Thread: My Doctor Advised Me To Stop Shaving With a Straight Razor!

Now that is dedication to the cause!

Doctor: "You need to stop using a straight. You're on blood thinners and a serious cut could cause you to bleed out."

Wet Shaver: "What are my chances doc, should I get a good gouge?"

Doctor: "There is about a 90% you won't make it."

Wet Shaver: "So, your saying there is still chance I'll pull through? 10% is good for me! Saaaayyy, can you spare one of those scalpels? I want to see how it compares to my Wade and Butcher."

I have a friend with a stent who takes blood thinners. If he bumps his forearm against a table he gets a large purple bruise where he is bleeding under the skin. Years ago when I was still working at a tattoo shop the boss was tattooing an old guy on serious blood thinners.

As soon as the needles punctured the skin the surrounding area (under the skin) would fill with that same purple bruising (blood) making it almost impossible to see the stencil. So the guy had to get the tattoo, which ordinarily would have taken 30 minutes or so, in stages. Wait for it to heal and come back for more.

From my observation a superficial cut/nick would not cause you to bleed to death, though it might be difficult to stop for a time. I imagine your doctor has a distorted image of what a straight razor nick is like.

OTOH, if you get an electric razor my buddy with the stent swears by the Norelco.

I like the idea of using a double edged safety razor for a few weeks for a couple of reasons.

First, double (and single) edged safety razors are really cool. I enjoy shaving with them. Admittedly, not as cool as a straight, but still way cool.

Next, a challenge all people face as they age is whether to face body changes with acceptance and grace. While it's better now, I had to have back surgery because of my challenges here.

Interesting thread. I have been on 2 different blood thinners for about 7 years. Currently on 5mg Eliquis twice a day and Clopidogrel 75mg. I am also taking anti clotting drugs. I have several heart stents, femoral artery stents and illiac artery stents. I had a 3 vessel CABG in 2009. In late November if this year I had two heart attacks and reveived another heart stent. I am 71 years of age.

While I will on ocassion use my mongoose single edge, or a couple other of the recently produced single edge razors that all use Feather Pro's. Mostly though I use my straights and I do so with a slow and steady process that always has my full attention. Experience and confidence and your complete attention to your razors edge on your face is all it takes.

There two things I refuse to give up, period. That is my straight razor shaving and either a daily cigar or a couple of pipes of tobacco.

With your experience, any nicks you get with a straight razor are unlikely to be worse than ones received from a DE safety razor. So continue having fun and just pay attention, going slow and steady. Be sure to watch those spike points if you use them!

Read it as doctor advised you to strop and I was like yea... probably a good idea to strop. Good luck deciding

Well everyone is different but for me, I always wind up with bits of toilet paper on my face after using a DE. Nothing serious but annoying weepers and bleeders most likely from taking off some protruding skin feature or growth. Doesn't happen to me with a straight. Most of my SR shaves are fairly bloodless. But law of averages says any one may have an accident once in a blue moon. I imagine your Doctors concern is that big "What if' and that it may lead to a problematic situation. Doctors will always give advice on the side of caution.

Originally Posted by Razorfaust

Well everyone is different but for me, I always wind up with bits of toilet paper on my face after using a DE. Nothing serious but annoying weepers and bleeders most likely from taking off some protruding skin feature or growth. Doesn't happen to me with a straight. Most of my SR shaves are fairly bloodless. But law of averages says any one may have an accident once in a blue moon. I imagine your Doctors concern is that big "What if' and that it may lead to a problematic situation. Doctors will always give advice on the side of caution.

This post brings up an interesting point. I came to straight razor shaving from single and double edged safety razors. They are easy for me and I don't cut myself. I've been shaving with a straight since the first of the year and can't go more than a day or two without using a styptic pencil.

I'm guessing Razorfaust got started with a straight and finds it easy and the other more challenging.

Originally Posted by Pete123

I'm guessing Razorfaust got started with a straight and finds it easy and the other more challenging.

That's the situation I find myself in. My first wet shaving experience was with a straight. I've never shaved with an SE or DE safety razor. Heck, I've never even shaved with a straight that has scales! I've been a pure-bred Kami guy since Day 1. So that's where my comfort zone is for sure.

I think it is better to stay with what has worked for you. You know you have to be extra careful now, so. Changing mid stream increases chances of error.

I'd go for caution and get some bleed stop on board though.

Has anyone ever seen a "Do you use a straight razor?" on any medical questionnaire?