Thread: Cut of the Day

Originally Posted by STF

Hope your up and about soon.

I'm expecting to have it done quite soon too so I'll watch your recovery with interest.

If you can must the pain tolerance and tenacity that TC has then you’ll be fine. You just have to work that rehab physio with no knowledge of the word quit, amd grit your teeth and walk off that sore knee. TC is quite the guy.

Something told me not to shave yesterday...

I had my straight razor shave just the day before. This was still just my 20th or so shave with a straight and I didn't want to make it a drudgery. I wanted it to be special. I didn't want to resent all the prep. time. It would have been better to use my safety razor yesterday, then wait a few days and look forward to my straight razor shave.


Shower, hot water soak brush in scuttle, wash face, pre shave, dip brush in Taylor of Old Bond St. Sandalwood, transfer to scuttle and create lather, apply brush/lather to face, grab my Ralf Aust 5/8 round point, right side by ear with downward strokes, rinse blade under faucet, more strokes on right side and neck, rinse blade again under faucet and....

BAM!

Suddenly there is a rush of blood on the back of my right hand!!!

My eyes bug out in disbelief as I reach for my styptic pencil to stop the bleeding. It doesn't help. I find a white towel and wrap it around the hand with pressure, trying to stop or minimize the bleeding

What about my career as a performing classical guitarist? Will I be able to play? Are my tendons and ligaments damaged so that my fine motor movements are compromised?

I find a t shirt and navigate my right arm, with towel covering the hand, into the sleeve. The rest is easy.
The Fire Station is very close. I'll drive myself there. Those heroic guys are also paramedics.

I knock on the entry door with my left hand. The Fireman hears my story and wants to treat me inside the ambulance and not the fire station because of Covid-19. A minute later I'm in an ambulance with five fireman around me. Blood pressure cuff, pulse oximeter, and questions.

What happened?

I'm visualizing the shaving event in slow motion.

I must have lost concentration for a moment. I think I dinged the blade on the faucet. I probably held it loosely. It was open in the shaving position at about ninety degrees. With the force of my movement the blade hit the faucet and flipped over and a bit sideways. It then penetrated the back of my hand. Blood spewed forthwith.

The fireman put a base layer of bandage over the wound. Then he wrapped black gauze tape around the bandaid. That restricted my mobility.

Do you want to take the ambulance?
Could I drive myself or have a friend drive?

It's your choice
Let me drive home and eat. Then I'll call with a decision.

After lunch I decided to drive myself to the emergency room.

When I saw the Dr. she called it a laceration and put glue tape around it and a bandage over the tape. (See photo)
She said it may take ten days to heal...

What is my future with straight razor shaving? Do I quit now and go back to my Merkur 38c Barber Pole DE safety razor? Should I never rinse the blade under a faucet? (correct, don't rinse under a faucet) I read somewhere to use a damp sponge instead to remove the foam. Then rinse the sponge, not the blade.


Gentlemen, thanks for reading my story. Please share any ideas on how to shave more safely.

Best,
July10newbie

Well, I’ve cut my hand quite badly while doing other activities. I just try to learn and be safer. I say let it heal, and do what you think is right for you. Personally I never let a little blood and stitches keep me from doing things that I enjoy. It was a good reminder to always focus with any sharp tool.

Yea, it's a lesson in not letting your concentration slip while shaving with a straight razor. Take your time, let the cut heal and then get back on the horse that threw you.

Bob

My wife cut her ankle very badly when our screen door slammed on her as she was carrying some plants into the house. She had her hands full and wasn’t thinking about controlling the door as it closed and it bit her. It’s taken a couple of weeks for it to heal - fortunately no stitches required.

As Rez said, pay attention to what is happening around you. Even things that don’t seem sharp or dangerous can get you if you aren’t careful. Shave ready razors are VERY SHARP!

Your a classical guitarist so I know you didn't give up on it when it got tough.

Give your hand a few days to settle down then get that straight out and have a real mans shave.

You will be glad that you didn't give up and I seriously doubt you will make that one mistake again, probably a few different ones but if it were too easy everyone would have a straight.

