Tips for fairly severe cut while shaving...

Hey all. So I have been using a DE for a while and got my new DOVO Bismarck from Lynn & Don. Saturday I decided to take my time and do a full prep and try my first Str8 shave.

First stroke was a disaster. Laid the blade to my right cheek and it started to pull I ended up slicing a nice gash with the tip about an inch long. OUCH!!!!:banghead: Started to bleed like I was shot in the head. Shave was over as it was bleeding quite profusely. It was a typical razor cut (nice flap that fits right back into place) just deeper. I used pressure, Alum, styptic pencil and was about to resort to Super Glue when it started to abate. I have been treating it with Hydrogen Peroxide and Polysporin.

I did a search on cut, slice (you can imagine the plethora of hits this would return on a shaving aficionado site :) ) to no avail and I believe this wound was a bit worse than a "Nick".

So any tips for the amateur plastic surgeons like me out there?

Sorry to hear about that. You'll probably only do that once, that's a positive way of looking at it.:) Know where the entire edge of the blade is and the blade's angle to your face at all times before, during and after each pass.

As long as it didn't slice right through your cheek, I don't see anything else you could do that you already haven't. Razor cuts are such clean cuts that they heal surprisingly quickly.

Also, I don't know how well you cleaned and dried the blade afterward, but blood is very hard on fine edges. Mike Blue, a knowledgeable member here once said that surgeons swap out scalpels after making cuts only a handful of inches in length because the scalpel's edge is compromised in seconds.

Chris L

Sorry to hear about your misfortune on your first straight razor shave. I don't know what to say except let it heal before you try again and when you do, follow the advice in my sig line below. Works for me 99% of the time. :gl:

At first, it's basic first aid. You applied pressure and after it stopped bleeding, cleaned it with Hydrogen peroxide, then applied triple antibiotic so you're good for now.

For the next few days you will want to avoid forming a thick scab which will later cause a scar. Use A&D Ointment or Aquafor (available at any drugstore) to prevent it from scabbing, drying and getting infected. Clean with mild soap and warm water a few times a day and reapply the ointment. If it continues to open or bleed, repeat the initial first aid and use a butterfly to keep it closed. If it gets infected, go to a doctor.

Unless you want a scar, do not 1) let it form a scab, 2) apply rubbing alcohol or any other treatments that will dry out the cut, 3) cover it completely or for long periods of time.

Give it a few days and it should heal fine. Lesson learned I hope... :)

:gl:

Thanks guys. Jimmy wish I would have seen your sig a few days earlier. Bingo... thank you. I seem to be following your regimen already. What is A&D ointment or Aquafor?

Giving yourself a cut that severe , indicates there is something seriously wrong with your technique . Back when I first started shaving with a straight , I gave myself two cuts in the same shave (I should have stopped after the first one) . I reviewed my technique , and read everything I could find about shaving with a straight (thanks , SRP) . I found that three different flaws in my technique caused those cuts . First ; I was not stretching my skin properly , second ; my blade angle was too high , and third ; I was using too much pressure . These may or may not be the cause of your cut . You will need to do your own review & research to find out what caused your cut . Hope this helps .

Sorry to hear about your slice, I'd watch the angle of the blade and stretching the skin like dave5225 said, I know cause I've done the some mistake when starting out also.

Hey guys. . .since everyone is on this topic I have a question too. . .The other day I did a lil facial reconstruction myself, not too bad ;) . . .took a lil chunk out of my lower lip. . .I know what I did wrong, which was a slight slide of the blade. . .The problem I encountered was stoping the bleeding. . . I used alum, septic, pressure. . .you name it but since it was a lil chunk and not a slice. . .well. . .just kept on bleeding. .. any ideers?

Maybe this needs it's own section in the wiki... I just want to point out I'm not a doctor, but FWIW I've had first aid training and I have some sort of magnetic attraction to sharp edges.

To Munny: A&D and Aquaphor are basic petrolatum creams that will prevent dirt from getting into the wound while allowing sufficient air circulation. They help the healing process. A&D is medicated, but not with the same antibacterial stuff as Neosporin. It's got Vitamin D & E. These are the same ointments I use on my tattoos and IME they work very well at helping the healing process and preventing scars. A&D Ointment does have a bit of stink to it, so be forewarned. (It's from the fragrance they use to cover the cod liver oil.) If you use this stuff a lot on your face you might break out, too.

To Vinny: Styptic sticks or the liquids aren't really gonna work on a chunker - you'd really need the powder form that corner guys use in boxing. Pressure is going to be your best bet. Lots of pressure. Don't keep checking to see if it stopped every minute or so. Hold it for a good 10 minutes before looking again. Head and face wounds always bleed a lot, so it will take a while. After the bleeding stops, you need to decide how bad the cut is and if it requires a butterfly suture or maybe even a stitch. The width and depth are what decide that, and if you can see the underlying fat or the wound edges don't meet very easily you'll probably want to go to a doctor just in case. Obviously, if the bleeding won't stop you better head out to a doctor as well. On your lip, a big cut can reopen pretty easily so you may be in for it. When in doubt, just go to a doctor.

Good luck fellas! :gl: I hope you guys have health insurance...:D

Probably shouldn't write too much about razor related injuries...word gets out there and some politician will attach a section to the health reform bill that taxes straight razors, hones and strops...:whipped:

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Originally Posted by BingoBango

Maybe this needs it's own section in the wiki...

