Embarrassed and Bleeding...........

Ouch!

This is just so much to remember. Tried and cut myself, those blades are sharp!!!

OK, maybe my fault being new and all. But here is what gets me. I tried to stop the bleeding with Proraso in a small tube. No luck, went to the styptic pencil. Still no luck. Finally put a bandaid on and was able to take off the bandaid before walking into work.

Oh, I cut myself high on the cheek not far from my sideburn. All joking aside I wonder if people who look anorexic should not do this? I mean my face bones do show, lost 60 pounds and all. Still losing.

Problems......

I get mixed up with what hand and what side. The videos and mirrors and all backwards. I remember they use the hand to put up on the sideburn. So left hand pulls the opposite side and hence the razor is in the other hand.

Angle of the blade 30 degrees and use arm to keep it thirty. Maybe I should back off of the angle some? Never adjust angle while in mid stroke. I think I heard so sweep the face never starting from a dead stop? Need to watch videos again. Maybe make sure skin is tight I mean tight.

Then again it might be my cheap razor? The Shavette? Was thinking of trying a Feather SS. Trying to avoid the whole stropping thing until I master this part. Again, the videos make it so easy. But then again, one cut is not the end of the world and it is small. Maybe I thought I could do this with no cuts but then that would be no fun.

I need to be better prepared. Cell phone handy for 911. Needle and thread for stitches. Smelling salt in case I pass out. Flask of whiskey for confidence.

First off it does get easier. We all been thru it. Sometimes you think those cuts will never stop bleeding. Just dont give up. Time will bring technique & then its a joy to shave with a straight.
Hang in there!!!

Hang in there bro . . . you will git r done sooner than you think. Perhaps trying to do too much at one time. Start S-L-O-W, go slow, small strokes. You should have seen me when I started . . . looked like I was in a chainsaw fight and couldn't get mine started.

I also tried a disposable straight when I started, and when I changed to a real razor I was amazed at how much better I got. I went with a Dovo Best Quality half hollow and the extra weight worked in my favor to keep from putting too much pressure on my face.

Don't give up. Start with just a portion of your face, then finish off with what ever you use to use. Master a small part of your face at at time to build your confidence, then move on.

Keep the faith . . . :soapbox:

I assume this is your first experience with single blade shaving. Be sure to prep your face, read the wiki. I think you are using a straight from your description. In DE shaving you take short strokes, about an inch at a time. I do this when I am training on my straight. I don't start at the sideburn if I don't feel comfortable with the razor. I move down an inch so I can clearly see what I am doing and then take a stroke. Once I feel the razor on my skin, I become more confident and start using muscle memory instead of vision as my primary guide. I am a DE shaver moving to straights. With a DE razor I can pretty much shave by feel and that is what I am striving for with a straight.

With a short stroke you will know if the razor is cutting properly. If it isn't then stop, don't force it, think about adjusting the angle and/or adding more water to your lather,etc. It is a common misconception that straights are sharper than most DE blades, but this is not the case. A shavette is going to be a good cutter, but you will cut yourself more easily with it than you think. There are DE razors that will peel your face and that is not an exaggeration. Technique, technique, technique the 3 most important factors in blade shaving. Be patient and slow down. Accept less than perfect shaves while you are learning. Once I got the hang of a DE, I was motivated to try my hand (shaky though it is) with straights. It is worth the effort.

There's certainly no need to be embarrassed. If anyone wants to gawk at your cuts just tell them it's from straight razor shaving. That should quiet down the peanut gallery in short order :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ryan82

There's certainly no need to be embarrassed. If anyone wants to gawk at your cuts just tell them it's from straight razor shaving. That should quiet down the peanut gallery in short order :)

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It does "quiet down the peanut gallery" lol! Take my word for it. I don't know if they are jealous and in awe of my manly use of the coolest tool out there on my face... or they think I am just nuts lol.

