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This is just a question to ask if anyone has seriously cut themselves to the point where its left a scar? When I shave with a disposable the nicks I receive are simple dots which disappear in a day, has anyone gotten a cut to last several years or more? This question applies to straights, changeable blade straights, and DE razors.
I've never cut myself any worse than what I did with the Mach3.
I can only answer from my limited straight razor experience. I have never gotten a bad nick from a straight in my one month plus of straight shaving. I have seen blood, but nothing that some cold water wouldn't wash away and heal.Quote:
Originally Posted by straightnoob
Working on cars that just come in from driving all day in the Florida summer (HOT!!) I can usually tell when cuts and burns will leave a scar since I get so many.
I got a pretty sweet cut on my right jawline near my chin that was the length of the blade itself. It's been about 3 days since I got it and from what I can tell it will most likely heal by the end of next week. But to be honest it was completely due to my lack of attention at the time. I sat the blade on my jaw and waited because I was considering which direction to go. I moved my head slightly not thinking and the blade cut. It felt like a tiny pinch and didn't bleed much for how long it is. I have had about 3 small cuts besides the one on my jaw. The cuts are so clean because of the razors sharpness that they heal within an hour or so, leaving only minor redness in that area for a couple of days, and sometimes only an hour or so.
Please don't let this intimidate you if you're considering straight razor shaving. There is nearly no pain when a knick or cut occurs and they are not deep by any means.
Got my worst cut with a DE, which left a tiny scar. Nothing even close to that bad after 2.5 years of straights.
My concern isn't the pain as much is it is the mark lasting for years, as I am quite young but have never gotten a good shave from a disposable. Whenever I shave Iwould have to clean the blades after 1/4 a stroke as it would be full, I figured a DE or a straight wont have this problem and would give me a closer shave.Quote:
Originally Posted by KarmaPolice
would love to hear from more people though.
OK, I'll admit it.
I have cut myself worse with a straight that I ever did with a DE or a cartridge razor. I don't know of any resulting scars, but I certainly have cut myself worse. Most often, I've cut myself when shave testing multiple razors. I can shave with my regular razor with my eyes closed during the entire shave. Yet, when I shave with an unfamiliar razor, I'm much more likely to cut myself.
Of course, this happens most often when I'm in a hurry. :gaah:
My worst cuts are usually during handsanding a razor.
I've given myself a couple good cuts with my straights but there is no sign of a scar. I think the difference is that the razor is so sharp and the cut is so clean that it heals easily. Another point is that you are using so little pressure that when you do cut yourself it's not very deep.
Glad to hear someone else admitting that they have cut themselves.
I honestly think that most guys on here are scared to admit they cut themselves, which is a shame. We are dealing with a razor sharp flat piece of steel going against our faces. CUTS HAPPEN, so when I hear someone say that they've never cut themself I have to laugh a little. A small cut is still a cut, be honest guys :mace:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Utopian
Shaving my full face with three passes since March 27 or thereabouts. I'm very confident when I shave. I do not think it would be possible for me to cut myself unless I were to slip and fall during a stroke. And I make certain that will not happen before I even pick up my razor.
I'm not suggesting I've avoided the mistakes others have made. I've cut the moles on my upper lip and my chin so many times with my Gillette Sensor 3 (and man did they bleed!) that I found myself being especially vigilant about developing good habits. And now I have confidence.
Namaste,
Morty -_-
Yeah, you can cut yourself pretty bad if you're not careful. However, if you're quick and you're smart about it you can avoid pretty much any scar from superficial cuts such as the ones that straight razors give you.
Whatever you do, if you get a really scar-worthy slice do NOT just put styptic on it and let it be. I got a really bad one once, and stopped the shave immediately, cleaned my face, and applied antibiotic ointment to the wound and covered it before I went to sleep. For the next few days I applied Climb On cream (used to use it when I went to the rock gym a lot, it's basically a mix of shea butter, aloe vera, and other natural vitamins & oils) but regular aloe vera or other healing moisturizer will do.
Anyway, I know I sound crazy, but even if I do go overboard as far as prevention, I'm making damn sure that I won't ever have to explain that the inch-long scar on my face is from shaving.