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That might not be a bad idea

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Originally Posted by BingoBango

To Vinny: Styptic sticks or the liquids aren't really gonna work on a chunker - you'd really need the powder form that corner guys use in boxing.

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I've found, especially when I clip my dogs nails too low, Corn Starch seems to work really well, to stop bleeding. As can Cayenne Pepper, though that one stings like the devil.

Good luck to both of you. Hope it doesn't happen again.

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Originally Posted by hardblues

Probably shouldn't write too much about razor related injuries...word gets out there and some politician will attach a section to the health reform bill that taxes straight razors, hones and strops...:whipped:

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Hmmm... not a bad idea, errrr... I'm sure my senator, Al Franken hisself, would latch right on to that one. On second thought, I'll keep my lips zipped and hopefully unsliced.

:beer2:

Oh, hey, Chris,

If Mike said a scalpel is good for a handful of inches it would appear that our good MunnGuy still has a few inches left in his - that will hopefully remain unused.

Hello, MunnyGuy,

I am sorry to hear of your first straight razor shave ordeal. You already have received plenty of advice from these learned gentlemen at SRP. There is little I can add to it.

Placing the blade on the face the first time is always a challenge, especially if doing so with excessive pressure.

Give your face a rest until you heal and then proceed with caution and patience. Before you know it, you will maneuver the razor on your face with the mastery of a swordsman.

The rewards are worth it.

Regards,

Obie

[QUOTE=BingoBango;532584]To Vinny: Styptic sticks or the liquids aren't really gonna work on a chunker - you'd really need the powder form that corner guys use in boxing.


Definately didnt cut myself badly enough to see a doctor or anything drastic. . .just a little chunk. . .its healing quite nicely. . .but sure didnt want to stop bleeding. . .even with pressure applied for long periods. . .

Is this powder basically a crushed septic stick? I dont think I've seen it for sale before. . .I did have thoughts about diging out some "Quick Clot" from my camping gear to blot on it. . .but as a mentioned it really wasn't that big of a chunk

And so true about the goverment steping into help. . .haha. . .probably a claus in the new health bill about SRs =)

I think we've all done a number on ourselves at one time or another. Glad you got the bleeding stopped, and try not to be discouraged.

I find the only time I cut myself is when I pause with the blade on my face. Anytime you decide to think about what you are doing get the blade away from your face.

Thanks for all the advice. Decided to try shaving my unblemished left cheek yesterday morning and was "unblooded" :).

I tried but not one stroke felt smooth. I have a coarse beard and my prep was:

1- Shower.
2- Moisteurizing conditioner on face during shower.
3- Prorasso Pre Shave while Stropping. (I strop very deliberately and am turning on the spine)
4- Lathered up for a full minute with Mitchell's WoolFat Soap.

I kept the angle of the blade at 30 degrees and used gentle pressure and the blade grabbed and tugged throughout every stroke. I am NOT questioning SRDs claim to shave ready as it is a brand new DOVO Bismarck and it seems to be the first claim of all new Str8 shavers, but what am I missing?

ps The gash on my right cheek that inspired this post originally is healing quite nicely. Thanks again for the advice.

If it's tugging, something is not right. I would either look at getting it rehoned, your stropping technique may be off, I know mine was when I first started.

You may also want to look at how much pressure you're putting as you are stropping, and shaving. I believe someone here has something in their signature that says something to the effect of "if you think you're applying light pressure, you're applying too much pressure." I think that applies to both stropping and shaving.

Good luck, don't get discouraged. :)

P.S.: Try small strokes too, You don't have to go from your sideburn to your jaw in a single stroke.

Hello, MunnyGuy,

If I may suggest this sequence, it might help your preparation.

1. Apply Proraso pre-shave and let it sit on your face.
2. Begin to make lather. I take more than a minute for my lather, checking frequently to see if the lather has the creamy consistency I desire.
3. When you feel the lather is ready, then lather your face. I am not sure if you face lather or lather in a bowl. Either way, move to step 4:
4. Now strop your razor. By leaving the stropping after you have lathered, you are letting the lather soften your beard even more.

Also, I don't know how your razor strokes are. Keep them short, as SRP member Rcardon recommends. Keep them short and tight.

Pay extra attention to your stropping. Several stropping videos exist in the Wiki. I suggest studying them closely. View them over and over again, if you have to.

Finally, concentrate on your razor grip, angle, pressure and strokes. Keep at it. You're almost there.

Regards,

Obie

Ouch. Can't emphasize enough to take your time. :(

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Originally Posted by Vinny

Hey guys. . .since everyone is on this topic I have a question too. . .The other day I did a lil facial reconstruction myself, not too bad ;) . . .took a lil chunk out of my lower lip. . .I know what I did wrong, which was a slight slide of the blade. . .The problem I encountered was stoping the bleeding. . . I used alum, septic, pressure. . .you name it but since it was a lil chunk and not a slice. . .well. . .just kept on bleeding. .. any ideers?

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Sutures, probably 5-0 vicryl after wedging out the gouge with a 15 blade scalpel. :rolleyes:

Both fortunately and unfortunately the lip is very vascular. If you took a large enough chunk out of it not much can stop that except repair, and or cautery.