Thread: Actual risk?

I've suffered minor nicks shaving during the learning process but last night I cut my finger pretty good. I'm not sure how it happened but I do know I was in a hurry. I had actually considered using a disposable for the first time since I started and wish I had. The moral of course as with any sharp or potentially dangerous tool is to put it away if you're tired or otherwise unable to use it safely. The cut on my finger pales to injuries that can occur from the use of some other tools when not shown the proper respect, used when in too great a hurry or when tired. I hopefully learned something.

You would have to really pay no attention and be wanting to hurt yourself to do something gruesome. As long as you use common since and be patient(especially at first), you'll do just fine. Don't listen to whomever told you that, listen to the guys here who shave daily with these things. Good luck!

There something else to keep mind, in terms of "actual risk."

Basic anatomy.

Anybody who has seen sweeny todd is likely to have this mental image that a flick of the wrist is enough to inflict a mortal wound with a razor.

That's just not the case.

The human face is kris-crossed with in incredible number of blood vessels, but they are small. You could slice all the way down to your cheekbone or jawbone and not create a fatal wound.

Also, as others have suggested, the face is one of the more sensitive areas of the body. I've only had two "bad" cuts from shaving. Neither of which required anything more than a splash of cold water, a stiptic or some light pressure, and lot's of cursing.

As far as slitting your throat, anybody who has every had to slit a throat (farmers, hunters, old school halall/kosher butchers) can tell you that it requires a relatively huge amount of pressure. All of the important structures in the neck are well protected. Your adam's apple and wind pipe are mostly made of cartilage, your jugular vein and carotid arteries are quite deep and very well reinforced with lot's of connective tissue.

Frankly, I just don't see how a "serious" injury could happen on purpose. You're more likely to need stitches on your finger than your face.

Id go along with Veedubs basic anatomy clas, now add the fact that you are going to use no pressure on the blade as it skims across the skin, what can go wrong?

I'm not ambidextrous so I can't shave the left side of my face with my left hand at all. I have to cross over or under my left arm with my right hand to do it while stretching the skin tight. I gave myself a 1 inch long cut on my arm on a cross over pass.

The blade hit my arm with some force. It was enough force to feel the bump. (didn't feel the cut though) The cut didn't go all the way through my skin the entire length of the cut so it was bleeding like Morse Code.

It's really hard to cut deep unless you jump on someone and saw them with it.

Originally Posted by Vekta

It's really hard to cut deep unless you jump on someone and saw them with it.

Exactly what I'm saying. You can do something superficial that might even bleed quite a bit without much trouble, but a serious injury is just incredibly unlikely.

I mentioned to a couple people that I wanted to start shaving with a straight and the response I got was "Do you have a death wish?" Upon asking why I got the answer ... you're going to cut yourself and bleed to death!

A straight razor is one of the sharpest implements that there is. It's inherent dangers certainly speak for themselves.

A straight razor can produce some of the greatest shaves one can ever ask for when the user has learned properly and pays attention to the process. Shaving with a straight razor can turn a mundane every day task into a pleasure that you look forward to every day.

With the above being said, this is the internet and we don't know a users tactile ability or level of coordination. I have had someone complain about a razors sharpness after re-honing it 4 times only to end up watching the guy and find out he was the most uncoordinated dude I had ever met. Seemed perfectly normal, but he could not get to the proper grip of a razor after I put it in his hand and showed him the grip 50 times. I was simply in shock.

I hate to say it, but I really do feel that if you are going to analyze whether you want to try shaving with a straight razor over 100 times (yes, 100 posts before your first shave might qualify), if you are afraid, if you know you have coordination troubles or if you are at all doubtful about the endeavor, then you may want to take a pass on straight razor shaving.

When it comes to what other people say, I look at it from this perspective: These folks simply don't know what they don't know and I tend to ignore their ignorance more than try to talk them into feeling differently.

On the other hand, we have had people who have tried and tried and were ready to give up, only to have them spend some time with a member or two (Gentleman at NC gathering 2 years ago is a good example and I'm sure some of you have other examples) and see what they were doing wrong, end up being long term straight razor shavers and loving it.

Bottom line is that this is something YOU need to want to do and feel comfortable with as all the risks are yours. All the rewards are yours as well.

Have fun,

Lynn

In addition to what Lynn said everyone learns differently. Some can read and immediately pick the information up understand it and use it without problem. On the other hand there are those who have to watch something being done and have no trouble repeating it but it may take them awhile to become proficient because they are simply repeating what they have seen. The next group can have something demonstrated in person and watched as they repeat the procedure whatever it may be and have corrections made by the person teaching them as in the NC meet that Lynn told us about.
All of us fall into one of these categories pretty much but coordination and learning from mistakes doing something that requires physical dexterity is another matter. Most of us have heard this before when it's said some people are visual learners and others have to do it to learn whatever the activity may be.
It's like driving. We've all seen people who are fantastic drivers and others that you want to run away when you see them walking toward a car with keys in hand. I know some of this is close to what Lynn said but what it boils down to is not everyone can do everything and for some straight shaving isn't an option. They either can't learn, don't want to put the time in to learn, give up to easily or they are just plain uncoordinated or even to frightened to continue once that blade gets close to the face.
As far as getting hurt goes yes you can get a pretty nasty cut but doing something that would cause a serious chance in loosing your life well you would have to intentionally cut the carotid artery to even get close. Yea nobody likes to bleed but even a pretty bad cut isn't as big a deal as you might think. The face and head are very vascular areas and a cut is gonna bleed a lot in this part of the body and it will seem like a lot but it really isn't that much blood.
Some of us even have to take blood thinners like Plavix myself included which is all the more reason that you don't shave with a straight when your in a hurry. Besides it's supposed to be an enjoyable experience that you take your time with and savor.
There is one thing a potential new shaver should do if they are thinking of taking up straight shaving and that's check with your family doctor if your on blood thinners and get his ok. Some blood thinners are very potent and thin the blood more than others. My doc is as much a friend as he is my doctor so he had me bring my razor in and show him. So I showed him and his reaction was a smile and a yea your ok to use it just keep a 4x4 around and some of this. He wrote a prescription for a topical of some sort that stops bleeding. I usually just use a steptic pencil like everyone else on those fairly rare times I need to stop a small nick from bleeding.
I know this was long but it pretty much covers my view on the subject especially for those who take blood thinners.

Just a quick reminder-


I didn't ask this question because I'm afraid of straight shaving. More of to see if there's really any truth to what's being said.

I actually very anxious so start, but I'm having a difficult time getting my first razor.

Trust me, i'm not just floating around to make sure I want to straight shave, I already know I want too, i'm just waiting for my equipment to get here.