Thread: What's the worst that can happen?

I had a cut to my left index finger due to a close encounter between it and the blade moving away from my face. I was a bit rushed and lost my focus.
Always pay attention and respect the blade. And never rush it - if you aren't proficient yet and don't have time to shave with the straight, use a safety razor. My worst nick occured when shaving in a rush. The result? Well... a stained white collar on a shirt.
The thing is: when shaving with the straight, you feel the edge on your skin and you feel the pressure your're putting on it. If the blade, for any given reason, sinks into your skin, it will only sink a very minor distance because you will feel it immediately and react by instinctively pulling away.
If you keep your cool and pay attention, you'll be just fine.
Just remember to never use a slicing motion.

Originally Posted by gugi

the worst - you can drop the razor and crack the blade. unfortunately it has happened to me. the worst cuts with a razor are on my fingers from being careless when trying to sand or polish it.
no serious cuts or scars from shaving.

+1. That was exactly what I was about to post.

Originally Posted by Seth

Hey-

I
I just wanted to know the worst case stakes at hand before I start putting a razor to my face.

Am very interested in hearing your stories and second or third hand anecdotes.

Thanks!

Seth

Worst thing that can happen before you put the razor to your face is that you dull the blade by stropping badly Hehe couldn't resist that one

I agree with JimmyHAD! The worst shaving nick I got was with a DE, when I forgot it was a DOUBLE edged blade and lifted the razor up into my nose... Cue much blood shed and swearing, plus 15 minutes of styptic pencil and loo roll!

The worst nick I got with a straight was when I was cleaning one up and sliced my thumb. This wasnt a shave ready razor though, it was an eBay blade which just about had a bevel set and that was it. I just got careless and thought I'd be fine as it hadnt been honed. It wasnt a bad cut, just needed a plaster to cover things up.

As long as you use the razor as you're meant to you wont get any major nicks.

Good luck and keep us posted!

Worst?
The ones that should speak are no longer with us

You will be fine. Take your time starting with the easy flat parts first, like your cheeks, and everything will be fine. Have a good time!

Welcome to SRP Seth!

Santa Claus: How about a nice football?
Ralphie as Adult: [narrating] Football? Football? What's a football? With unconscious will my voice squeaked out 'football'.
Santa Claus: Okay, get him out of here.
Ralphie as Adult: [narrating] A football? Oh no, what was I doing? Wake up, Stupid! Wake up!
Ralphie: [Ralphie is shoved down the slide, but he stops himself and climbs back up] No! No! I want an 8/8 Charlie Lewis Custom Fixed Blade Razor Acid Etch With Display Case from SRD!
Santa Claus: You'll slit your throat, kid.

No, Seth, you're unlikely to slit your throat or shoot you eye out. As everyone else has said you have to respect the blade, be cognizant of what you're doing at all times, and NEVER EVER shave naked.

Like Jimmy, the worst cuts I've received have been at the hands of a safety razor. ...oh yea, I did get a particularly nasty cut on my thumb at a straight razor get-together, but that was at the hands of the slide of a pistol (but that's a totally different story).

Welcome aboard,
Greg

As a newbie myself this was certainly a concern coming in for me too. I think what I would say is that it's an extremely sharp tool and must be respected in the way one respects something like a firearm. If abused or used carelessly one can do some serious harm, but if you follow some simple rules and show the blade respect then there isn't much to worry about.

For me one of the biggest parts of the learning curve was learning the correct amount of pressure to use on the blade--namely not much at all.

Coming off a Gillette razor with their many blades and 'pads' above and below the blade I was used to applying a considerable amount of pressure during the shave. The large surface area of those assemblies requires that one applies a lot of pressure to drag it along the skin and not simply hydroplane across the canned foam.

With the straight it's much different. Instead of a massive assembly of blades and pads the only thing touching the skin is the micro-thin edge of a single super sharp blade. You really only need to apply enough pressure to keep the blade in contact with the skin and no more. That microscopic surface area also requires next to no pressure to draw that across the surface of the skin. In that situation it's hard to give yourself more than a minor scratch or cut, which typically heals in 24 hours if not essentially immediately.

The worst cuts generally happen if the razor is pulled in a slicing motion across the skin... something one should never do. However, it is possible to accidentally do this with the tip of the blade if you're not paying attention. I recently had a cut on my sideburn area when doing a simple WTG stroke down the side of my face because I wasn't paying attention and the edge of the blade cut into the skin a bit and left a 1/4 inch little slice. However, even that completely healed up in a few days.

My only semi-serious cuts have actually been on my hand because I wasn't paying attention and bumped the edge of the blade against the back on my fingers on the non-shaving hand. I learned my lesson there and it goes back to my initial comment--respect the blade 100% of the time and then there's not much to worry about.

To echo everyone else, keep your mind on what you are doing and remember where the skin stretching fingers of your free hand are. Most of us suffer the odd minor nick now and again.

Just be aware of the angles as you shave, take your time and you'll be fine