Thread: A Run of Trouble

Hi All,

I'm a newbie who has been using a straight razor for only a few months now. However, I had been doing quite well, until lately when I've managed to string together half a dozen poor efforts with an unacceptable amount of collateral damage.

I've been giving myself at least one horizontal cut (not deep) on my left cheek, and shaving my chin below the lip now almost always results in a few weepers. And once I've nicked myself, I seem to cut the same area the next shave.

My pre-shave preparation is good; I use a hot towel and a hot brush and always shave post-shower in a steamy bathroom. I don't use any pre-shave oil, but I've got some on order. I feel I'm taking my time and focusing on the job at hand.

I wouldn't be getting frustrated if it wasn't for the fact that I had been making really good progress; nick-free shaves were occurring more and more often.

Any suggestions are appreciated.

Thanks!

Maybe pressure and angle, try 1-2 spine widths off the skin

Slow down. Pay attention to your angle and pressure. Don't forget to stretch the skin.

The spot below the bottom lip just above the chin is a problem for me too. If I don't sufficiently stretch that area and use a scooping stroke I tend to nick it as well. As far r the the cut on the cheek I assume since its you left side you may be usuing your off hand. I find a confident stroke to be the fix if you are being tentative you tend to start and stop . Stopping I the middle of a stroke while the edge is still in contact with your skin is a sure fire way to nick ones self. We have all had the same problems and set backs, just stay at it.

I agree with all of the above and will add two more thoughts

1 shaving oil will not fix this

2 could your blade simply be getting dull? Are you using more than one razor and having trouble will all of them? Alternatively if you are only using one (which is fine) I may be dulling and you are overcompensating for that and that could be causing your trouble. A dull blade can be more likely to cut you!

Slow down your doing fine from the sounds. Stop and step back and use your DE for a few days then jump back in the ring again.

I would have your razor honed, make sure your skin is stretched, blade properly honed. Like you said you were doing fine, but remember you cant rush time after a few months you will be much farther ahead and doing fine.

A little but often

Like you I'm also getting the odd nick, and keep shaving over them. I think the problem may be that when I go over and old nick I go slow or even stop, which as jfk said is more than likely going to cause a nick.
If you are keen to shave daily, it would make sense to give your face a rest for a couple of days to let everything settle down before picking up the straight again.
I think the eagerness we newbies have to shave everyday, actually creates more problems initially and we need to be more patient. Just a thought that may help.
Good luck and keep enjoying the experience.

I think DMA's got it right. I can add that I roll my bottom lip over my bottom teeth to stretch the skin. Though I do shave one pass downward and two upward on my bottom lip I very rarely, but only, cut myself on the downward pass. I kinda snag the blade on the edge of my lip when setting the blade down - ouch! So, to prevent cutting yourself, I would consider only shaving the bottom lip upward.

The center of my chin I can only shave downward on every pass. I recall seeing Lynn saying/doing that in one of his beginner videos too. The sides of the jaw bone next to the chin I shave down/up/across without a problem. Stretching with your other hand helps.

Resting your skin a day or two is key when things get sore and your skin gets prone to cutting.

I wish you more enjoyable shaves,
OldSalt

Thanks to everyone who responded; I will certainly consider each suggestion made. I'm already not shaving for a couple of days (I can get away with it where I work). My razors are all almost new (my favorite is less than a month old) and my stropping technique is sound.

Thanks again. Your thoughtful responses make me feel a welcome member of this community and I appreciate that.

I don't have much to add, but I only shave upward below my bottom lip, which is ATG for me. I've found a way to stretch the skin there to keep it very flat, which helps me avoid nicks. I tuck my lip in my mouth over my bottom teeth and use my face muscles to move my skin down; it gets very taut and allows me to shave this area easily. The one time I tried shaving WTG I sliced right into my lip, and it was awful.