And then the blood flowed like wine....

So I've been on the straight razor scene for about 2 months now. When I first started shaving, despite having a brand new perfectly sharp razor honed by SRP, shaving my chin sucked. So after re-evaluating everything and with more practice with lather, prep, shaving angle etc. I was able to get some really nice shaves! After a while I started to feel pretty confident. Every now and then I would get a small nick here and there, but nothing major. Never really getting those nicks where it's like a startling OUCH and your hand and head jerk away from each other in stinging pain. Well the other day I experienced that......twice in one shave! OUCH.....holy ouch. :dropjaw: I basically carved a valley in the area right under my nose and then while shaving down away from my bottom lip towards the bottom of my chin the razor like dug straight in. These are the kind of cuts that once the bleeding has stopped you can see and feel this huge dip in your face! As this was my first time REALLY nicking myself, I thought I'd give the old styptic pencil a try since I hadn't used it yet.......not a fan. That stung like crazy. Wasn't expecting that! Oh and btw, while using it to stop the cut on my upper lip, the styptic/water mixture dripped down into my mouth on accident......that stuff tastes FOUL! So anyway, my question the obviously, What am I doing wrong??? I'm using a new Boker King Cutter (which seems to still be sharp from what I can tell at least) and colonel conk shaving soap.

Here is the jist of my prep: Before I shaved, I took a nice hot shower and even rubbed some conditioner into my beard. After getting out of the shower, I soaked my badger brush (a cheapo tweezerman) in hot water. While my brush was soaking I decided I would strop 50 on the canvas and 100 on the leather as opposed to just 50 or so on the leather that I usually do before shaving. (I don't know, I guess since it had been a while?) I lathered up and shaved WTG. Then rinsed with hot water and lathered up again and shaved XTG. Rinsed with hot water, then lathered up and saved ATG. You would think that this is where I nicked myself, but it was actually while shaving WTG under my nose and down towards the bottom of my chin where it starts to jut out. The razor just grabbed the skin and dug in. Is my razor not sharp enough? Is my technique really THAT bad? Should I maybe be using a DE razor instead? Would I get a closer and better shave with a DE as opposed to a straight? Is colonel conk not a good shaving soap? Should I really be using some hugely expensive gold label cream like XPEC or Spencer and Devon's or whatever? Do good shaves really only come from $350 razors and $85 shaving cream?????

Deep breath....

Trouble shaving chin=normal, nicks=normal

Only you know what happened but I'm guessing you increased the angle and/or pulled to the side.

Pay attention and just try not to repeat that mistake.

If that's not the case, and the blade was skipping and pulling when you got nicked, then I'd be happy to hone it for you.

You can do just fine with what you have, no need to spend a lot.

Good shaves will come, with time.

Michael

It sounds like an angle issue to me - I had the same problem a while ago when I was doing the 'fools pass' (ATG under my nose).
Instead of having the razor flat on my skin it was up at about 5 degrees - just enough to bite me.
I like the Col Conk soap - it works fine for me and I was using a $10 EBay special that I'd restored myself - a lovely shaver.
I find that I have to push my nose out of the way at times to get the angle right, especially with wider razors.

Pressure and angle can be a bugger. Have you watched the Videos out there of others shaving those areas? Watch all you can because what one person does may not work for you and you only find out after trying those moves. Everyone has a slightly different way to shave, angle and pressure will be a constant but how one gets those angles and how one holds the razor can be quite different. Try as many holds and directions to find what works best for you.

Like the other guys said, it's likely to be angle issue, possibly while moging along the edge as well. Let me add that if the styptic is not stopping the bleeding, superglue works miracles. It certainly is not neccessary with expencive gear to have great shaves - not at all - but going slow and paying close attention to angle and pressure is. Neosporin helps the cut heal fast, and will prevent scars. It does sound to me like you got a nice shave prep, so I am guessing it is in the actual shave technique. Slow and steady does it.
Best of luck, and don't hesitate to ask questions.

+1 on the angle suggestions and first aid instruction; however, if you just HAVE:tu to find your solution (or partial solution) in another purchase, I would strongly recommend a tallow based soap like Mitchell's Wool Fat or Mike's Natural Soaps.:gl:

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Originally Posted by quicksilver

...You would think that this is where I nicked myself, but it was actually while shaving WTG under my nose and down towards the bottom of my chin where it starts to jut out. The razor just grabbed the skin and dug in....

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Lack of skin-stretching is usually what's gotten me so far. That jut of the chin may be a very big angle change. Just holding a credit card there, I'd estimate on my face it's an abrupt 45 degrees or more. Hopeless. I can only shave that spot by pulling my lower lip as far into my mouth as possible -- that flattens that bit of skin on the chin. That being said, the last week or so I've come to realize the need for humility while I learn this art. I'm thinking of growing a goatee for a few months. The whole mouth area is treacherous at this stage. :)

Humility---Respect for the tool. My first good nick happened because I got a little cocky 'I think I had actually bragged' on my 2 1/2 month blood free beginners experienc, combined with the slightly dulling of the blade requiring the gradual unoticed increase in pressure----well, i neosporned it, used only the adhesive part of ban-aid, did not remove for three days. No scar---now. Like the other guys said..patience. Sometimes it can sneek up on you.

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Originally Posted by JimBC

No scar---now.

