Trouble wit left side

[daverojo77]

I have been straight shaving for 3 weeks now and still cut myself when using my left hand on my left cheek. It's driving me nuts, like one small cut per day. I didn't shave last week to let everything heal. I have been watching videos to see if I pick up some tips. Nothing on my right side It shaves perfect.

Any thoughts?

 

[The Don]

Are your cuts coming in one particular area of your face? Does one particular section of the blade cause the cuts?

 

[daverojo77]

Yeah it seams to be the point although it was purposely rounded by Larry. But I'm getting small slices by what look to be the tip. I don't even noticed I'm cut until the end of the shave. Small thin slices some deeper than others.

 

[The Don]

Speaking from my limited experience, I've had to consciously pay attention to the location of the tip relative to my face. I put a small cut into the soft tissue between my sideburn and my ear b/c I wasn't paying close enough attention. One thing that helped in that spot was to place an extra finger on the tang. Instead of my usual approach of holding the scales between my pointer and middle finger, I'll hold the scales between my middle and ring fingers. I find that it provides just a bit of extra control of the blade tip.

Do you feel you're doing enough skin stretching? It doesn't seem like this would be a beard prep issue, or you'd likely be getting cuts from all sections of the blade. I'm guessing you're right-hand dominant, right? This could just be one of those things that you have to continue working on to build those fine motor skills in your left hand.

 

[kirisute]

you mention your shaving that side off-hand: ie not with your primary hand.
so your not only learning to shave but your also learning to use a hand your not used to using for such delicate stuff.
for me I find I can shave off hand quite happily on the side/ cheek of my face but struggle with my chin and neck area; so tend to swap back to my good had for those areas.
learn to stretch properly and focus on getting the flattest area to shave you possibly can; sometimes its like you wish you had 3 hands and you were a circus contortionist but its well worth find the best ways to stretch the face to shave comfortably and without nicks.
your probably shaving a section of your face with the bulk of the blade and just catching a raised area with the tip where your not even trying to shave or something like that...
also if your nicking/cutting your blade angle might be changing to be too aggressive...easily done with off hand shaving...so spend more time checking your blade position with your offhand; if you have to, then start with the blade flat against your skin then angle it as you start your shaving cut until it shaves...don't try to get a shaving cut instantly as soon as the razor touches skin.
lastly don't be afraid to swap the grip of the razor to suit where your shaving.....I found when I first started my razor grip was almost super glued in place; I felt it was required to hold it and use it as id read on the internet and in guides etc...however in time you adjust and settle into the ways that work for you.
its all about practice and I don't think you will find one person here who didn't start out with a few nicks and cuts.....
they be duelling scars mate!! shows your a real man!!

 

[daverojo77]

continue to have trouble with left side although I'm cutting myself less I can tell you it always happens when I'm shaving my mustache and the tip digs in to my cheek. I need to pay more attention. I have been using my round tip razor lately and it doesn't happen with that razor so I'm going to see about purchasing some more of those. Just thought I would update. Not giving up anytime soon.

 

[The Don]

Thanks for the update, and nice work on sticking with it. I know I have had that problem from time to time with square points. Have you tried using the toe of the blade to shave the mustache area to remove the inadvertent cheek-cutting from the equation? If it persists, I'm sure that some of our DIY'ers could help round off a tip for you.

 

[daverojo77]

it's been a couple of weeks and I haven't cut myself with the point blades. Now on to the next step. Every time I try and get a DFS I'm ending with razor burns on my cheeks. it's been quite the learning curve since I felt i had the DE mastered. I was getting DSF and BBS shaves every time one 3 passes. with the straight I'm going to see what I can get done in 2 passes.

I'm not giving up but I wish I can let my face rest a day or two between shaves. Unshaven at work is a no go.