Thread: Scar reduction

Some have posted about the issue of scars from razor cuts and abrasions .... several things have helped me overcome leaving too much on my mug from cuts/abrasion from shaving:

1) Antibiotic ointment immediately after any bleeding is stopped;

then ...

2) Vitamin "E" oil (you can get it in liquid form, or just open a Vitamin E capsule and squeeze the oil out). This is a tried and trusted method from those of us who get a lot of surgeries! It reduces scars, and "Keloids", which is exactly what you will get if you put back that 'flap' of skin and cover it up;

3) Believe it or not, massaging the injured area gently to keep it supple and from forming a hard (Keloidic) ridge. Getting blood to the area actually helps promote healing by providing nourishing oxygen to the new tissue.

Scars may be part and parcel of playing with the straight razors, but they do NOT have to be large, detracting and obvious most times!

Ok, I was getting all excited about buying a straight razor (still haven't), then I read this:

Scars may be part and parcel of playing with the straight razors, but they do NOT have to be large, detracting and obvious most times!

Is this really true? (That scars are part and parcel, not that they can be minimized...)

Originally Posted by Anonymous

Ok, I was getting all excited about buying a straight razor (still haven't), then I read this:

Scars may be part and parcel of playing with the straight razors, but they do NOT have to be large, detracting and obvious most times!

Is this really true? (That scars are part and parcel, not that they can be minimized...)

If you have the attention span of a three-year-old, perhaps .... But one of the more soothing aspects of using a straight razor is that it pushes everything else out of your thoughts, EXCEPT what is happening with the blade as it glides effortlessly over your skin. So, you do have to pay attention. Nicks may happen as with a DE, but cuts are dependent on you.

Another factoid: Most serious cuts using a straight razor are NOT to the face while shaving. They are to the fingers and hands during careless or frivolous handling, or poor discipline about leaving an open razor laying about.

styp·tic
Pronunciation: 'stip-tik
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English stiptik, from Latin stypticus, from Greek styptikos, from styphein to contract
: tending to contract or bind : ASTRINGENT; especially : tending to check bleeding
- styptic noun

I have been shaving with a straight for only one year. So far, there are no scars. There have been a couple of minor cuts which came from not being focused but they all healed very rapidly.

Nicks are just something that happens to us guys no matter what tool we shave with.

There is nothing to fear,

Randy Tuttle

Another factoid: Most serious cuts using a straight razor are NOT to the face while shaving. They are to the fingers and hands during careless or frivolous handling, or poor discipline about leaving an open razor laying about.

That is true, as mu middle finger can sadly show. The tip got slashed as i carried away cleaning the oiled blade from arm hair... Not as bad as Brian's, but still pritty bad.

Cuts on the face also happens, but usualy for me (well, one time realy) when moving the razor from one to another side of my face.

For only a month shaving with straight razor, i think that i am marked very little.

I find most of my facial nicks happen when I am rushing or not paying attention. Oh also when someone barges into the bathroom when I am shaving.

I've gotten a little too cavalier with a very sharp spike a few times. Careless finishing flourishes can put a bit of a damper on the morning shave. Gee, t his was a great shave, swish, swish, DAMN!

But, there's always a positive side to everything. Having a few really cool cut-scars on your face is often regarded as a "Better take my frustrations out on someone else" sign.

They're also 100% avoidable.