Nothing worse than a couple of scratches or nicks that disappeared after a cold water rinse and Thayer's toner. But I admit that when I started str8 shaving, I was very cognizant of the technique and was watching myself like a hawk when shaving.
Do not let the blade intimate you...you are the one that is willing it any which way you please. Be confident, but mindful of your technique and you will be more than fine...Believe it or not, trust your hands too :)...even as a beginner!
Happy shaving
Quote:
Originally Posted by straightnoob
I have cut myself once. It was my first shave and I drew the blade lenthwise for a spit second as I lifted it off my cheek and got a 1/4 cut that stopped bleeding before I was even done shaving.
In the 6 shaves I've had so far, I've only had one other nick.
The worst cut I got was on my thumb when cleaning a razor, but when shaving I've never had anything worse than I got with a safety razor.
I've found that the edges are so fine that the cuts heal up pretty much invisibly. But they bleed like stink before they heal is all..!
:tameshigiri:
yep I have a scare left from one a my straights on the left side burn just above the earlobe height area it aint to pronounced but its certainly a scar none the less , I can be a bit slap happy now & then , I hooked it several times in following shaves while healing so yeah it scared
I have never cut myself so seriously that it left a permanent scar, although I do nick myself on occasion. That's when I get the styptic pencil out--along with some antibiotic cream--and repair the damage.
I'll be one of the ones to admit it. Both times with my favorite and best shaivng razor, that happens to have a mean spike point. Both times due to lack of attention. Both times within an inch of each other up by my cheekbone, when turning the razor to continue down my cheeks, I pulled that point right though the skin. One is almost completely gone now, after about 4 months. It's still visible in the right light if I really look. The other is right onthe outer most ridge of my cheekbone, is about two months, and is still pretty visible. I don't doubt that in another few months it will be nearly gone, but it may leave a little character mark. One reason, though is that it was about 24 hours healed when it got popped open in a sparring session, then had sweat, dirt etc rubbed into it when I got taken to the mat. I got up, cleaned it out, and put in antibiotic, but that's rough treatment for a fresh cut...so I can't exactly blame the straight.
Moral of the story. PAY ATTENTION. If you shave with a spike (LIKE I LOVE!), pay MORE attention. If you get cut, dont' spar for a day or two, and if you do, and it gets popped, maybe take a break.
I'm not real smart.
Most likely there will be very rare someone will come up and said they have done it.
Formation of scar tissue should have some factors available.
1 st important is straight razor cut is clean cut.
2. distance between 2 edges is not so far away which scar tissue will fill fin.
3. Now days people do access almost for every medicine out there.
etc
this is the reason we don't see so many people scar tissue all other their face walking around.(there is but reason is not the straight razor)
hope this helps.
Good thread! I'm sure most of us will see a cut or two before we're through.
I did one good one... started out as just a little cut, but after covering it with lather for the next pass, I seemed to forget that it was there, shaved over it, thought "what was that?"... and then went over it again! So it wouldn't have been anything but that "thin red line", until I shaved it three times! :gaah:
Yep - me too. My wife distracted me and I nicked the bottom of my left nostril with my DE. I have a scar and that thing to a long time to stop bleeding.Quote:
Originally Posted by northpaw
Nothing to speak of with the straights.
The worst cut I have gotten is smaller than I did routinly at my right nostril while trying to trim the top of my stash. Was using a twin blade disposable.
Paying attention to what you are doing, without distractions and you will have no trouble.
Also the more comfortable you are with handling sharp objects like knives gives you confidence.
I did not have any trouble with the handling of straights. I used knives all the time cooking meals.
The beginners guide starts you off shaving small areas to help build confidence.
In life you have to face your fears.
Hope this helps?
Silver2
well i have cut myself dozens of times but nothing cold water didnt cure. i did get a pal of mine started , now this guy is a pro juggler and one of the best i have ever seen, his control over his hands is magic. he watched me and then gave himself a full shave frist time out in abought 5 mins. fast & sure .it was hard to watch i was sure he would open himself up any second. when he finished i was blown away and started breathing again.i might add he have the thickest beard i have ever seen too and has to shave down to the collar bones. anyway that last time i saw him he had a 2" scar running down over the jugular scared the crap out of him but not deep enough to start the fountain.hes still very fast but more respectfull.
