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Hi all (sorry for my dramatic english)
Does even Str8 razor experts can cut themselves ?
I mean, is the cut or micro cut of the skin when str8 shaving is unavoidable in this type of shaving even very rarely ?
Coz when you have an important meeting you dont want to have cut on your faces so your answer will influence my decision to try str8 razors or not...
Ty all
I rarely cut myself
If I am invited to a meeting, it can't be very important.
I cut myself with the straight only as often as I cut myself with a safety razor. of course, accidents CAN happen even to the best of us.
I'm not presumptuous to call myself an expert by any means, but from time to time the razor reminds me that I'm rushing or just not paying attention. It has been a while since I have cut myself badly though.
(Cangooner exits stage left, frantically touching wood in order to remove the hex he has just put on himself)
Newly restored razors nearly always give me a little 'kiss' to say 'thanks for bringing me back to life'.
Having said that, they are rarely deep or noticable once they stop bleeding
My experience is about the same as the others cuts happen with every form of shaving with a blade. I have probably had less cuts a year since starting to shave with a straight and the cuts have been not as bad as with a cart razors.
I would imagine we all cut ourselves from
time to time. As for me nothing serious.
The cuts are no worse than I got from a
Mach3 in fact I cut myself less often
with a straight.
Oh, I'm definitely not an expert. I just post
a lot.
Terry
After nearly a year of straight shaving, I haven't had a cut needing a styptic in about 2 months. Most of the time I don't get any more than a little pink in the lather.
And now I'm scared I've tempted fate...
I'm not an expert at anything, but I've been shaving with a straight razor for several years now and I rarely cut or even nick myself. I can't remember the last time I nicked myself badly enough to bleed longer than it takes to rinse off my shave lather. It does happen, though. I always realize what I've done wrong. The little nicks serve to remind me to slow it down, pay attention and use care. It keeps me honest.
Don't know what the criteria for an expert is but I would consider myself an experienced straight shaver. I can verify that yes even experienced straight razor shavers do draw blood every now and again. It is nowhere near as common an occurrence as it once was but yeah, it happens (happened to me on Saturday as a matter of fact.)
Ego would probably dictate that I blame the erratic and ridiculously sharp shavette, but integrity would probably require that I acknowledge I was "bouncing the razor" on the left side of my chin when it reminded me this was not a smart thing to do.
I'm no expert but here's my take. When I have a stressful day ahead, I still use the straight. But when I'm really tired or sick, I use the DE. I don't drink but I can't imagine using a straight after a hard night of drink and having a bitchin' hangover. Horrors!
Havachat has a really good point. Different blades will behave differently, and I too have found that the most likely time that I will cut myself is the first time I have used a newly restored blade. I don't know if it is the different weight, size, edge geometry, a combination of all the above, or something else entirely, but for whatever reason my first time using a new blade seems to be higher risk. :)
I do have a few spots on my face( frown line and bottom of my sideburn) that if I don't remember to stretch I'll cause a nick. They usually stop bleeding by the time I finish shaving.
Usually happen when I rush or when using a 'new' razor.
I think of them as good reminders that I should keep taking that aspirin each day.
I've been using a straight for over a year now and yes, I still cut myself from time to time. I mainly notice it when I am tired or in a hurry. So, for those times, I use a DE razor. I also use a spike point occasionally and it gets me almost every time.
Im not the expert Here on the site but i do consider myself one of the few local experts. And i do cut myself from time to time.
Oh wait Nathan (maxi) moved into my area. So i guess i lost my expert status.
Colin
You just need to re-define your area. For example, I am *the* preeminent straight razor expert in my area (defined as my living room) at the moment. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by TrilliumLT
Hell Yes! Four times tonight and I've been shaving with a str8 for almost 5 years. I'll pay closer attention from now on........
After almost a year of using a straight, I get nicked no more often and probably less often using the straight. I get less irrtation with a straight. While learning early on, I sliced my face good a few times, but these healed leaving no scars. With a DE, I have never gotten more than a nick. Keep conscious of the exposed edge at all times and equally conscious of the location of any body parts in motion. I switch to a DE alone only when rushed , not fully focused, or the shave is not going well as expected. I use a DE for final cleanup after getting all I can with the straight.
