Thread: face cut

Ok, I've been straight razor shaving for three months now and I thought I had it down to a science, but another curve ball has been thrown my way. Ok I'm not going to go into the many changes and reasons for the changes, but right now I'm at the point where I at least I feel that I need a good face cleansing (two thick soaping/rinsing phases), an application of Proaso Preshave Cream (which is good I think because it numbs the skin), then a nice thick (but thin on the face) lather, and the shaving is WTG very short strokes. I go over the same skin without a reapplication of lather, probably five times. I do whatever length of the blade I can fit on my face, for about an inch worth of stroke, again at least three strokes, but more like five, and just work my way down.

Now this has proven to be my best method so far, my problem is after the say nine shaves I've done like this, I've cut myself like three times. I'll be shaving and out of nowhere I'll cut myself. What I mean is usually the cut happens at the start of a new area, or the tip of the blade will catch some higher elevated skin, or I'll use too much pressure. But when I do this multiple pass method, I'm very gentile and the cut will happen in the third or so stroke not in that first pass. Which by then my angle is more refined, I'm applying less pressure because now theres less hair, and I've done the same movement over the same skin for again like two passes already?

Its very annoying because first of all since I started shaving with this regimen, I have been absolutely loving my shaves. The multiple passes gets you down to pretty much a BBS shave, with just a WTG shaves. So I really like shaving every day, not only because I'm getting really good shaves, but I'm use to it now and I don't like the unshaved look. But when I cut myself I need a day for it to heal. My latest cut is on my cheek so I really don't want that to leave a scar.

So my theories are: One the Proaso cream is numbing my skin to the point I can't feel I'm actually shaving with too much pressure. Two I may be wrong in my thinking that, even though there is no shave cream after that first pass, you can shave because right right after you finish taking off the shave cream your skin still has some slick to it. And finally with the multiple passes, I may be weakening my skin to the point that maybe one shave is good but the next day the skin can't take that many passes? This last concern is not so likely for me since again my shaves are a joy and I leave with no razor burn, no discomfort, awesome shave except for the random suprise cuts.

Ultimately I'm concerned with the cuts leaving a scar. This last cut on my cheek has left a noticeable line on my cheek for three days now. Also I'm scared to sharpen my blade, its been two months now and getting closes to when I should hone it, especially since the beginning I've had doubts about its sharpness, part of the reason I instituted the multiple pass method. Now, I think its too sharp!!!

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

It sounds from your description that you are doing what is usually referred to a "blade buffing", or close to it... As to the "Too Sharp" ??? doubtful, more then likely just the oposite... That repeated action or buffing requires a deft hand to keep the blade barely skimming over the face, once you lose that concentration, you will get cut... Try a WTG pass then a clear water WTG pass and just skim the surface of the face with the water, repeat again if needed. this should get the same effect without the cuts... Again the sharper the edge the better this works...

I agree with Glen. I might also add that it is not necessary to use the entire length of the blade for each stroke - the beauty of a straight razor that is basically unique amongst all shaving utensils is the infinite scope of adjustability in the various planes of movement, angles, area of blade used and so on. The benefit is the almost infinitely greater scope to get a perfect shave. The trade off is the increased chances of cuts and nicks.

My suggestion would be to ensure the upcoming area to shave is well stretched, don't go for the whole edge on your skin all the time (I think the only place I do that is on the main part of the cheek, which is flat with no major landmarks), and, as Glen said, look to the sharpness of the blade.

Everyone gets nicks or cuts, I wouldn't worry about it too much unless it becomes more regular. Of course, you want them to decrease in frequency over time.

James.

The offending cut and three day beard.

Will the cut leave a scar?

+1 to both Glen and Jim's posts. I t sounds to me like you may not be streching the skin properly and after the first or second pass there isn't enough lubrication and the skin bunches up and you get a cut. I like to use the buffing technique also, it gives great close shaves if done properly. Good Luck!

Knife, you are the king of overthinking here!

Buy some Neospirin, it works like magic to heal your cuts and leave your face without scars. Btw I think your cut will not result in much of a scar, if any.

Part of why I like the short multipass method is you can inch your tauting hand down as you inch your blade down, getting the most out of your shave, so I don't think thats a problem I really try to get a good close shave and tauting the skin is definitly part of my method sorry didn't mention.

I'd say that will not scar. If the blade was horizontal when you made that cut, it is fairly indicative of the tip digging in. Make sure when you use those shorter, faster strokes that you are fully aware of where every part of the blade is at all times. There is a tendency to fixate on one part of the blade, usually the heel near your hand, and this, plus less than ideal stretching, can lead to the kinds of cuts your photo shows.

Again, I'd suggest you either focus more on the center of the blade and your stretching, or try angling the blade so that perhaps only 1/2 or 3/4 of the edge is in contact with the skin - heel end or tip end doesn't matter, the topology of your face and which hand you are using often dictates this. Slow down the time between strokes a bit so you can take stock of where the next stroke is heading and how the skin is situated, stretch-wise, in that area.

You'll be fine - the trick is to learn from these events as best you can and move onwards and upwards!

James.

Originally Posted by Blix

Knife, you are the king of overthinking here!

Buy some Neospirin, it works like magic to heal your cuts and leave your face without scars. Btw I think your cut will not result in much of a scar, if any.

Blix, you got me pegged. But you got to admit, a scar like that from something thats supposed to bring you joy is not good and cause for alarm. Thanks for the neospirin advice. I'lll add the new peice of my staight saving arsenal before my next shave.

Hi, I'm barely past rookie here myself, I just passed my 7 month anniversary st8 shaving. So, keep that in mine when you judge my response.

First of all, the folks that answered here, I would take fully serious as I acknowledge that those boys know their stuff. I have relied upon them for over the last half a year. Great guys, great resources and thier input was and is respsonsible for the quality of shaves I get today. Ok enough of the glossy crap, here's my real response to this.

I could show you so many cuts on my face, exactly, and I mean almost the identical spot even, where my DULL razors dig in. The fact that you don't get razor burn or rashes or bad bumps really surprises me. As usually, when I get cuts like that, also along the jawbone, it's accompanied by some bumping and/or burn on the neck. The cheeks hardly ever rash or burn, regardless of the sharpness of my blades. From what I have learned, an edge can slightly roll, and stropping will make this happen eventually to even the sharpest razor, which leads to the edge digging in, regardless of pressure.

I have found that running my blades over my finishing stone and/or a barbers hone has greatly improved the overall quality of my edges and thus resulted in considerably less discomfort and nicks and cuts almost disappeared from my technique, which is very very similar to yours. I also use several shorter, overlapping strokes on the WTG passes. I use a diff. technique for the XTG's and ATG passes as necessary.

In summation, I would say to make sure, or as sure as you possibley can, that the edge is really what you think it is. If you are keeping your angles and pressure correct, make sure your skin is stretched well in the Direction of your shaving. I have tried ahead and behind stretching and have best results with ahead stretching.

Oh ya, and I used Alum (I have a nice alum block) that works wonders sealing the cuts up, and making them disappear in less than 3 days. As others have said, and as I did in the past, neosporin is a wonder!

Just my thoughts on your predicament. I have been there brother!!

Happy shaving mate!!!

M