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Gotten nicks before, but this ugly, right on my face too. Going to get so much flack at work for this. It requires a band-aid :P
I was just doing WTG down my cheek, I don't really get it. I'm a little tired, maybe I paused or put some excessive lateral action in. I dunno. Maybe I should send it in for a re-hone or give it another go on the barber hone? Hmm..
Did you catch yourself with the point or did you move the blade to the side a bit, it don't take much. At work just tell them that you at least you are man enough to learn.
Whether your blade was sharp or dulling, it's lateral motion that usually
causes the cuts, or if you dug the point in like Enuf2 said.
Nicks and cuts, unfortunately, are part of the growing process. Remember, whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger.
Good luck at work. Apparently you told them you are shaving with a straight, eh.
Regards,
Marc
Ouch! A couple months ago I cut myself lightly on the cheek but it was very visible, going XTG. People at work know I'm shaving with a straight. I though I would catch some flack, but no one said a word..... Hope you don't.
Does the culture we live in require demand such conformity to norm that shaving habits would need to be hidden? To be honest, I've wondered about this quite a bit myself (and still don't know the answer)...
Anyways, you could always put a positive spin on it and since it's probable that there's some who haven't found decent shaves. Or, you can stay in the norm with some made-up explanation. I've read "I have the world's meanest cat" mentioned here before.
Well it turns out 2 of my co-workers are former straight shavers, who gave it up because it was 'too much of a pain'.
Hi there. I sympathise with you but ursus' above is right, and I have thought similar thoughts for some time now. Why on earth it's risible I don't know but the pressure to not foul-up is palpable. At least you've got the guts to do it, I applaud your learning curve!
Is cutting yourself "good" better than cutting yourself "bad"? :thinking:
This is a good point. You really need to pay complete attention while shaving. It's easy to "zone out" if you will. It could be your blade, it could be your angle. Every once in a while, when I use a longer razor, I'll cut my left ear lobe, no matter how careful I am. I think as I get older, I'm getting faulty depth perception....Anyway, rule out that it's the blade, and check your angle, stay alert....
MrM,
Well, you've joined the club, welcome. :beer1:
As others have said, watch the sideways movement of the razor, remember to stretch and puff out your cheeks to avoid getting a roll of skin ahead of the razor, try not to start the stroke on unlathered skin, and start the stroke with a moving razor.
I have three visible shaving scars in my visage. I wear them proudly. Most will fade over time but for now they are there as a testament to either my stupidity or my want of knowledge.
Wear that bandaid proud.
Reactions at work have ranged from:
"well, if its your first cut in 2 months, you're doing pretty good'
"Here's a scar I got shaving with a straight"
to "You know they have these things called electrical razors now" "Just use a bic man".
I feel your pain. I have maybe bragged a time or two about using a straight to my coworkers. Big mistake. Now, if I show up with a visable cut, they just look at me and shake their heads.
To an extent, yes. I am in a fraternity and live in a suite at the fraternity house with 4 other guys. One saw me applying lather to my face using my brush and I caught some flak for it. I wasn't affected by his ignorance, but in certain crowds if you don't do it their way then you're doing it the wrong way and need to be informed through the use of immaturity.Quote:
Originally Posted by ursus
Two weeks ago I cut myself on the cheek. It happened while I was day-dreaming and in a hurry. It left me a scar about a quarter of an inch long, everytime I shave, I look at it and it is a reminder and a lesson learned....yes, I had to wear an band-aid to work. Don't give up, think of what you did wrong and learn. I still enjoy my night shaves and look forward to them.
I had a nasty cut on my lower cheek near my chin which scarred. I thought it would be a permanent scar but lately it has been fading (been 5 months).Quote:
Originally Posted by Hogrider
What got me was lifting the edge of the blade away from my face to try to use the toe of the razor-- bad idea... ever since then I've focused on keeping the entire edge of the razor tangent to my skin-- no problems since then.
-Chief
Still got both ears? You'll be fine. Something to keep in mind -- superglue comes in little bottles with a brush applicator. Once you get the bleeding good and stopped, try sealing things with a little superglue. If there's a female in your life, look for just a touch of powder to blend over things.
Just imagine the emptiness of my life that I've done this.
Superglue is real good at closing skin...just used some today. Layed my finger open sharpening my axe. Don't ask. I'm just not so sure about getting into the cosmetics though...
My first couple of weeks using a SR were tough at work as well, never any bad cuts, just the straight "nicks" around the jaw line where I would change angles. Only two razors in arsenal. My Dovo I bought new & supposedly "shave ready". The second is a Boker from Ebay. The Dovo Bismarck seems to find an ear lobe once and a while & was the one that I learned to shave with. Fortunately I have a lot of experience with Japanese water-stones. Still took several shaves & lapping on the stones to get either of them right.