I am just a spert but I have this theory that is working very well for me. Yes in the beginning I got a few cat scratches a week. Then I started to be very careful and the only time I cut myself was if I left the styptic pencil in the cabinet or if I got a new razor, or if my honing got a couple of notches better. The it dawned on me....If I treat this thing with the respect I do my firearms maybe I won't hurt myself. So far so good. I think after reading mine and everybody Else's story you will see it can happen and clearly why it does. What I haven't read yet is a solution to your problem. If you want to go to a straight do it. If you don't have the confidence to do it before a meeting save your old way in the drawer and use that. You won't but it might help you see for yourself why most of us would never go back to the trac's and mach"s and what ever. :<0)
P.S. Slightly used styptic pencil for sale ! It has stopped bleeding and hidden cuts very well for me. You will be happy you got one.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Magpie
Ok but the problem is i dont even know safety razor so can i have an idea of the frequence i must imagine ?
"Ok but the problem is i dont even know safety razor so can i have an idea of the frequence i must imagine ? "
The simple answer is that it all depends on YOU !
Ok guys i want to thank you all for those interestings answers.
Few questions- what do u call a DE ? A drawer ?
And what do u mean when u say "if i honing got a couple of notches better " pleaz ?
DE= double edge saftey razors
Shaving with Safety Razors
as far as cuts go , im pretty new , first shave i got cut 2 times useing a pound point razor ..... i was good from there until i used a square point razor then i got cut again .... then i was good for along time again till i got it today but i stabbed myself today , not really a normal cut but more of a why did i turn my head ...lol ( chart of points ) The straight razor - Straight Razor Place Wiki
Nick or Cut. Anyone can nick themselves with any razor at any time; a cut on the other hand would mean you did something that you should not have. A nick can be quickly fixed with a styptic pencil, splash of cold water, alum bloc or the old time favorite toilet paper patch.
You could start out as a weekend straight razor user, until you get your muscles, touch, skin stretching, pre and after shaving techniques developed. The best recommendation I received was start with one small area like your strong hand cheek, shave with the grain WTG only, and then continue the rest of your shave with the razor you feel comfortable with. As you gain more confidence and control add another small area to your shave routine eventually you will be able to shave using only a straight with a occasional touch up with you old reliable. And yes you will occasionally nick yourself.
If you do not feel up to par, don’t shave with the straight razor the chances increases that you will nick or worse cut yourself. And the most important rule “Don’t Drink and Shave with a Straight Razor”.
As far as meetings, the gentlemen at the meeting may very interested to learn you shave with a straight razor. It also could impress them. You would be surprised what people (both men and women) say and react to when they learn that you shave with a Straight Razor.
I’ve gone to work with my face and neck looking like a battlefield. The people knew I was learning to shave with a straight. Now I get a nice smooth shave with a straight, and those same people are impressed and some of the guys are starting to get interested in obtaining a straight razor.
I've nicked myself with straights and with double edge safety razors but after using a styptic pencil by the end of the shave, in most cases, no one would know that I had nicked myself.
If you are careful there's no reason for you to have cuts or nicks or marks on your face to the extent that you would feel funny going to an important meeting.
When you are newer, as I am, you are more likely to get a few nicks. If I had a really important meeting or if i was in a big hurry or not feeling well then I would use a double edge razor for that day just to eliminate that concern.
It's not a reason to not use straights however.
Its been over a year now since I last cut or even nicked myself. Cut myself for about the first ten shaves with the straight and then it just stopped. Not sure why but it did.
Actually I have cut myself twice recently but my thumb not my face.
Bottom line on shaving with a str8 or DE; you got to concentrate on what you are doing.........you snooze, you ooze!
I suppose the only cut free wayQuote:
Originally Posted by DoughBoy68
would be an electric.
Terry
I think I switched to this type of shaving 5 years ago and since then have used cartridge or double edge razors 7 times in total.
I have cut myself less than 10 times. The first was about 1.5months after I started, the last was yesterday (about 1/4" right under my left sideburn which will be completely gone in 2 weeks), the one before it was over 1.5 years ago.
