Thread: Micro Nicks

In my face, not the razor. I'm getting these little tiny spots, about a pore wide, and only in places that are difficult for me, the points of my jaw. I can't figure out what I'm doing wrong, it might be an angle thing, my razor seems sharp enough (ok, maybe feeling like a mach 3 is dull) and my lather seems adequate, it's not as good as what I see in the videos, but between my cheap boar brush, hard water, and possibly not-very-lathery soap.
I'm getting BSS in two passes in most places (WTG +XTG) and my skin isn't prone to getting bumps.
maybe I need to go back to just a single WTG pass, but it happens so quick, and I know that I can get just a little better.

I'm going to rest the razor I've been useing and try my other two and see if the problem persists, I noticed it mostly tonight, so it might just be that one.

I know that I have too many variables going on here, but any help is welcome!
Thanks guys!

I think what you're describing are called 'weepers', little points of blood during the shave which stop bleeding very quickly and leave no trace. They're no big deal. Ease up on your pressure and you should see an improvement.

X

I get a few of these, too especially where I've stretched the skin very tight like the front of my chin. Dabbing them with a styptic pencil helps close them.

I agree with X. Use less pressure and your weepers should be a thing of the past. Also, watch your blade angle. It's pretty easy to let it get out of the acceptable range as you navigate the jawline area.

Agree what Xman said. Less pressure !! Weepers are not a big thing but could be more like annoying.
Especially if you are in a hurry dry them and put a balm and later notice a little dry red spots.

one thing what I have noticed is that good prep work also helps and allows me to keep on going with my bad pressure habits.
I don't use hot towels at the moment because I don't have time for that in the morning. Due to that I must focus properly other things to s(h)ave my face.
Check out this if it helps

Get a better shaving result by improving your preparation - Straight Razor Place Wiki

dont underestimate good face prep it can make the differance between a great shave and a poor one sometimes i skip on the face prep if i am in a hurry and can tell a huge differance. the razor will pull and tug and will be uncomfortable. try spending a little time an face prep and you will notice an improvement

Thanks guys. I've been shaving straight out of the shower for quite a while, mostly due to cartridges sucking and my beard hair is fairly dense (good northern Europe heritage). It may very well be a pressure thing, I'll be careful to watch that as it may be I'm adding pressure during the extra passes.

I'm going to go back to my shaveesi which being heavier, is gentler, and see if I can work up better lather, freaking hard water just doesn't help the lather. my aftershave has aloe and glycerin, so I'll add that to the mix and see what happens.

but if its "just one of those things" I'll not worry about fixing them and carry on, as I get better it should solve itself.

go buy a jug of distilled or spring water and give it a try keep us posted

tonight's shave went better, just two weepers which I think may have just been the scabs of yesterday getting scraped. lots less pressure, I realize that I go harder on the left side, as I don't switch hands. I also just noticed that I feel a lot more stubble when my face is wet, and as soon as it drys its smoother, so I'll take that into consideration, and I realized that the direction of the hair along my jaw line points at my chin, so my stroke has been ATG. not so good. so I'll do a healing day, and then have at it again!

I'll also try better water at some point to test the soap I'm using, and I just found out that a new store opened here with good brushes. this could be bad......

I find that I get the weepers when I use a heavier blade. When I use a 5/8 full hollow I rarely get weepers.