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I cant even began to describe the pain that I am in as I write this post but simple I destroyed my face with a straight tonight. before you get the wrong idea I love my straight and shaving now that I do it right but for god sake what the hell happened my shaving was down no cuts in a week and now my face is bleeding and it feels like I ripped off all of my skin. so my question is will I ever have nothing more to worry about or is this just going to happen from time to time?
Keep in mind I'm a newb.
It takes a while before you can get "comfortable" enough wile shaving. The more you practice with a straight, the better you will be at it. What will NEVER change is the respect you must ALWAYS have for the razor. My opinion is that cuts mostly happen by over confident shavers. Hang in there and take it slow. When in a hurry, don't shave.
I sliced my jaw up pritty good last night. My excuse is that my brother in law bought a set of those speed stacking kids toy things. Its a stupid sport where people who are too lame to do a real sport compete to see who can stack plastic cups into various patterns. Anyway, while I was shaving he was playing with them on the table behind me. The only reason I didn't hit him was because it would really p!$$ my wife off.
I've only been at this for 3 months but it seems like when I get too comfortable that's when I usually get bit. It's definately NOT a disposable razor but it is a lesson in discipilne and so much more. I think I could remove half my lip with my str8 and it still wouldn't keep me from using it.
Hang in there, buddy. Biggest piece of advice I can give since you've described your bad shave a bit: do NOT shave with a straight for like a week. Faces that raw need a chance to heal. If you go right back to it, you'll be sorry you did.
I gave myself the worst cut I've had about a year ago. It was with a Feather AC with a Pro Super blade ironically enough and not a straight per se. The scar is still faintly visible.
Respect for the edge is paramount. I think I'm always conscious of where the edge is, angle, etc and I still nick occasionally but at least it doesn't hurt!
Chris L
I have heard Lynn say this over and over if it hurts stop you are doing something wrong! Do not continue with a shave and totally trash out your face, stop at the first sign of pain and figure out whats going on is it pulling? is the razor dull? Did I strop wrong! and ask for help. you should never continue to the point that you are ruining your face. Hang in there and you will get this figured out remember slow is the rule.
Yes, I guess we've all been there. We know it's stupid to keep shaving when something 's definitely not going well. At the time I was still struggling with my honing, I sometimes told to myself in the mirror while shaving "You're doing it agaiain... This is going to be uglyyyy..." And yet I kept going. They call that obstinacy.
It's been over a year since my last screw up. The scar reminds me to stay focused. :whipped:
All good advice above.
Take a break and relax. Once you loose respect for the blade you will get cut. It will bet better with practice so it won't always be like this. You will never be able to shave w/o concentration like when using the carriage razors. Concentration and respect for the blade are a major part of straight razor shaving. Once you get this down and don't have to keep reminding yourself of them and have your technique down as second nature you will be there.
Yesterday, first stroke, small cut on my ear.
I haven't ever had an experience like you describe though, something's wrong there!
Restraint is my biggest challenge - I'll just have one more go at that tricky bit - seconds later... razor burn / nick / cut!!
Mindfullness is the other challenge - the second I lose it, I've got a nick or cut! I guess that's one thing you have to keep however experienced you get - part of the charm of the straight razor too I think :)
All the best,
Michael.
A big revelation to me was to really make a stroke by stroke effort to be as light as possible with the blade. I picture the blade not as a blade, but as a very soft paint brush. I try to duplicate the sensation of very very lightly brushing the edge on my face. A great razor made with great steel and with a great edge actually is pleasurable to shave with. I mean the sensation is not the least bit uncomfortable when all those things are true in unison. Such little pressure and shorter strokes for me. I had to correct myself early on and realize that I must let the blade to the work. I'm there only to guide the razor. If the razor can't do the work and requires me to add pressure, etc, then the razor is not sharp enough to shave.
Chris L
202 days since my last cut. This is one of those things that the more you do it the easier it gets. Just take your time and let your style develop your pace.
Good luck,
Ray
Messing up with a straight (only happened once, as I am fairly new to this) is comparable to a bike crashed. I missed a downhill curve several years ago and it took over a year to be comfortable riding in a pack or going downhill. If you lost confidence, it will come back.
My first and last major cut was on the jaw line, 1.5 inch from the ear. My jaw line was a little numb for 2 days.