I always rinse my blade under running water but I do it slowly and deliberately.
Actually when I first started with a straight with about 9 shaves under my belt I made a YouTube vid of me shaving to show the guys here and get some advice.
I was cleaning off my razor with a face cloth and was advised to run it under the tap carefully instead.
I must admit that on the rare occasion that I have used a washcloth I've cut it.

Your forgiven Roy, and I guess it is a cut of the day. 11 days later and it already looks much better, I have a ice machine thingy, I ice at least 10 times a day after any P T. Swelling has been quite manageable and I quit taking the pain meds on Saturday. Been a little over 7 weeks since the first and 11 days with this one, I can walk around my block a couple times a day, the first would keep going so I’m looking forward to next week or 2. Last follow up doc appointment this Thursday, looking to impress him. He don’t understand the joke but I tell him every time,”I got to show up Shaun”

And I encourage you!

I've put this post here because it feels like it fits.

I've just shaved, and very nice it was too although I'm still shaking a bit.
I was happily shaving away, like you do when I dropped my razor!

I was wearing shorts but had bare feet. I leapt back and grabbed for it before it broke on the floor or cut a toe off.

I cannot believe my luck, I caught my razor by the scales, what are the odds eh?

I'm going to have to retrain my instincts I reckon, next time I drop it I might catch it by the sharp end!

Originally Posted by July10newbie

Something told me not to shave yesterday...

I had my straight razor shave just the day before. This was still just my 20th or so shave with a straight and I didn't want to make it a drudgery. I wanted it to be special. I didn't want to resent all the prep. time. It would have been better to use my safety razor yesterday, then wait a few days and look forward to my straight razor shave.


Shower, hot water soak brush in scuttle, wash face, pre shave, dip brush in Taylor of Old Bond St. Sandalwood, transfer to scuttle and create lather, apply brush/lather to face, grab my Ralf Aust 5/8 round point, right side by ear with downward strokes, rinse blade under faucet, more strokes on right side and neck, rinse blade again under faucet and....

BAM!

Suddenly there is a rush of blood on the back of my right hand!!!

My eyes bug out in disbelief as I reach for my styptic pencil to stop the bleeding. It doesn't help. I find a white towel and wrap it around the hand with pressure, trying to stop or minimize the bleeding

What about my career as a performing classical guitarist? Will I be able to play? Are my tendons and ligaments damaged so that my fine motor movements are compromised?

I find a t shirt and navigate my right arm, with towel covering the hand, into the sleeve. The rest is easy.
The Fire Station is very close. I'll drive myself there. Those heroic guys are also paramedics.

I knock on the entry door with my left hand. The Fireman hears my story and wants to treat me inside the ambulance and not the fire station because of Covid-19. A minute later I'm in an ambulance with five fireman around me. Blood pressure cuff, pulse oximeter, and questions.

What happened?

I'm visualizing the shaving event in slow motion.

I must have lost concentration for a moment. I think I dinged the blade on the faucet. I probably held it loosely. It was open in the shaving position at about ninety degrees. With the force of my movement the blade hit the faucet and flipped over and a bit sideways. It then penetrated the back of my hand. Blood spewed forthwith.

The fireman put a base layer of bandage over the wound. Then he wrapped black gauze tape around the bandaid. That restricted my mobility.

Do you want to take the ambulance?
Could I drive myself or have a friend drive?

It's your choice
Let me drive home and eat. Then I'll call with a decision.

After lunch I decided to drive myself to the emergency room.

When I saw the Dr. she called it a laceration and put glue tape around it and a bandage over the tape. (See photo)
She said it may take ten days to heal...

What is my future with straight razor shaving? Do I quit now and go back to my Merkur 38c Barber Pole DE safety razor? Should I never rinse the blade under a faucet? (correct, don't rinse under a faucet) I read somewhere to use a damp sponge instead to remove the foam. Then rinse the sponge, not the blade.


Gentlemen, thanks for reading my story. Please share any ideas on how to shave more safely.

Best,
July10newbie

I really don't want to sound like a tool, but PAT ATTENTION,!
It's a razor, I personally have used a double if my mind is fuzzy, or my hand is a little shaky (I'm 66 and have those days once in awhile). But for your own safety assess yourself before picking up the straight. We've all had those days where a safety razor is the better part of valor...hope you heal quickly.