I don't.

Yeah but don"t get cocky like our friend Bruno because sure as sh_t he is going to cut himself tonight!

You anger the shaving gods when you say such things out loud!

Originally Posted by JMS

Yeah but don"t get cocky like our friend Bruno because sure as sh_t he is going to cut himself tonight!

You anger the shaving gods when you say such things out loud!

You are right of course. I shall ask forgiveness from the Gods (btw, I am an admitted multitheist, but aren't you supposed to be christian? the pyre for you I say!)

On a more serious note: I meant that I virtually never cut myself anymore.
And when I do, it is usually because I was not really paying attention.
As long as I am paying attention, things usually go well.

i think i cut myself once when i was starting and it was just the surface level of the skin, like a paper cut - no bleeding, just a red line. it wasn't duting a shaving morion, but as i was trying to position the razor, orienting myself in the mirror, where angles are reversed. I don't think i've had any serious cuts so far - an occasional tiny supericial slice through a pimple, or the sligtly uneven skin over a scar i have just under my chin. but these happened with m3 too. however, I've been extremely close to cuts when I've gotten distracted for a second or two.

If you use sharp razor, good prep, extremely light touch and a 30degree angle, the razor just glides over the skin, without cutting it. It may look scary but once you do it you'll see it's not at all.

+1 on the scar under the chin ... I've opened mine up once or twice by not paying attention ( I was enjoying the shave too much I think ) .. I always have to be a little cautious in that area and remember I do have an old scar there thats a little raised and requires some diligence .

A moving blade is less likely to give a little cut. When I first started out , it was stopping and moving blade position that cut me ..

just my experiences and thoughts ..

Garry

I've been straight razor shaving for about a year and now i'm using a properly sharp razor it rarely happens. Maybe once a month but there's usually a reason such as not paying attention.

Oh and while i'm on the subject, if there is a more painful way of finding out you have a spot I have yet to discover it.

The first four or five shaves is when you'll get the most blood. I believe it's because you're shaving down the high spots. It's kind of like a mechanical exfoliation for your skin. After the first couple of weeks you'll notice your face is smoother than ever before and you'll have stopped bleeding. I totally agree that you should enjoy yourself shaving as well as grooming in general. This is our righteous pursuit as the male of the species. Witness the preening of the peacock in order to create the best possible display for the ladies.

Oddly enough, keeping your razor well honed will give you surgical control over the blade and where it goes. If it's a bit dull, it will slip and cut you. Honing is not magic and you can learn to do it. Start by taking a razor and examining both sides of the blade from heel to toe using magnification. If there's a Radio Shack near you, they carry a handy Zippo lighter size illuminated microscope that gives you 60x - 100x magnification. It will really show you visually what's going on at the edge. Then lay the razor down on the stone and rub it the length of the stone so you can feel the metal abrading against the stone's slurry. Do about 20 strokes on both sides, wipe the blade clean and then examine under the microscope again. See what's changed. Keep doing that until you've got a clean, polished edge and bevel. Then strop on natural leather about 50 times. Then try shaving.

Originally Posted by shimmy

Also if there are any members in New Zealand it'd be awesome if i could get in contact as an experienced person less than 1000km who could help me learn to hone would be good.

You might be hard pressed to find any other Kiwis, AFIK there is one more living in NZ whi is a member here, however tha person posts infrequently, maybe once a month.

I am a fellow kiwi, but living abroad at present, so unfortunately I cannot help you. Which part of NZ are you from?

P.S welcome to SRP.

EDIT: There is one more kiwi actually, his username is garythepenman. I haven't seen him around in several months though, but if you do a search for him, click his username, you should be presented with an option of emailing him. That will probably be your best bet of getting in touch with him rather than by PM.

It rarely happens to me. Maybe once every couple of months. However, when I got that 9/8" monster from Joe, it took some adjustment and a few nicks until I got used to the size.