Thread: Nicks

To new and old. I've been shaving with a straight razor for many years and I sometimes nick myself. It seems to come in cycles. I go weeks without a nick then get three in a row. I do follow one rule. When I am not I a good place emotionally, I am in a cycle where I am not alert, dropping things etc. I wet shave with a safety razor on those days. If I am in a good place my straight razor shave always makes me feel better. Never hurry an ddevelop techniques that work for you. My Father In Law a retired barber advised me years ago to learn to shave with either hand. I strobgly recommend this and it does not take that long to get comfortable with it.

Hi legman, I too have been straight shaving a long time (1969) and have experienced the same thing. My solution is when I"m not feeling so good is to go to a heavy razor. It seems to be a little more steady, and I can control it better because of the extra weight. I agree about changing hands if possible. However, I had to give this up because of a injury in the mid 1980"s, so now I cross shave. Very Best Regards, wildhog

Oddly enough I am more prone to a nick with a safety razor than with a straight. I too avoid shaving with a straight when I'm overtired, out of sorts. I shave with straights 99% of the time and rarely get a nick though, knocking on wood. One other thing is that I make time for it. I'm never in a hurry with it and I'm fully focused when shaving.

I have only been SR shaving a little over a month, I am figuring once I get more proficient, I'll give switching hands a try to avoid cross-over shaving.

Training your "off" hand isn"t that hard. You can even cheat! In your spare time, maybe once or twice a day, lather up and practice with an old razer that you have butterknifed. This will teach your other hand proper angle and get it used to maintaining said angle when you stroke. While it is true the feel is totally different than with a sharp razor, your hands will learn proper position and get used to that awkardness before you start to use a "loaded" razor. All firearm instructers teach trigger control by "dry firing" before ever shooting the first round. Hope this helps. Best Regards, wildhog

Thanks Wildhog! The butterknifed razor is a great idea. In fact, I still have my shavette that I started with and there is no blade. I'll give it a go.