No more razor cuts: 10 tips on how to avoid shaving cuts

Reading time: 5 mins

Cut while shaving? Unfortunately, it’s nothing unusual. But it doesn’t have to be inevitable because there are ways to give yourself a thorough and smooth shave, while minimising shaving cuts. Follow these tips for avoiding razor cuts and your skin will thank you later!

Why do we get shaving cuts?

If you’ve been cut with a razor while shaving, it could be because the razorblade was pressed too hard against your skin, leaving a razor nick rather than a clean hairless finish. To limit razor cuts, we recommend a shaver specially designed to be gentle, while still giving a thorough shave. The OneBlade is designed to follow the contours of your face, so it won’t catch your skin or shave too close.

How to avoid shaving cuts:

Once you have the right tool for the job, you’ll need to know how to use it properly. These 10 tips will help teach you how to prevent cuts when shaving your face:

1. Soften the skin:

Soak your beard before shaving and dry it off well. The softer and drier the skin, the less friction, irritation, and stress for the natural skin barrier. The smoother the surface, the more your razor will glide on top of it – especially if you rinse it under running water for about 10 seconds after each shave.

2. Puff your cheeks:

Time to fluff yourself up a bit. Blowing your cheeks can help to keep the skin taut when shaving; this allows for a more levelled surface texture for a close shave. Just don’t forget to breathe!

3. Ensure proper docking:

Apply the razor to your face so that all razor heads are in contact with your skin – if you get a cut while shaving, it’s often an awkward shaving angle to blame. The OneBlade has a low-profile double-sided blade, so you’re in full control.

4. Be gentle with the pressure:

Remember, a cut while shaving means the blade has gone too hard against your skin. Control your approach with a steady hand and methodical system to avoid any razor cuts, gliding the blade smoothly over your face. And if the area needs another shave with the razor, go for a second more thorough sweep to avoid irritating the skin. Do not go in all guns blazing, or shaver blades blazing.

5. Listen up:

Granted, not the most exciting of all sounds, but listen to the noise your shaver is making. If you don’t hear a cutting noise, your razor probably isn’t cutting, so move onto the next section. Otherwise, you’ll be shaving bare skin which can lead to a shaving rash, redness and a burning sensation.

6. Shave section by section:

Divide up your face and shave each section one after the other, methodically. This will help stop you from overdoing it on the same section and end up shaving bare skin, making a razor cut more likely.

7. Shave fast but smooth:

3 minutes should be enough for your whole shave. If you keep that guideline in mind, you won’t shave too long or often in the same place.

8. Be careful round the mouth:

The skin on the mouth is not only uneven, but also very thin near the lip, so be extra careful here. A razor cut on your face is bad enough, but razor nicks on your lips are even worse. Be gentle when shaving near your lips and remember, there’s no shame in making silly faces to get a clearer path!

9. Cleanse and exfoliate:

Daily face washing with a decent cleanser and exfoliator removes dirt and dead skin cells that can hinder a smooth shave. If you cleanse daily and exfoliate once or twice a week, you might see fewer shaving cuts on your skin.

10. Moisturise:

The healthier, more hydrated, and firmer the skin, the less susceptible it is to irritation from shaving. Apply a moisturiser after shaving to strengthen your skin’s protective barrier.

How to stop bleeding from shaving cuts:

Of course, you can follow all these steps perfectly, but razor nicks are hard to prevent 24/7. So, you need to know how to stop a razor cut from bleeding when it happens. There are many skin products that can help to treat sores and cuts, even products specifically for the skin on your face. Look for products containing astringents that help to stop the bleeding and have one on hand with your shaving kit just in case.

So, next time you find yourself looking like you’ve just come home from battle after shaving, covered in razor cuts and blood dripping down your chin, remind yourself of these 10 tips on how to avoid cuts when shaving your face and make sure you apply them next time you need a shave.