Thread: Cut of the Day

No pics I'm afraid but inattention got me this morning. Wrong blade angle and wrong stroke angle and the 13/16 Klas Tornblum straight took a decent sized gash out of my moustache area. It took about an hour to stop bleeding all together. I must have looked a right dill sitting on the train this morning with a big piece of tissue stuck under my nose.
First time in quite a while I've cut myself but even though I'd consider myself quite an experienced straight shaver, it still happens.

Are the Feather or Dovo 'Shavette' things any safer, regarding deep gashes? Obviously they will still cut but are they as bad when it comes to cutting off fingers or other precious parts?

I've already told friends and family I'm gonna start using a straight. So far none have actually laughed or called me stupid, just said how they wouldn't be brave enough, which is cool. I have to say though, I'd feel a complete banana if I end up scarring my face even once or twice. Some of you seem to have multiple scars..?

I already have one large (about 1") scar on my cheek, an actual knife-fighting incident (I won) plus a circular scar under my eye (I won that too, but he managed to bite my face!). That's all good and bad-ass... but I have images of people asking "And that one?" "Erm, shaving." "Oh?" "I use a straight razor". "A what?" "A straight razor." "Oh, one of those cut-throat blade things?" "Yes." "What about this scar?" "Shaving." This one?" "Also shaving." "And this one here..?" "Shaving." "Your nose... Shaving?" "Yep."

I'm no beauty contestant but damn... Pain and blood I don't mind so much but scars are somewhat permanent aren't they?

I also shave my head, figured doing so with a straight would be super bad-ass.. but not if I end up with loads of scars all over me head, that would just be bad, without the ass.

Mmm.

The Merker Futur looks nice?

OK, I'm feeling guilty now; I don't mean to put anyone off...

It strikes me that many of the nastier injuries are not from shaving but from careless handling of the blade, so there's that?

*looks hopeful*

Originally Posted by Machete

OK, I'm feeling guilty now; I don't mean to put anyone off...

It strikes me that many of the nastier injuries are not from shaving but from careless handling of the blade, so there's that?

*looks hopeful*

I've been meaning to respond to your posts, I just couldn't think of what exactly to say. I was hoping someone else would come along and find the magic things to say. But, here's my take. What you are seeing on this thread are accidents, things that are out of the norm. To decide against using a straight razor based on what You see here would be akin to watching a two hour compilation of automobile wrecks before thinking about buying a car and learning to drive. Probably not the best analogy, but I'm trying. Can you drive a car to the store and back and not get in a wreck, sure. Can you shave with a straight and not cut yourself, sure. I guess what I'm trying to say is, there were thousands of straight razor shaves today that went off without a hitch. Personally, to let fear of what MAY happen keep you from trying something that you would really enjoy is a shame.
Besides, as you have said, you've been cut in a knife fight, have had your face bitten. And you're worried about what damage you could receive by your own hand?? I say, put on your big boy pants and give it a shot. Take your time, you should do just fine. There is one thing that does dovetail driving a car. One should never drive drunk, and, the same goes for straight shaving!! LOL.

Well said donv!

99.9995% of the time if you actually nick yourself you dont continue to push the blade into your face any further after you feel something is going to go wrong, then the slight mark will disappear when you rinse your face with cool water when you are done.

I shave my face regularly and my head occasionally... and i have no permanent battlescars Dont let these exceptional cases put you off!

Cheers,

Aidan.

Originally Posted by Machete

OK, I'm feeling guilty now; I don't mean to put anyone off...
It strikes me that many of the nastier injuries are not from shaving but from careless handling of the blade, so there's that?

donv put it to the point.
... You were talking about scars. I used to shave with a straight razor about five years and re-started to use them a few months ago. Yes, every now and then the tip touches somewhere when it should not or I nick somewhere. These, in most cases, I don't even feel, and they stop bleeding within a minute or two without necessity do do anything.
And even if You truely cut Yourself, those cuts - at least mine - are never deep as there is no pressure on the blade. The worst thing that happened to me in a long time was when looked very close and accidentally touched the mirror with the scales. This was bad, because by that, the blade's motion was now along the edge, thus truely cutting. Still it stopped bleeding on its own and vanished without a scar after a few days.

Dangerous cuts are true accidents. But sure, You need to be alert all the time

As someone who is just four days in to shaving with a straight I wish I hadn't found this thread...is there any way it can be censored so new users aren't put off?

Look at the member list compared to the number of posts if anything that should give you a warm fuzzy feeling at how infrequent they are

Originally Posted by Apis

As someone who is just four days in to shaving with a straight I wish I hadn't found this thread...is there any way it can be censored so new users aren't put off?

First rule of the fight club is: You don't talk about the fight club ...

Actually, the ones You see here are just those that have been approved by the "suitable for beginners' eyes commitee". I'm afraid You're not ready for this, but as You're asking... This is what another member experienced on his fifth day after beginning -> thuktunflishithy

Originally Posted by DDTech

First rule of the fight club is: You don't talk about the fight club ...

Actually, the ones You see here are just those that have been approved by the "suitable for beginners' eyes commitee". I'm afraid You're not ready for this, but as You're asking... This is what another member experienced on his fifth day after beginning -> thuktunflishithy

Thankfully the forum says I don't have permission to access your Doomsday image. Saved by a higher authority. Day 5 tomorrow