Thread: Embarrassed and Bleeding...........

Ouch!

This is just so much to remember. Tried and cut myself, those blades are sharp!!!

OK, maybe my fault being new and all. But here is what gets me. I tried to stop the bleeding with Proraso in a small tube. No luck, went to the styptic pencil. Still no luck. Finally put a bandaid on and was able to take off the bandaid before walking into work.

Oh, I cut myself high on the cheek not far from my sideburn. All joking aside I wonder if people who look anorexic should not do this? I mean my face bones do show, lost 60 pounds and all. Still losing.

Problems......

I get mixed up with what hand and what side. The videos and mirrors and all backwards. I remember they use the hand to put up on the sideburn. So left hand pulls the opposite side and hence the razor is in the other hand.

Angle of the blade 30 degrees and use arm to keep it thirty. Maybe I should back off of the angle some? Never adjust angle while in mid stroke. I think I heard so sweep the face never starting from a dead stop? Need to watch videos again. Maybe make sure skin is tight I mean tight.

Then again it might be my cheap razor? The Shavette? Was thinking of trying a Feather SS. Trying to avoid the whole stropping thing until I master this part. Again, the videos make it so easy. But then again, one cut is not the end of the world and it is small. Maybe I thought I could do this with no cuts but then that would be no fun.

I need to be better prepared. Cell phone handy for 911. Needle and thread for stitches. Smelling salt in case I pass out. Flask of whiskey for confidence.

First off it does get easier. We all been thru it. Sometimes you think those cuts will never stop bleeding. Just dont give up. Time will bring technique & then its a joy to shave with a straight.
Hang in there!!!

Hang in there bro . . . you will git r done sooner than you think. Perhaps trying to do too much at one time. Start S-L-O-W, go slow, small strokes. You should have seen me when I started . . . looked like I was in a chainsaw fight and couldn't get mine started.

I also tried a disposable straight when I started, and when I changed to a real razor I was amazed at how much better I got. I went with a Dovo Best Quality half hollow and the extra weight worked in my favor to keep from putting too much pressure on my face.

Don't give up. Start with just a portion of your face, then finish off with what ever you use to use. Master a small part of your face at at time to build your confidence, then move on.

Keep the faith . . .

I assume this is your first experience with single blade shaving. Be sure to prep your face, read the wiki. I think you are using a straight from your description. In DE shaving you take short strokes, about an inch at a time. I do this when I am training on my straight. I don't start at the sideburn if I don't feel comfortable with the razor. I move down an inch so I can clearly see what I am doing and then take a stroke. Once I feel the razor on my skin, I become more confident and start using muscle memory instead of vision as my primary guide. I am a DE shaver moving to straights. With a DE razor I can pretty much shave by feel and that is what I am striving for with a straight.

With a short stroke you will know if the razor is cutting properly. If it isn't then stop, don't force it, think about adjusting the angle and/or adding more water to your lather,etc. It is a common misconception that straights are sharper than most DE blades, but this is not the case. A shavette is going to be a good cutter, but you will cut yourself more easily with it than you think. There are DE razors that will peel your face and that is not an exaggeration. Technique, technique, technique the 3 most important factors in blade shaving. Be patient and slow down. Accept less than perfect shaves while you are learning. Once I got the hang of a DE, I was motivated to try my hand (shaky though it is) with straights. It is worth the effort.

There's certainly no need to be embarrassed. If anyone wants to gawk at your cuts just tell them it's from straight razor shaving. That should quiet down the peanut gallery in short order

Originally Posted by Ryan82

There's certainly no need to be embarrassed. If anyone wants to gawk at your cuts just tell them it's from straight razor shaving. That should quiet down the peanut gallery in short order

It does "quiet down the peanut gallery" lol! Take my word for it. I don't know if they are jealous and in awe of my manly use of the coolest tool out there on my face... or they think I am just nuts lol.

Well - this might not be a popular thing to say, but I say get yourself a "real" straight. Those "things" you are using are dangerous lol.

Firstly, let me say those things are scary to me. They are sharper and wicked. Nasty and sick! Nothing smooth, nor proper about them. JMO. They take no prisoners! I am a technician. I work with my hands in intricate jobs. I have for close to 40 years. It was fairly easy to shave with a straight for me. I understand a skill set must be formed, if not posessed. As indicated, slow down and use shorter, overlapping strokes. Keep the spine down(way down). Whatever kind of shave you get will surely be cleaned up with a DE or 5 blader. Stick with WTG until you master it well and finish up with the blader. You need to learn the feel of it. Then, and only then, will you be ready to attempt ATG! JMHO Hang in!

I had the same problem at first, especially with the left hand.
Lather up and use a butter knife to practice with, it won't be quite the same but it will help you develop some muscle memory and figure out the mirror part in a less lethal way.

Originally Posted by kg4fxg

Ouch!

This is just so much to remember. Tried and cut myself, those blades are sharp!!!

OK, maybe my fault being new and all. But here is what gets me. I tried to stop the bleeding with Proraso in a small tube. No luck, went to the styptic pencil. Still no luck. Finally put a bandaid on and was able to take off the bandaid before walking into work.

Oh, I cut myself high on the cheek not far from my sideburn. All joking aside I wonder if people who look anorexic should not do this? I mean my face bones do show, lost 60 pounds and all. Still losing.

Problems......

I get mixed up with what hand and what side. The videos and mirrors and all backwards. I remember they use the hand to put up on the sideburn. So left hand pulls the opposite side and hence the razor is in the other hand.

Angle of the blade 30 degrees and use arm to keep it thirty. Maybe I should back off of the angle some? Never adjust angle while in mid stroke. I think I heard so sweep the face never starting from a dead stop? Need to watch videos again. Maybe make sure skin is tight I mean tight.

Then again it might be my cheap razor? The Shavette? Was thinking of trying a Feather SS. Trying to avoid the whole stropping thing until I master this part. Again, the videos make it so easy. But then again, one cut is not the end of the world and it is small. Maybe I thought I could do this with no cuts but then that would be no fun.

I need to be better prepared. Cell phone handy for 911. Needle and thread for stitches. Smelling salt in case I pass out. Flask of whiskey for confidence.

Know that this view may not be popular here ... But, I do find myself comparing all my straight razors to my Feather with a Proguard Blade. "Wow did a great job honing this one 'feels close to the shave I get with the......"
Honestly if I had to do it again I would a, should a, started with a razor like the Feather.
I don't think I'll ever be able to compare my work to a Factory Edged Blade. Will keep trying.
But, buy the Feather and only the Proguards and you'll be off to a good start.

We all had the same problems and fears, just don't give up. Pull your skin to make it tight when you shave, use the soap or better yet a cream with more glycerin in it, or just buy and add a bit of glycerin in the foam, that helps the razor glide. Do small swipes and go only with the growth at first. All the advice I'm giving helped me a lot when I was starting, I realize now that my biggest problem was the making the right kind of lather. Good luck and don't give up.