Sharpness VS Nicks

Hi guys, I was shaving about two weeks ago, I had just finished honing and was doing the test shave. Well i thought it was going well and i finished but i nicked the top of my left cheek. I thought nothing of it and the next day when i was shaving i cut the exact same spot again... I thought what are the chances, laughed and kept on going. On the third day after a painful ATG and a cut on yet again the same spot I took my blade back to the hones. After honing my blade, the shave on the fourth day was 4 times as comfortable and i didn't cut the spot that i had been cutting. Do you guys think that nicks are more likely to happen with a dull blade then with a shave ready blade? I doubt it was a technique issue since after the nick incident on second day i was super careful.

Was probably a chip, what did you see when you looked at the edge before rehoning?

New nicks each time or just reopening the same one?

If the razor is sharp, it should be slicing the "scab" right off yesterday's nick unless you skip over it. After a few days of doing the same thing it eventually heals for me...about 4 days. See any coincidence?

For me nicks are very rare; maybe one or two a year, seriously, so it's hard for me to work out the reason (I just don't have a lot of experience) however I think for me they're caused by:

. A dull razor. As you say, a dull razor is more of a problem as you'll be inclined to push, or dig, the edge in...
. Moving the razor's edge along it's length...
. A lather that's too dry (the edge digs in).

I was going to add skin protrusions, however really little bumps and whatever have never been a p[problem for me; though I would imagine for some it could be an issue.

I keep polysporin in my medicine cabinet for those very rare times that I do nick myself. Then after I skip a day, I'm usually scab free and ready to go. **Splashone** dude you're insane cutting of the scabs daily until they just give up :)

If you are cutting in the same general area repeatedly then the root cause could be the facial contour and skin properties.
I cannot do a "down stroke" on my cheeks. Even a round point will cut. All cheek strokes are Across The Grain.

You may want to experiment and see if a different stroke direction solves the issue.

I never claimed that I do that as a practice. However, I did recently remove a mustache of 26 yrs. I found a couple small bumps underneath that the razor would not pass over at all...they got "planed" off each day and are gone.

Saved a trip to the dermatologist did we ? Straights are great for removing skin tags also.

All good advice. The blade was not chipped prior to rehoning just dull I believe. And they were new nicks at a maybe a one degree angle difference.

If you keep cutting the same place on your face that is a sign you are pushing your facility with the razor. At that point you are more likely to cut yourself because your facility is being pushed at that area. You need to slow down and examine what you are doing there. Maybe the stroke or pressure.

I speak from experience. The rare times I nick myself it's always in one of two spots on my face and always the same exact spots and always when I am not concentrating. I've found my hand sometimes does unexpected things at those areas. I need to be more careful at those two spots.

100% my experience. If I cut myself, 99% of the time it is in the same places, and it always either comes down to improper hand motion, too much pressure at that spot, or, in the case of my chin, the way I jut my chin out. One way of doing that will always result in a nick or cut, one way is smooth and easy. If my mind wanders and I do it the wrong way, I pay the price.

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Originally Posted by thebigspendur

If you keep cutting the same place on your face that is a sign you are pushing your facility with the razor. At that point you are more likely to cut yourself because your facility is being pushed at that area. You need to slow down and examine what you are doing there. Maybe the stroke or pressure.

I speak from experience. The rare times I nick myself it's always in one of two spots on my face and always the same exact spots and always when I am not concentrating. I've found my hand sometimes does unexpected things at those areas. I need to be more careful at those two spots.

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I think a very sharp and highly polished blade will produce less nicks than one that needs attention

I have found with DE and straights that a slightly dull blade will shave yet will cause nicks, weepers, and irritation. When this starts happening I get a new DE blade or touch up my blade.

I think it is easier to nick oneself with a duller blade than with a sharp one. I have also found that if I do nick myself with a really sharp blade, I tend to not feel it when it happens.

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Originally Posted by beavisd

I think it is easier to nick oneself with a duller blade than with a sharp one. I have also found that if I do nick myself with a really sharp blade, I tend to not feel it when it happens.

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This is my experience. Keeping a proper sharp blade and/or changing DE blades at the moment of discomfort or drag is self-preservation for me..