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Well, after three, ever improving, shaves, I finally got my first nick...on my EARLOBE. Didn't even feel the touch, but there was the scarlet rivulet that told me of the deed. These things are tres sharp! The flippin' stypic (sic) pen hurt worse than the nick. Bled like a stuck pig for about two minutes, and since I didn't pass out from blood loss, I finished the shave. BTW, the cut might have been a sixteenth inch long, so no fencing scars....yet.
You aren't a real shaver until you've had the joy of standing there in awe, looking in the mirror, as your shoulder slowly turns red. Earlobes are only there as markers. They're like the white lines on the road. Cut 'em off!
Hey Barry,
I did this very same thing just the other day (a cut just above the earlobe with a square-tip). Not to scare you, but you'll cut yourself again, so when you do, try dipping your styptic in warm or very warm water before you apply it. For me, whether warm or cold it stings, but when it's warm it actually stops the bleeding.
Others may argue cold water works better. In any event, you'll have plenty of chances to experiment.
-Mark
I had been shaving for two years, with no earlobe nicks, and I thought I was passed that point. Three weeks ago I had my 6/8 Favorite bite my left one. Apparently I'm not out of the woods yet. :D
Also, I forgot to note, it's best to roll it on. At first I took the concept of pencil a little too seriously. I probably should have read the instructions; that's probably in there somewhere.
Welcome to the club. :-)
1. Always take care that you are not moving the blade like a knife (like when you cut meat), even a little bit.
2. Always watch the tip when shaving with a spike point. I learned that the first time I cut myself.
3. Always look at the blade when you go to wipe / rinse it off. I once jabbed my thumb into my razor while reaching for the faucet knob and looking in the mirror.
4. Don't get too close to the mirror! You'll bump the razor on the mirror and push it into your face!
I've only cut myself those two times. Both times I just wasn't paying attention.
This stuff really isn't that dangerous. Treat it like safe driving: Don't drink, text, read or focus on things that aren't on the road.
I've nicked my ears once or twice, I guess it's the required blood offering to the SR g-ds to ensure future smooth shaves LOL
Shaved my head for the first time yesterday with a straight! Holy crap!!!! Yes even a tiny nick about the head will bleed like nobodies business! I ended up finishing the job with my Merkur 2000 and lots of septic stick! Lol
BarryC,
Such nicks & cuts are part of the 'rite of passage' in the straight razor shaving world :)
Wear the 'dueling scars' with pride :)
Apparently, 'chicks' dig scars !
Have fun !
Best regards
Russ
we want pictures.
bales that this happened, but everyone has done
I managed to do the same thing to my left earlobe with my round point Marconi yesterday, I'm not that experienced with true straight but have used a Shavette for years and true straight only a few months now.
Hey...I'm no doctor or anything. Just taking an educated stab in the dark on this one...but you may want to avoid using the "SEPTIC stick" on your cuts. I'd imagine that could lead to a pretty nasty infection....Quote:
Originally Posted by Tsunami
Just saying....
Surprisingly I haven't been really cut once with a straight (started at the end of September). I nicked my earlobe once with a DE razor, and took a little chunk out of my cheek once with a Mach 3. I think the reason there is that I am fully aware of where the edge is with the straight razor, and back when I was using the Mach 3 I would just let the razor fly willy nilly all over my face.
The potential for damage is greater with a straight razor, but the concentration required has made it safer than my cartridge so far. How's that for silly?
+1 To the above WE NEED PICS !!!!!
The earlobe is a common place to get a cut. Luckily for us very little blood is stored in the earlobe, being mainly comprised as it is of a highly pliable substance known to attract and easily accommodate the fingers of parents when we have done something wrong and they wanted to drag us, in a rather embarrassing way, through a shopping centre after we threw a tantrum over not being allowed to have that Spice Girls Calendar to hang in our office. :( But I digress...
There was a time when people used to recommend round point razors for beginners for just such a reason (ear lobe cutting, not Spice Girl Tantrums). However, I think it is just as possible, though perhaps not as easy, to "spear the ear" (as we more experienced chaps call it) with a round point. I have found that hanging jewellery from the ear lobe can help as it acts rather like chain mail if located in the appropriate area of the lobe itself. However, be aware that if a parent cannot obtain a good grip on one such bejewelled lobe, they will often simply grab the earring itself and that can be very painful. For this reason I suggest only wearing ear jewellery during shaving, and removing it when visiting parents, particularly if you intend to go shopping with them.
