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I gave myself an inch-long shallow cut at the base of my neck a few days ago -- pure inattention to the razor angle. It got slightly infected, and opened up once. It's healing OK now. I've been using a DE razor since it happened.
I'm very wary of going back to a straight razor. Any advice about how to "get back on the horse" ?
Thanks --
Charles
Sure.
Get back on the horse, but be more careful with the horse this time. That's not a flip answer. As long as you know how to do it, you can do it without injury as long as you are paying attention to what you are doing. Good luck in that saddle.
Being someone who has cut themself many times, including a nasty one yesterday, you just have to grit your teeth and start shaving with it again. Just make sure that the cut is healed before you use the straight again as it can easily open the cut back up.
i found for me being a beginner, that most my nicks and cuts came from trying to get tricky areas XTG or ATG. So when i gave myself a good one and was a little shy i took a few days off to let it heal 100% then went back to basics. Told myself `Today is 1 pass WTG` After that it was pretty quick to get back to chasing the BBS shave.
You don't need to be a beginner to cut yourself. Geez, I did that just yesterday. It happens. You don't stop chopping up veggies for dinner just because you cut your finger badly. You just stick a plaster on it and get the job done with a little more care taken. Same with using the razor. Take your time and watch where everything is and what everything is doing.
Like driving a car. Think of each of your fingers, the razor and your head, as another driver on the road, and they are all idiots waiting to cause an accident. You watch what they are doing and predict your escape route ahead of time. Easy! :)
Mick
Just part of the landscape mate!! But if you pay even more than extrodinay attention to detail while shaving most of the reall bad ones can be avoided
For me, while I'm soaking with a hot towel on my face I make certain to do some deep breathing excercise's. Realaxing all the muscle groups look towards my "Chi" as much as I can at that moment. It sounds weird but that does lead to a more focused attention to the exact location of razor, face, hands and beard. I know some of you are laughing right now, but think about it, works for me!!
Most Sincerely, tinkersd of SRP
All the focus in the world can't stop a sneeze.:w:)
I sliced my chin when I first started trying ATG and I still don't feel comfortable with it. I was a bit razor shy for about 1 day then I just started taking everything real slow and smoothly as I should have done all along. I just try to avoid doing things I am not fully comfortable with when shaving. Maybe use the DE for parts of your neck until you think you can do it again
Read my sig for what the old barber told me that has helped me avoid nicks and cuts. :gl:
As MickR says, you don't have to be a beginner to cut yourself. My worst cut (probably 1/2 inch on the chin) was received when I was well into using straights and was caused by sleepiness and inattention (I sometimes shave at night before bed to save time the next day).
No you do not need to be a beginner to make a mistake, my point was more as a beginner i make more mistakes that most of you so I see red a little more often. As well i do not have the history of 1000 good shaves to a 1 bad morning. If on day 3 i screw up 33% of my shaves are tarnished....
Sorry for confusion
I think it is perfectly normal to experience some apprehension after a good cut. It would be irrational not to be concerned about it. Like I've said before, nicks and cuts are signposts on the road to good straight shaving. Pay attention to what they are telling you, then press on. That's why the Good Lord made Styptic, eh?
Hi Charles,
I really believe the key is to relax. Confidence is a good thing, but other factors like being in a hurry, hangover's and over-confidence can cause distractions from the task at hand. Take a few deep breathes. You know you have the skill. Use as little pressure as possible and short strokes with longer clean up strokes. I know that even after all these years of straight razor shaving, I still have to pay extra attention in the chin area when using a larger razor as the angle wants to open up, so I try not to ever take the use of a straight razor lightly.
Another nice thing is to change your thoughts away from the nick or cut to the end result. That sticky smooth great feeling skin that you feel after you're done with the shave.
Next nick you get, try using triple anti-biotic ointment on it for a couple days. Works wonders.
Most of all, Have fun!!
Lynn
I almost lost my nerve too , back when I started , over 4 years ago . I gave myself 2 cuts (real cuts , that bled a lot) , one after the other . The first cut didn't get me too concerned , and I chalked it up to being a noob . When I cut myself again about 10 seconds later , I realized I might be doing something wrong . In my case I was using too much pressure , my blade angle was too steep , and I wasn't stretching my skin properly .
Just think of the pressure Lynn is under to avoid cuts. As the modern day patriarch of all things straight razor, his face serves as a symbol. Cuts and scars on him would reflect badly on our hobby.
Whenever I talk about straight razors to anyone, I'm paranoid about my little scars, most of which were caused by the psycho cat my sister in law dumped on us!
It's interesting, I was thinking about this just this morning. We think it would be great if we never made any mistakes. But if we didn't we wouldn't learn very fast. I've found mistakes are a real plus if -- and that's a big if -- if we learn from them. You now have the opportunity to grow and develop faster than before. Just take that attention lapse and apply it to your real life -- and your next shave! You'll benefit like you can't believe! Get back on that horse!
