Thread: Women, Safety, You, And Story Time!

So,

It was an evening just like any other. I planned on going out with my girlfriend, dinner and a movie, whatever it may be.

I had gone to the REC center right after classes, and lifted for about an hour with a friend. I got back, took a shower, and prepp'd my big wooden bowl with hot water to get a good shave in.

Everything goes pretty smoothly, I'm a self taught straight razor shaver, most of which I learned from you guys here. Anyway, on one of my last strokes, I some how catch the tip of my pinky on the hand I'm stretching my skin with. My hands were pretty shakey from having lifted earlier, but the jist of it : Blood Everywhere.

This was about 6 days ago, the cut was pretty bad. About 4-5 mm long, on the side of my pinky. Went right through the Dermis, pretty sure I hit the small digital artery that runs along the side of your fingers.

I cleaned it out, folded it back over, dried it out with some Alcohol, held it together, super glued it, and 6 days later it's good as new.

EITHER WAY -- Moral of the Story:

My girlfriend doesn't want me straight razor shaving anymore. It's too dangerous, apparently. I was wondering if anyone else has had similiar problems, how they've handled it, or just the worst stories anyone's had!

-Jorge

Jorge, you need to apply a bit of straight talk and bulls***, appealing to both her mothering instinct and her sense of boundaries... Here's the speech that I'd compose:
"[Term of endearment most frequently used], I know you have been worried about the way I shave so I wanted to address your concerns. I know that cut on my finger made you freak, but the finger's as good as new as you can see [show finger]. Every shaving method has its hazards. Disposables can lead to ingrowns, cysts and multiple surgical scars. Electic razors can cause severe flaking and skin irritation. Yes there is a chance that I can nick myself with a straight but that can happen with a disposable. The bottom line is that just like I don't harp on you about the dangers of chemicals in makeup, hair dyes and whatever else you're using because it's your choice, the way I shave my face is my choice."

This speech has several purposes:
1) Eliminate the initial point of contention, thus trivializing her concerns. (Nick? What nick?)
2) Have her thinking about the hazards of other shaving methods (mostly bs lol)
3) Tell her that you don't bug her about her grooming and that she should extend you the same courtesy.

Don't forget straight shaving is also more environmentally friendly, and is great skin care because lathering & shaving exfoliates the skin. You do want me to take good care of my skin, don't you dear?

Originally Posted by FiReSTaRT

...
This speech has several purposes:
1) Eliminate the initial point of contention, thus trivializing her concerns. (Nick? What nick?)
2) Have her thinking about the hazards of other shaving methods (mostly bs lol)
3) Tell her that you don't bug her about her grooming and that she should extend you the same courtesy.

hahha, I have to say point 2, and especially point 1 are geeennius. Number three won't work so good, because my girlfriend is one of those dirty hippies that doesn't use any cosmetics.

I just have to remember to not actually say "Term of endearment most frequently used"

-Jorge

Originally Posted by Jorge

... my girlfriend is one of those dirty hippies that doesn't use any cosmetics.

HEY! I'm a dirty hippie.

X

I wouldn't be dating a dirty hippy if I wasn't one as well! <3

It's one of those double standard things where you can use a politically incorrect / offensive term if you are a member of the group in which you are degrading ... or something

-Jorge

The principles behind it are sound though. Whatever she does, no matter how much or how little it is, is irrelevant. What is relevant is that you are not interfering with the process.
If she suggests for you to grow a beard, talk about the constant itching, bother to maintain and parasites. You may even include this in your disparagement of other shaving methods.

wait... aren't hippies all about personal freedom?

Jorge, I know your plight. I cut myself cleaning a blade last week and spent 6 hours wondering how long I might be able to hide it from the g/f before just calling and telling her. Though it wasn't my intention, the fact I waited so long to tell her deflected any conversations regarding straight razor use, as she chose to focus instead on the fact I waited so long to tell her.

While Iilja's suggestions are sound, it's not all that often I've seen couples stick to reason and healthy debate when one of them is worried about/angered by something the other is doing. Perhaps you could try telling her you will consider stopping, wait for the wound to heal a bit ("the wound" being the one to her confidence of your judgment ) and then tell her you don't want to quit straights but will be more careful.

self deleted to to a brief attack of clear thinking.......