No need to thank me. Sharing my experience is what I am all about.
James.
It's a cinch to get the earlobe with a round point. My earlobes have learned their lesson and now fold back to get out of the way. The minute I get in the shave den, they go flat against my upper neck . When I splash with cold water, they know the shave is over and they're out of danger. Then they snap back into their regular position. They have to be hacked up a little before they learn the technique.
You gota learn to respect the blade. Don't fear her, but give a fair ounce of respect.
I've found my bottom lip to be quite the bleeder in my shaves if I get distracted :P
couldn't imagine nicking my ear :/
Ear lobes are like curb finders for your head..... Don't worry until you have so many cuts on them they whistle when you walk...
You've ony nicked the one side?!...And only the once?!...Oh but wait, there will be more...You'll see.
Oh and Jimbo James, I've caught my ear jewellery more times than I care to remember with a DE, and have had to hone out a small ding or three in my CT's...Must be working just like you said it would :)...
Mick
Aye Mick - ear jewellery does the trick allright, but yes it can ding your edges. On the bright side though, each of those dings would perhaps have been a nasty earlobe scratch otherwise. Not that it matters to this younger generation - have you seen what they are willingly doing to their earlobes lately? Some of them would probably happily slice the old lobes I wouldn't wonder. :pQuote:
Originally Posted by MickR
James.
Yes, James I have...And they ain't no Masai warriors as far as I can see...Bloody silly kids...Or even silly fashions.
Mick
As long as you're not beaten and bloodied you'll be fine :) All part of the learning curve, and helps you to be sure and pay attention..lol.
After a year and a half I have never nicked my ear.
Quote:
Originally Posted by MickR
Did you knock on wood yet?Quote:
Originally Posted by jeffegg2
I get an occasional nick here and there. Less when the Razor is nice and sharp. I just don't let it concern me... Stiptic works just fine.Quote:
Originally Posted by markdfhr
You just ain't trying hard enough then! I've done both ears twice each. I didn't try to do it, it just happened. Lack of diligence is my poor excuse. I even got one of those nicks on the inside of the upper edge...Maybe I just got big ears though... :)Quote:
Originally Posted by jeffegg2
Mick
Well just did it myself today because I was excited to try out my alum block that just arrived in the mail.
lol.
After a month and a half of str8 shaving, I manage to cut my self good on the mustache area. It happen when I was doing ATG pass with a dull razor and switch to a sharp one. I was using greater angle and more pressure with the dull and apparently my brain (even thou I thought about it) muscle coordination kept more pressure and angle than necessary.
It bleated like a stuff pig. After controlling the bleeding I manage to finish the shave (one of the closest ever yet) and then tended to the battle wound. I think its going to leave a mark! Double O
dont scare the poor feller ive knicked myself a few times its all part of the game my old square tip loves to dig in when you arnt giving it the full attention it deserves. its all part of the game the nickes will be less frequant as you learn your face more and more
Never did the earlobe, but have caught my upper lip doing an ATG pass when I was first learning!! Lesson learned:gaah:
I posted a couple pages back about how I hadn't really cut myself with a straight in 3 months or so. Apparently I didn't knock wood fast enough, because today I ended up giving myself a nice little slice on my cheek. Guess I was just going to quick and didn't lift the blade fast enough at the end of a scything stroke.
The good thing is that it didn't hurt at all and it stopped bleeding almost immediately once I got some cold water and styptic on it. At least my styptic pencil purchase is finally justified!
You're in good company. If you're like I was, you are trying so hard to get everything right that your thoughts are interfering with actually performing the shave. Take it from a klutz, as you gain experience you'll think less, shave more, and get better. When that occurs you'll feel a great sense of accomplishment and share your experiences with new people just getting started.Quote:
Originally Posted by BarryC
The square points always get me. I cant seem to shave with them without going to work looking like Ive been in a sword fight
:tameshigiri:
Yeah, some friends here gave me the idea that maybe I should dull the blade on the tip a bit. I can't do that. That just seems like cheating to me.