Well - this might not be a popular thing to say, but I say get yourself a "real" straight. Those "things" you are using are dangerous lol. :)

Firstly, let me say those things are scary to me. They are sharper and wicked. Nasty and sick! Nothing smooth, nor proper about them. JMO. They take no prisoners! I am a technician. I work with my hands in intricate jobs. I have for close to 40 years. It was fairly easy to shave with a straight for me. I understand a skill set must be formed, if not posessed. As indicated, slow down and use shorter, overlapping strokes. Keep the spine down(way down). Whatever kind of shave you get will surely be cleaned up with a DE or 5 blader. Stick with WTG until you master it well and finish up with the blader. You need to learn the feel of it. Then, and only then, will you be ready to attempt ATG! ;) JMHO Hang in!

I had the same problem at first, especially with the left hand.
Lather up and use a butter knife to practice with, it won't be quite the same but it will help you develop some muscle memory and figure out the mirror part in a less lethal way.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kg4fxg

Ouch!

This is just so much to remember. Tried and cut myself, those blades are sharp!!!

OK, maybe my fault being new and all. But here is what gets me. I tried to stop the bleeding with Proraso in a small tube. No luck, went to the styptic pencil. Still no luck. Finally put a bandaid on and was able to take off the bandaid before walking into work.

Oh, I cut myself high on the cheek not far from my sideburn. All joking aside I wonder if people who look anorexic should not do this? I mean my face bones do show, lost 60 pounds and all. Still losing.

Problems......

I get mixed up with what hand and what side. The videos and mirrors and all backwards. I remember they use the hand to put up on the sideburn. So left hand pulls the opposite side and hence the razor is in the other hand.

Angle of the blade 30 degrees and use arm to keep it thirty. Maybe I should back off of the angle some? Never adjust angle while in mid stroke. I think I heard so sweep the face never starting from a dead stop? Need to watch videos again. Maybe make sure skin is tight I mean tight.

Then again it might be my cheap razor? The Shavette? Was thinking of trying a Feather SS. Trying to avoid the whole stropping thing until I master this part. Again, the videos make it so easy. But then again, one cut is not the end of the world and it is small. Maybe I thought I could do this with no cuts but then that would be no fun.

I need to be better prepared. Cell phone handy for 911. Needle and thread for stitches. Smelling salt in case I pass out. Flask of whiskey for confidence.

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Know that this view may not be popular here ... But, I do find myself comparing all my straight razors to my Feather with a Proguard Blade. "Wow did a great job honing this one 'feels close to the shave I get with the......"
Honestly if I had to do it again I would a, should a, started with a razor like the Feather.
I don't think I'll ever be able to compare my work to a Factory Edged Blade. Will keep trying.
But, buy the Feather and only the Proguards and you'll be off to a good start.

We all had the same problems and fears, just don't give up. Pull your skin to make it tight when you shave, use the soap or better yet a cream with more glycerin in it, or just buy and add a bit of glycerin in the foam, that helps the razor glide. Do small swipes and go only with the growth at first. All the advice I'm giving helped me a lot when I was starting, I realize now that my biggest problem was the making the right kind of lather. Good luck and don't give up.

Hang in there and keep on keeping on. I am only about 5 shaves into my new Dovo Bismark and so far have cut my earlobe wide open, put a 2" cut on my jaw, nicked my new SRD strop. I have been shaving with a DE and finish up my straight razor shave with my DE. There is nothing dishonorable with doing that until we get the hang of using both hands to shave without cutting our faces off! Keep at it and so will I.

Thank you all for such good advice, I don't feel so alone. I refuse to give up!

I have several soaps and one has glycerin in it - worth a try. And yes, it is my plans to try a Feather and a real Straight by Dovo (Dovo 5/8 Folding Straight Razor w/ Black Handle, 1/2 hollow ground). And a strop to. I need to look at the progress in terms of months not days.

Some other good advice is that I need to move off the Shavette. Yes, DE blades are sharp - ouch! I went from a Fusion and canned cream to nice pure Badger Brush and a variety of soaps and mugs. I actually have two brushes, one is a very nice travel one. Lots of Prep and Post stuff that you all recommend too.

I don't miss the canned cream and I can't tell you how good it feels to prep the face. I went for the straight razor but I am sure it would be good to invest in a DE razor also, besides it would be good to master that one.

Shaving with a Fusion and prior to that a Mach 20 (just kidding) Mach 3 but using these razors you can press extremely hard and whip them all over the face. Not so with the Straight and from what you all said not so with the DE.