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Chicks dig scars though right?

Yea, they do! (but dont go slicing yourself up just for them!)

My first cut came after getting a razor back from a honemeister. Anyway, my theory is that I was using too much pressure, way too much pressure. I think you mentioned your razor was dulling so you might have started using a little more pressure to compensate for the dulling razor. Which is still sharp just not as sharp as you had once had it. My experience was I used a 'factory edge' razor and then got a pro hone it, giving it a wicked edge. I used the same pressure I was using before the razor was honed. Slice and diced my cheek up. Twice. I know it can happen again. Actually, it did happen again with a TI I got. This time I marked myself on my chin. I have been cut free for awhile now.

As far as expensive stuff, I have a beat up older razor that shaves just as fine as my 200 dollar razor. Maybe even better sometimes, now that I am thinking about it. I do not get the real expensive creams. However, I am satisfied with Mitchell's Wool Fat, Pre de Provence and some others that I have used in the past. You know I also get bad shaves with a DE every once and awhile. It happens. That is, I mean to say, shit happens. And we will cut ourselves. We are sliding sharp blades across our faces. Hopefully they will only be little cuts. Over time the cuts will heal and be a reminder, well at least to me, of the stupid things we are capable of. Stupid humans we are with silly monkey brains. Love and peace. Enjoy the shaves.

Once a razor tastes of blood it will aways thirst for more...

Vampira got me twice this morning i gotta remember to slow down..slower...slower...slowest

I hope it gets noticed how many responses quite humbly talk about their own nicks - meaning its part of the learning - and an ongoing reminder that the shave doesn't require anything fancy, but does demand we pay attention to basics.

The only things I might add are another aspect of angle - which particularly affects those of us north of 50 y.o.. Depressions, wrinkles - are often best navigated w/ the edge being kept at an angle to the depression or wrinkle - so the cutting edge crosses only a portion of the low spot at a time. Driving straight into the depression or wrinkle can be done, but require alot of attention and care so the edge doesn't keep driving down as the skin surface is rising on the far side of the depression.

Another thing not asked about is the hydration of your lather. If running water easily rinses off any lather - its fine. If a line of lather takes alot of rinsing or maybe a wipe w/ a facecloth, sponge, or you finger - its getting too dry and is a setup for nicks and cuts. In my experience - you can shave w/ Conk, but it gets dry fast. It is NOT sufficient to dip the tip of the brush and simply paint the water over the top of existing lather - that water is not against the skin. Rehydrating lather means using the brush to get more moisture at the skin level. Conk has not provided the best cushion or glide in my experience, but as I said - can be used successfully.

On using Neosporin - YES! The generic antibio ointments have same active ingredients, but the difference in inactive ingredients is big too. Neo uses a laundry list of great things for the skin.

For my own story, I seem to be ending about a 3-4 wk period where I was nicking myself all over the place. I wondered if it corresponded to the wather turning hot and its affect on my skin? (maybe) Have I had a case of the stupids? or impatience? (more likely). I get back to no pressure and the worst is a tiny weeper or two.

One member (Dwarvenchief?) had a signature line that was nice: "slow is smooth. smooth is fast". Something along the line of 'the less pressure, the less carnage' might be added to that mix.

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Originally Posted by Johnus

Once a razor tastes of blood it will aways thirst for more...

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Originally Posted by Bluerain

Vampira got me twice this morning i gotta remember to slow down..slower...slower...slowest

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I agree with you guys above! I just did an ATG pass today and ooohhh my that lather was red!

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Originally Posted by quicksilver

Do good shaves really only come from $350 razors and $85 shaving cream?????

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Nope.

I use Van Der Hagen soap and ancient razors. Haven't had a scratch, nick, or weeper in a LONG time. I do hone my own razors.

A dull razor will make for an uncomfortable shave and will lead to nicks and cuts.

You mentioned a new razor. Was it honed by someone that knows what they are doing before you used it or does it have the "factory" edge? I don't know how good an edge comes on a new Boker. I would suspect that it can be improved upon.

The rest of the advice given above is sound. I think that most of your problem tight now is simply a learning curve issue. Have your razor honed by a pro and take your time. Before you know it you'll actually look forward to shaving with a straight. ;)

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Originally Posted by Johnus

Once a razor tastes of blood it will aways thirst for more...

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Ive got a Wade&Butcher like that....I'm still convinced I can tame her.:beer1:

If you're rushed at all, use a DE razor. I find the shave quality (with a sharp blade!) is close to, or equal to, a straight razor. Using a DE is _not_ a sign of failure !!!! <g>

You may cut yourself, but it won't be a deep cut. Let the sting of the styptic pencil remind you to use lighter pressure, and watch your angles!

Think about the razor's angle _at the cutting edge_. On the chin, with a downward stroke, the angle at the edge is _much_ steeper than the "average angle" from spine to edge. So it doesn't take much pressure for the edge to dig into the skin.

So (as previously suggested), use skin stretching to flatten out the curve. And no pressure, no pressure . . .

Charles

Thanks for the tips everyone! I think my problem is most likely a combination of overconfidence, too much pressure, and a dulling blade. It has been about four months since I bought my boker from SRP. I shave about three times a week (three passes in each shave) so I suspect a honing is in order. Now where did I put that free honing certificate.......

Thanks again fellow SRP peeps. :)