If you want a full proof shaving method use one of these electric razors which never let a blade's edge in contact with your skin.
"Well, on old days man (men) went to war in order to get few scars... now we got straight razor shaving" This what I always say when someone ask... always works:-) Many VP, CEO`s did understand this joke and got even more interested about SR shaving :-)
Okay 2 questions so -
1/ my englidsh is very bad so can you precise me what the diff between a cut and a nick please ?
2/ considering all of you have known cuts in their face at the beginning, what would be your advise not to cut yourself for a beginner ? What was you guys doing wrong when you was beginning str8 shaving ? A bad gesture ? If yes what was it precisely ?
Dont get hung up by the fact that sometime during your shaving that youll get a nick (oops i cut off that mole) or cut (oops i just put a 1/2" long x 1/16" on my chin) It happens and most of the time youll not even notice until you put on the after shave.
Take your time. Ignore all distractions. Lock the bathroom door.
1a/ A cut is deep and bleeds alot. Cuts don't happen often. Cuts usually only happen if you do something very silly.Quote:
Originally Posted by StraightSuicide
1b/ A nick is shallow and doesn't bleed much. Nicks can happen to anyone at anytime, but beginners of "str8" shaving will usually nick themselves more often. Expect that to happen, and plan ahead. If you can't afford a nick that day, shave the way you did before "str8" shaving.
2a/ This is harder to answer. You will probably not be able to avoid nicks to start with. Nicks seem to be part of the learning curve. To make you chance of getting a nick less often, you need to have a good lather of shaving soap and a good working angle with the razor. Start off low and only shave a small patch starting from the highest point you usually shave from. Finish the shave with your previous shaving tool. Each day do a little bit more with the "str8". Slowly, you will get better, and by being light and gentle with your touch, you will not get too many, if any, nicks at all.
2b/ My advice; Take it slowly until you feel a little more confident. When you feel more confident, think about going even more slowly because over-confident beginners always get a nick or a cut.
2c/ What I did wrong on the few occasions I nicked myself...I leaned in too close to the mirror and got a nick on the cheek for my efforts. I also managed to give myself two nicks on each ear lobe on four seperate occassions. Because I think I must have been a slow learner when it comes to knowing where my ears hang from my head :). Again, it is hard to be precise when everyone of us s different in how we approached our first shaves. There really is no definate answers to those last three questions.
Hope that is helpful, and I hope I wrote it so you can understand.
Mick
+1 to all that with one additional snippet of advice: while you want to take it easy and go slow, you don't want to be hesitant. Pausing even for a moment with your blade stationary on your face is a great way to nick/cut yourself. So take it easy, go slow, and try for a steady hand that does not hesitate. And as Mick said, start small and gradually work up to a full shave as you get more comfortable.Quote:
Originally Posted by MickR
Your english is good enough! =)
Everything said so far is accurate. When begining, care must be taken with the direction of the blade. only straight down in a "chop" motion. if you pull the razor "left" or "right" it can increase the chances of cutting yourself.
Another important factor is pressure. Using a straight you need to use less pressure of the blade against your face than you do with a multiblade safety razor. Too much pressure can cause what we call "weeping" or "weepers" where you get tiny dots of blood come up on your face.
Easy does it! Good luck!
Your english is good enough! =)
Everything said so far is accurate. When begining, care must be taken with the direction of the blade. only straight down in a "chop" motion. if you pull the razor "left" or "right" it can increase the chances of cutting yourself.
Another important factor is pressure. Using a straight you need to use less pressure of the blade against your face than you do with a multiblade safety razor. Too much pressure can cause what we call "weeping" or "weepers" where you get tiny dots of blood come up on your face.
Easy does it! Good luck!
no matter how many pics I take it saves them. I try dragging and dropping and click the x icon but it doesn't seem to do anything
Have a very close look. You need to find the check box first before you can delete. It's a tricky page to work that one. Any Mods listening here :).
Mick
Quote:
Originally Posted by MickR
Thanks a lot mick your post is very interesting ;)
I cut both of my earlobes early. Just pay attention and you willbe fine.