In preparation for all of this here is what I am doing. I'll shave some with the Shavette until I get it replaced. I'll still use the Fusion some and master areas with the straight. With the Fusion I make only ONE PASS WITH THE GRAIN. In other words, I am fine and look fine with one pass. Yes, I can feel that it is not BBS. So I am lowering my standard even with the Fusion.

I am confident that I can get there and in the end be it a few years get as good a shave with a DE or Straight that the Fusion provides. Maybe I am crazy but I want the sense of accomplishment that I learned to do this and did it. Cuts and all. I have gotten worse cuts doing other things and fortunately I heal well and fast.

Many thanks

I started with the Shavette, then went to straights, and they are still my preference. But the Feather SS with the Feather Pro Guard blades was a revelation! So easy to use, so less likely to cut you, and the shaves are really impossible to believe. I highly recommend that approach for a beginner. If you eventually move on to real straights, that's fine and your choice, but your Feather SS will still give you better and quicker, easier shaves.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Johnus

Know that this view may not be popular here ... But, I do find myself comparing all my straight razors to my Feather with a Proguard Blade. "Wow did a great job honing this one 'feels close to the shave I get with the......"
Honestly if I had to do it again I would a, should a, started with a razor like the Feather.
I don't think I'll ever be able to compare my work to a Factory Edged Blade. Will keep trying.
But, buy the Feather and only the Proguards and you'll be off to a good start.

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+1
I've noted in what seems to be the unofficial Feather Forum that if I had it to do over a Feather SS would have been one of my first three razors and not #40 something....

On the other hand learning how to SR shave with a Shavette is a very steep learning curve indeed.
It seems harder to "land" (the process of bringing blade to face and then starting the stroke) than any other SR type system I have tried.

Hang in there Bill, you will look back on this in a few months and say "I can't believe that was so hard to do"

And there is nothing like that feeling, when you rinse off at the end and your feel you BBS face with your wet hands and say to yourself: "I did that with a Straight Razor...and there is no blood..."

And you spend the next 20 hours looking forward to doing it again...
It does change your day and outlook on life for the better...IMHO

Stay Calm....Carry On....

I also started with a Shavette, and yes, they are unforgiving, but don't give up. You will continue to improve your skill and technique. Remmeber to use VERY light pressure at all times, and you will see better, closer, and more comfortable shaves. Also, try holding the wet styptic pencil on the cut for a while, with some pressure. It will eventually stop bleeding. Hopefully that was your last big cut. Good luck!

Well,

I appreciate the encouragement. I ordered a Feather SS with Pro Blades as it might be a little forgiving. I have so much to learn and time is an issue.

The reason for my attraction to disposable is time. I take care of my Dad now. My Mom died of ALS. I worked remotely in Florida over the summer to help her as she died. I moved my Dad in to live with me. He is 87 and uses a walker. I put in a chair lift for the steps, I help him shower and dress and fix breakfast before I shave but I will try shaving at night. I work 10 or 11 hour days plus two hours on round trip commute. I work as a CPA for a private company - love the work but all accountants work terrible hours. As many of us here. My Dad is also a WW2 vet, has fascinating stories about liberating the concentration camps.

All that said I will try the Feather before moving to the Dovo SR. Lots to learn, there is no rush, told the wife to pick up a box of small bandaids at the grocery store.

Patience, practice with butter knife, and listen to all this wonderful advice. Oh yeah, one commented on my mild shaving nick, cut yourself shaving? Yeah, learning to use a straight razor. There eyes get real big and they get quiet.

It will take time to learn, but the Feather SS is leaps and bounds from the shavette. It is for me very very close to a full steel blade. The Feather Pro-Guards, are a little more forgiving than the Pro, IMO. But the pro will serve you well. Just remember light pressure!
Sorry to hear about your mom and good luck with your dad. I hope I can do the same for my dad when and if he ever needs care at that age (he's 79 and in relative good health, thanks God). Good luck! Double O

Bill, be patient as it will improve with time and dedication. Good luck.

I also started with a shavette, thinking it would be easier. I cut myself far more with it, than when I moved up to the Dovo Bismarck. I couldn't believe how much easier it was, even though at first it seemed like a giant compared to the shavette.