I recommend getting the Radio Shack 60x to 100x microscope...
Radio Shack Illuminated Mini Microscope
Illuminated Microscope - RadioShack.com
catalog# 63-1313
$12
2 AAA batteries
Using it to examine your blade won't solve every problem. But, if the edge is straight and the bevel smooth, and the razor is sharp enough to cut hair easily you are in the ball park in my opinion. If so, you might still have face irritation. But, I don't think it will be major problems like you describe.
Are any children present in your home? I say this not to mock you but it's been known to happen. Not to make light of your situation I sympathize. While I've never been there I have however, nicked myself. Just last night. I typically get maybe 1-3 nicks but each shave gets better for me. I'm still new and by no means an expert.
Take your time and if you've a DE/safety razor handy use that. Don't feel "obligated" to force yourself into using the SR. Otherwise you'll just end up cutting/nicking or even worse. You'll be frustrated and may end up giving up on the whole art of SR shaving.
Inspite of countless hours of reading/research I've done it means nothing if the knowledge isn't applied; without it techniques can't be developed. I need all help I can get as much as any newbie out there.
In short, you have great talented people here who can help and give you proper advice.
Take care
biggest mistake i made was last friday i was rushing and didnt have time for a proper shave, i used a gillette safety one ewwwwwwwwwww rubbish shave stressed me out for at least three days loads of irritation razor burn ingrown hairs and spots, straights all the way
What I've noticed is whether with a straight or a DE I always get nicks when I'm in a hurry. I never use the straight when I'm short on time and stick to the DE. Even then I'll take a bit more patience with the strokes as oddly enough I get more nicks with a DE than with a straight. My DE is a very old Shick, I'm thinking it might be the bad guy here...
This is something that happens to me from time to time. My in-laws play a game called lets try to get Nathan to slash his own thoat. They find this game hilarious, but not me. They will stand behind me arguing and making noise. Just two nights ago my father in-law let out a tremendous HHHHAAAAAACCCCCHHHHOOOOOOOOOO while I was shaving. Luckily he timed it badly, the razor wasn't on my face at the time.
Needless to say sometimes I get the odd nick or cut. When that happens I have learned that if I try to use a straight the next night I just open up the old wounds. The solution for me is to switch to a DE for a few nights, then go back to the straight.
Dude why don't you lock your bathroom or do they not have doors to bathrooms there?
They're depriving you of your santimonius ritual. Raise hell. Don't care if they're your in-laws. It's obvious SR is dangerous even to someone in capable hands. One slip it could be nick but the next slip could be laceration and blood gushing splooge.
Don't even say "in asian culture we respect elders..." well they're obviously not respecting you. There's a time and place to joke around and you clearly state:
They find this game hilarious, but not me.
When someone has a blade to his face it doesn't take rocket scientist to figure out it best not to distract the shaver.
Welcome aboard! I use to have Schck too and went to Remington shaver. They no longer have the cutters and replacement screen locally.Quote:
Originally Posted by vanp
Not that it mattered i was on my way to straights. Besides the battery was done for anyway.
I haven't cut my face to date but I have stabbed myself a few times. I was warned about spike points in the hands of a beginner and I found out exactly what they meant. :tameshigiri:
I wouldn't say that you will never have anything to worry about, but you will definately improve. I have been shaving with a straight for some time, and it had been weeks since I even nicked myself. Well I don't know whether I wasn't paying attention, or in a rush or what happened, but Monday morning I cut myself three times. Not little nicks either, two 1.5inch long cuts and one little srater where I dug the spike point in. And to top it off, they were all with my right hand (which I am much more proficient with). So don't fret, it happens to the best of us from time to time. Just take it slow and respect the blade.
The only place I have to shave is in the kitchen. And arguing in Asian culture is like arguing with a grumpy woman. Even if you are right, they would never admit they are wrong. If I start arguing with them about how they should behave they would just say use an electric. Its good enough for their three whiskers so they think it should be good enough for me. So that's an argument I wouldn't win.
Oh, and respect isn't really the right word for how I feel about them. I know all their dirty little secrets. Tolerate is more appropriate.
I know its been said a bunch of times but I just love beating dead horses.
If your blade is shave sharp, it is also easily sharp enough to cut you without you even knowing. Respect that! Lol.