Bruce
I've also seen it recommended that guys not try the ATG pass until they feel more confident. That was tough for me because women nearly always shave their legs ATG. I find myself going a few degrees slightly more XTG than ATG. And I always try to be careful of the pressure. Even if the shave isn't quite as close as I would like it's still better than using an electric. I can live with that until I get better at shaving.
Lori
My personal view on all things I take an interest in is, I WILL NOT BE DEFEATED. I want to shave with a straight razor so I do. Cuts and potential cuts be darned.
Jim
OK -- I'm over my initial fear. My error was in taking too long a stroke down my neck, and not stretching the skin ahead of the razor, and not keeping track of the blade angle.
And I'll get some antibiotic ointment for next time.<g>
Time to try again . . .
This was the first time in a while I've thought:
. . . I see why Gillette was so successful!
Charles
PS -- Ironically, it was a Dovo from SRD that did the damage. Sharp little bugger!<g>
Good luck with the next shave Charles.
Hope all goes well.
Good luck to ya in your up coming shaves.
Watch your angle and when starting out, make sure the SR's spin is close to your skin and go slow and easy. It'll come back to you.
Best of luck!
As a veterinarian, I whole-heartedly agree with your observation - cats indeed are more dangerous than straight razors. I've got the scars to prove it :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Utopian
You will cut yourself. It is goiing to happen and sometimes I really get myself good. But, wash it, out Neosporin creme with pain relief because it is not greasy and let it heal completly. Keep it clean with Witch Hazel and use the Nepsporin
Cats??!! Oh yes, very tricky little critters!! I always tell people who ask about my Straight Razor scars[I've got about 4 REALLY GOOD ONES] to NEVER play truth or dare with an Osalot[spelling}.
I almost always cut my earlobe when I get rushed in the morning (damn Navy life). But yesterday I cut my thumb from being careless. I will set the razor down before I grab my badger brush. I just need to repeat that mantra.
as long as you know the error was because you were sidetracked and not paying attention, just be sure to pay attention next time. after you learn your lesson, you don't need to worry about it again.
It is very easy to get side tracked while shaving in extremely close proximity to ten other guys. But, the styptic pen is my friend.:w
I'm back to straight razors again, as of this morning. But was a little more careful this morning than I usually am. And very careful to keep the skin stretched -- a "bunch-up" was one of the causes of that neck cut.
Thanks to everyone, again . . .
charles
Agreed!!! Today was my first day back after herding cats three days ago...:tameshigiri:Quote:
Originally Posted by HLS
BBS with three passes. First time ever as this was shave number 43. Feels great and I'm still smooth after about twelve hours. Two small weapers on my chin and neck were the only carnage today. I have learned a ton about stretching my skin and short passes as Lynn and others have spoke of. Thanks to all for info provided here!!
God this has become a major hobby for me!!
I got my first real noticeable cuts the morning after my youngest son was born, and mere hours before my inlaws, and later my own folks would come visit for the first time since I'd started straight shaving. I was TIRED, the dog was out of sorts because of all that was going on, and someone (a very nice and well intentioned lady from my church) rang the doorbell, set the dog off, and set my cheek to bleeding.Quote:
Originally Posted by Utopian
I'd been telling both my own parents and my father-in-law about how great the shaves were...but it didn't look that way when they showed up! You can't see it now though, and I think that's due in part to having shaved the scar off!
I work for BMW in the service department, so I'm constantly chatting with customers, co-workers, technicians, managers, everything. I've got some scars on my left cheek: one from an amateur incident in which I was late for church and glancing at the clock whilst shaving ATG on my dominant side. Ouch. Left a very nice scar to this day. A couple others come from shaving with a WICKED spike the Utopian honed up for me. After not shaving with a spike for over a year and then transitioning back into one, I was appalled at how apparently novice I now was. Dug the spike right into my dominant (left) cheek again, different spot. Also managed to dig that same spike into my neck, just below and to the left of my chin, and slice my mole from my right cheek after having successfully shaved around it the past two years. So now I've got around 5 or so scars on my left cheek that constantly give me the, "What scratched you?" alongside the jeers from co-workers who know I use a straight. "dude, just grab a gilette."
Father, forgive them, for the know not what they insinuate.
Given where you work, you could try claiming that you got them in a University of Heidelberg dueling club ! See here:Quote:
Originally Posted by DerekC
Academic fencing - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Charles
Sorry to hear that you cut yourself. I wouldn’t give up using a straight razor. I did the same thing after about month using a straight. 25mm cut on my cheek it took a month to heal. I was afraid of using a straight and went back using a DE until the cut healed. After the cut was healed then I went back to using a straight razor. My problem was I wasn’t holding the blade flat enough (Had to much ang.). I jumped back on the horse and I’m still very careful and slow way down where I cut myself.
I posted on this subject before and I have gotten some small cuts on my cheek. Nothing requiring medical attention, just home first aid. I am a little hesitant around the area but I am more careful. Just do some small areas and finish up with something else and gradually increase using the straight until you are doing all SR shaving again. We are are all pulling for you. This is a great forum to bring your concerns, thoughts, questions, and so forth and receive awesome support! We are all with you!
Good luck!
Patrick