Started with a feather RG myself after using DE's for about 6 months. Sliced myself pretty good on my right cheek, still got the scar to prove it. The feather SS at westcoastshaving.com is much closer to a real straight, and more forgiving at that. Just remember, NO pressure with these things. The disposable straights are sharper than the real thing, and usually lighter so you tend to want to push the blade a bit...BIIIIIIG NO NO, just let the sharpness of the blade to the work, all you want to do is guide the blade where you want it to go.

Thanks for all the helpful advise.

It appears you don't want to use pressure with DE's, SR, or even the Feather. So different than a Mach Razor.

I will keep the touch light. Pressure and speed would be my worst enemy.

The second you start to get impatient, you would do good to put it down and rinse your face, cause that well...:tameshigiri: So, remember you absolutely gotta make time for this if you do it in the morning; otherwise you may want to shave at night for a while til' you are a little more proficient at it. Yes, to above, light pressure short strokes. Remember you're not trying to shave to smooth in one pass...more, you are knocking the whiskers down little by little with every pass...hence less irritation when you get good at it.

Im sure what I'm about to say was already mentioned. But I just started SE shaving today (coming from the world of disposables) and I nicked myself a few times and gave myself a real bad gusher on my chin, embedded that blade in the flesh good. So Yeah I had 4 places I was bleeding from after shaving.

After the shave, I used a lot of water to clean up the nicks, and let warm running water just run over the chin gash. I then rubbed my alum bar (I got the razorock alum stick) for a minute or so over my whole face. If you don't use alum, I HIGHLY suggest it. First off, its an astringent (restricts blood flow), and it's antiseptic. Because of it's chemical nature, it also feels MAGICALLY cool on your face. It feels awesome. I might be overly excited about alum because I used it for the first time today hah.

Really work the alum in, and leave it on while you clean up your shave cave, and clean/dry/putaway your razor.

Then rinse your face and apply a cotton swab of witch hazel. Like alum it's also an astringent and will reinforce what the alum just did.

Then I put on my Geo Trumper skin food.

But as for the nicks and bleeding, doing the alum / witch hazel combo stopped the bleeding from every nick, from the lightest bleeder to the gusher I had on my chin.

Chonax

Thanks, I have some Alum Block (Razorock). But I have not used it yet. I'll work it in and see what it is like. I have two soap mugs, one looks like a black coffee mug, the other is wood with a lid. I think I have three soaps? One is glycerin, Cornell conk? I also have a starter kit from the Art of Shaving which I have mix feelings about.......

Not sure if I like to put oil on my face before I shave? And I have the full line of Proraso stuff, cream, liquid after splash, tube for cuts.

In all honesty my one cut was my fault, moving too fast with the hands. And it is mostly healed today. But I do need to figure out all this stuff and what works in the routine.

What I don't like it to feel like my face is oily at work or in the afternoon. I have face wipes (Neutrogena) at work and that stuff in round pads (Oxy) to remove oil. I don't think I ever suffer from dry skin unless I use the pads too much. I don't have acne. So I have reservations about using the oil from the Art of Shaving........

I have been thinking of picking up a Merkur 34C but I don't want to add too much in the mix too fast. I also like the Muhle R89. I really like the Muhle! But here I know nothing about DE razors. And I don't know if one should alternate between the DE and SR.

Waiting for my Feather to arrive as I have read much about it, and many not so good things about the Shavette. Sort of holding back on the Shavette for now. Also spending time reading articles about stropping and honing. I am sure I will jump in with both feet one of these days.

I have more time on the weekends which is where I can play with a real SR. If life gets busy during the week taking care of Dad or 12 hour days it will be nice to have a razor like the Feather to grab a blade and go. And there are other razors SR like the Feather if that does not work.

I still have to settle his estate and travel to empty the home in Fla. So having a traveling razor kit will be nice which is also why a DE might be good. I don't mind all the changes and great to have my father live with me. But there will be many trips to Fla. So traveling with this new stuff is key. I have a travel brush. (Edwin Jagger)

This thread helps me when I am embarrassed and bleeding....http://straightrazorpalace.com/shavi...0-cut-day.html