Same for me. My face does fine. My hands... "not so much!" BoratQuote:
Originally Posted by nun2sharp
Holy Crap that is a scary story. I can't imagine what went throught his mind. I really slow down around that lower neck area.:eek:Quote:
Originally Posted by cutalot
It is funny that I should see this article.
Just 11 days ago, I shaved myself with a straight razor for the very first time. At first while doing WTG I was very timid and doing very short strokes. After getting most of my face, I lathered up again. I was feeling pretty c0cky, started doing ATG, and took off a nice 2 or 3 millimeters circle of skin off my face. Immediately I used the styptic pencil... stopped the bleeding. After finishing up and cleaning up my face... my wife asked me to remove the bandaid... a horrified look came over her face and she said to find a smaller bandaid to cover it back up. Of course I couldn't really go to work with a bandaid on my face, so I sucked it up and explained to everyone (who asked) why I was missing some skin. The spot is healing, but it might leave a small bump as a reminder that that razor is sharp!
Another story I hope I don't get too many of these. Yesterday, while XTG, stopped my razor and for some reason instead of lifting the razor of my face, I slid the razor a quarter inch down my cheek. That was enough for the razor to cut into my cheek. I stopped the bleeding and finished my shave (best straight razor shave so far). I washed off and started applying pressure on that long piece of loose skin until it would stay pressed back where it came from. It ended up being a nice 2.5 to 3 inch slice. Of course went to work and had to explain that I wasn't attacked by a cat. I don't think that one will scar, but if it does it will be a sweet looking scar! :medvl:
Like I said, I hope I don't have too many more "exciting" shaving stories. Those were my worst cuts, I have been getting lots of small cuts that usually disappear before I get to work. And I don't mean to scare anyone.
I've cut the bejesus out of myself with a straight... much worse than any other type of razor. I don't think I have any scars from it, but I've several "lines" in my face for a week or so.
I did seriously slice my finger trying to open a razor one handed with pins some idiot tightened too much (raising my hand)
The worst shaving cut I've administered to myself was many moons ago when I started out with a DE, just below the chin line. That scarred and remained for a long time. Strangely, the scarring's disappeared since I started using a straight, whether or not that's connected or just coincidence, I don't know. On my face (which cuts easily, I've managed to cut quite badly with an electric shaver in the past), when I started there were a few slices from inattention/inexperience that left their mark but have now more or less gone, one remains but is fading. The worst was another hand sanding story, nearly removed the tip of my right index finger (an exaggeration but that's what it felt like), no scar. It's a YMMV question.
After many years of wet-shaving, I still nick myself on occasion regardless of razor -- I shave with straights as well as single-edge and double-edge razors. I've never gotten a cut that left a scar, but over the years I have had a few cuts that bled a great deal.
Ive cut myself badly once in 6months. I "pushed" the blade while doing my chin and sliced very deeply between my bottom lip and chin. Had a nice 1" gash that was visible for a while but now is a very faint scar. Scars on the face tend to go away though, probably due to all the skincare products and such.
Dont worry about it, it will happen sooner or later so just get it out of the way early. Get a straight and toss all your other razors and you will learn way easier. Thats what I did and it was pretty easy to get the feel for it.
The first time I shaved my face using a straight razor I was thinking: Either I'll go to the emergency room with a roll of toilet paper wrapped around my neck, or maybe I'll get a decent shave. The actual results were somewhere in between.
The worst shaving cut was from when I was younger at my Grandfather's house. I took his safety razor out of the medicine cabinet, and when I tried to shave my upper lip, the blade dug in and took a chunk out.:confused: I remember thinking: It said safety razor, I thought it was safe.:)
I cut myself a bunch of times when I first started out. Not weepers - I mean 1"+ slices on my face and neck. Still, none of them left a scar.
Whether or not you get a scar is more about how you treat the cut afterwards. Don't pick at it and put some Aquafor or medicated cream on it until it heals and you'll be fine.