Why Do I Keep Cutting Myself While Shaving?

Even if you’ve been shaving for years, you’re not immune to cutting yourself as you sculpt your beard. However, there are a few things you can do to reduce this risk. Read on for reasons you keep cutting yourself with a razor, how to prevent painful incidences, and other essential safety information.

Is it Common to Cut Yourself When Shaving?

If you ask around, you may be shocked to discover that almost all people consider cuts a normal part of shaving. We don’t think that should be the case since we know tried-and-tested tips that you can rely on to make safety an integral part of shaving.

In the real world, men who have been shaving for years often cut themselves occasionally, though they don’t like it. If you cut yourself while shaving sometimes, you know that you don’t deserve to lose your blood or experience the pain. So, you must be looking for ways to ensure you never cut yourself with a razor again.

Why Do I Bleed Every Time I Shave?

Unfortunately, some people bleed whenever they shave. If you experience this, it means you always cut yourself when shaving. Assuming you have mastered the shaving art, this could be happening since you have a vast number of blood vessels near your chin or face.

Since this is a medical condition, you might need to see your doctor for professional guidance. Another reason you bleed that much could be that your razor is too sharp, albeit this shouldn’t affect you if you’ve been shaving for a few years.

You can also cut yourself if you’re shaving in the wrong direction. This means you don’t go with the grain. If you are dragging the razor blade against the grain, it will likely snag the hairs and nick the skin, resulting in blood loss.

If that’s not the case, you could be using an old-fashioned razor. Where you do the shaving also matters. Some experts enjoy the game in the shower, where they can easily keep the skin lubricated.

Don’t forget that you need to prepare well before you start. Let’s say you do everything else right but fail to wash and lather well. You’ll likely keep cutting yourself no matter how hard you try to prevent it.

Are Razor Cuts Dangerous?

Cuts from shaving are typically exposed to various types of infections as open wounds. If you leave these cuts open for too long, they’ll attract bacteria. Once they are infected, you can go through a lot of preventable health problems. Sometimes, it can cause life-threatening diseases.

Can a razor cut cause tetanus? If you are asking whether this is possible, the answer is “yes.” Many people don’t believe this since they associate tetanus with rusty razors.

You might be thinking that stepping on a rusty nail or cutting yourself with a sharp piece of metal could be dangerous. That’s true. However, cutting yourself with a clean razor can have the same effect.

How? Tetanus is a bacterium (singular for bacteria) that lives in manure, dust, and soil. As you shave, your razor can get into contact with these substances without your knowledge. The disease-causing organism can also find its way into the open wound at any time afterward.

To find out more, check out our full article on why shaving cuts can be dangerous. There, we answer the question – are shaving cuts dangerous and more?

What to Do if You Cut Yourself While Shaving Face?

When you cut yourself when shaving your face, ensure you stop the bleeding and protect the wound from any form of infection. This is how you can do this:

1. Press a warm, clean piece of cloth against the cut until the bleeding stops or slows down
2. Use a warm washcloth to clean the cut
3. Apply an alcohol-free aftershave on the wound to disinfect it
4. Hold an ice cube near the injury for about 30 seconds ( This will constrict the blood vessels and ultimately stop the bleeding)
5. Apply clean lip balm to the cut to create a nourishing barrier
6. Gently wipe your lip balm away after 30 minutes
7. Use a soothing moisturizer to spot-treat the wound to expedite healing
8. Cover the cut with a Band-Aid

Other factors that may make you cut yourself while shaving

It could be due to a number of reasons like skin sensitivity, rough skin, loose or tangled hairs, or just too much pressure. These factors could create bumps on your skin which lead to cuts while shaving.

It could also either be caused by the large number of blood capillaries beneath your facial skin surface or wrongful blade handling.

Also, using a dull or low-quality blade can cause you to apply too much pressure, leading to shaving cuts. Applying shaving products can help take the pressure off your skin.

Do Vaseline Help Razor Cuts?

Yes, it does. In the previous section, we talked about lip balm since it’s commonly used to seal shaving razor cuts. However, you can as well use Vaseline and get exceptional results quickly.

Of course, these two sealants are not the only substances you can use to seal the cuts. However, they are some of the best. In some cases, they can work well without a Band-Aid.

How Do You Prevent Cutting Yourself While Shaving?

This is one of the most important questions we often receive. We’ve said that even experienced people can occasionally cut themselves. The good news is that you can almost entirely prevent the pain if you do this:

1. Start with Skincare: Take the best care of your face to kill bacteria and clear away dead cells that can cause razor burn and clog up pores.
2. Ensure Proper Razor Glide: Take a hot shower to soften the hair and apply the right pre-shave oil to soften them further and lubricate your razor blade.
3. Choose Shave Screen Wisely: A formula with aloe can cushion you from skin irritation. Choose one that offers an additional protection layer between the blade and the skin.
4. Pick the Best Razor: Choose a razor with multiple blades and a soft, flexible neck to prevent cuts and nicks.
5. Maintain Your Blade: Keep the razor in the ideal form always. After each shave, you should soak the head in an alcoholic sanitizer to kill bacteria and prevent razor burn. Besides, keep it sharp.
6. Refine Your Shaving Technique: Ensure you limit yourself to short, gentle strokes. Whenever you want to pass a second pass, reapply shave-scream.
7. Upgrade Your Aftershave: You should not use alcohol-based splashes as an aftershave. They are good antiseptics but can dry out the skin.

In addition, proper moisturizing and lubrication help prevent shaving cuts, which is why wet shaving is recommended. Also be careful while using new razors, never use a dull razor but ensure your skin is well lubricated with a moisturizing shaving soap or shaving cream to avoid cutting yourself while shaving.

To find out more, check out our full article on how to prevent shaving cuts. We also cover what to do if you cut yourself while shaving.

Shaving Alternatives

If you find that you are constantly cutting yourself while shaving and you can’t seem to stop even though you are following the right technique, then you may need to consider dermaplaning. Check out our article on dermaplaning vs shaving to learn more.

Conclusion

We’ve noted that unrefined shaving technique, ill preparation, and wrong choice of razors as some of the main reasons you keep cutting yourself while shaving. To be safe, follow the right steps we’ve shared with you here. Also, remember to follow the steps on what to do if you cut yourself while shaving to lessen the risk since you may not perfectly prevent a mishap.