I went on vacation to Padre Island & camped on the beach for a week here recently & didn't want to expose my razors to the salty air. Man, I really missed my razors & I've only been SR shaving a little over 6 months.
WEAR YOUR NICKS WITH PRIDE GENTLEMEN.
Excellent advice! Concise but loaded with wisdom... Well said!Quote:
Originally Posted by Bruce
All it takes is that moment of non-concentration. Normally I don't have to pay too much attention to my shave. I have learned to shave with distractions that would make most people slice off an appendage. But last nights shave when everything was quiet I inadvertantly touched the edge to my chin when I wasn't really ready (day dreaming) and thought ouch, that hurts. Next thing I saw was a stright red line about 1/4 inch. Luckily razor cuts with a straight heal well.
Quote:
Originally Posted by shooter74743
I'm just sayin...there's times when maybe you don't feel like a lot of explaining.
One more thing about the superglue-- if your fingers tend to crack and bleed this time of year, brush on just a bit. Doesn't sting at all, fixes things right up, and has only given me a little brain damage.
by the way -- is that axe shave-ready?
I still get a nick from time to time but it's always when I'm tired or not quite awake yet.
I once gave myself a nice lateral gash below my cheekbone because I was experimenting with how to shave the whiskers on my cheekbone and managed to mentally drift away in the middle of the pass - until the entire cutting surface embedded into the flesh below it. Immediate sting and a nice Hollywood-looking flow of blood.
Some guys at work asked about and I told them that I was probably a little to tired to be straight razor shaving that morning with a 1820 vintage, really heavy, full one inch thick blade. That pretty much turned the conversation into curiosity about SR shaving and may have converted one of them.
The lessons I learned were to NEVER allow my mind to drift especially when using a blade that's new to me, be extra careful if I'm tired or not quite awake, and always be very direct about shaving badges of honor! :-)
You're not alone Mike and welcome aboard :beer:
Just when I thought I wouldn't nick myself ( not due to overconfidence ) I did so few weeks ago. Matter of fact it wasn't a nick it was more laceration on both cheeks. Think the Joker ( TDK ). My friend was nagging and I got annoyed.
If your mind drifts or you find yourself being distracted it best to put the blade down and take care of it mate. :beer:
How have I missed this? That is the only way that I've cut myself!Quote:
Originally Posted by Bruce
I tried this morning, and it seems so simple!:gaah:
Thanks for the tip.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ursus
Excellent reply Ursus...let us not be detained to do what we like and be what we are just to follow the crowd or to be molded by peer pressure.:rant:
Quote:
Originally Posted by stimpy52
I guess I'm the one with "Dain Bramage" sharpening an axe that sharp, I'm just a little goofy when it comes to edged instruments...I like them sharp. The axe isn't "shave-ready", but it will take a few tufts from the forearm hair. I had to check after you asked.
EDIT: Deleted. Sorry, I totally misread and misunderstood your comment. I have trouble with the nuances of english sometimesQuote:
Originally Posted by Hogrider
John Juranitch, the author of the razor edge book of sharpening, holds/held Guinness world of record of sharpening a dull axe and shaving himself with it. The story doesn't go into details how close or comfortable was the shave, but still its a nice trivia to know. His daughters also helped him by demonstrating sharpening knives and shaving him with them. The book mentions this and it is quite nice to read on sharpening theory.Quote:
Originally Posted by shooter74743
The book itself is quite good for general sharpeners, but IIRC it didn't have anything on razors.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ursus
In other words: "Be yourself"
Yeah. I got that in the end, reading it over a dozen times or so =)
Well, I'm going to take my razor in today to Howard of The Perfect Edge. I think it was probably a result of sloppy technique (the cut isnt even where a cut should be with a WTG cut, its at an angle). But my razor cant pass HHT, or above-the-arm hair, no matter what I try with my swatty and chrome oxide. So hopefully Howard can give me a few tips and help me out.
In other news, my Ansgar Scuttle O' Doom arrived. The thing is ENOURMOUS. My father asked 'you sure your apartment is big enough for that?'. I probably should have gone with a smaller size, it takes up about a 1/4 of my bathroom shelf. I'm going to try it out in a bit with a DE before I head out to Howards.
Thanks for the moral support guys.. hahaha. I think the moral of the story is one must maintain 'Zanshin' when holding a straight to your face. If I'm too tired, maybe that will be a day I pick up a DE.
-Mike