A major issue for many men is cutting themselves shaving and reopening the cut by shaving the same area again too soon. How long do shaving cuts take to heal?
Depending on how big the cut is and where it is located on your skin, avoid shaving the same area for at least 3 days or until it has healed. A smaller cut may heal quicker than a larger cut. A cut near an extremity like your Adam’s Apple will tend to take longer to heal than a cut on your cheek where the skin is smoother and flatter. If you cut the tip of your ear while shaving your head, it may bleed longer since your ear is an extremity. Cuts on your neck and other sensitive areas tend to take longer to heal and are more likely to get cut than your cheeks. Avoid shaving against the grain especially on your neck.
So, How Long Do Shaving Cuts Take To Heal?
- Depending on where you cut yourself and how big the cut, you should avoid shaving that same area for at least 3 days and maybe longer. A deep cut may take up to a week or longer to fully heal.
- In my experience, cuts on the neck area and back of the head are most prevalent and take longer to heal. The skin seems to be more sensitive in these areas and risk being shaved again thus reopening the cut.
- Don’t shave over the cut until it has fully healed otherwise it will reopen the cut and you’re back to square one.
- Don’t scratch or pick at the cut as it increases the likelihood it reopens or gets infected.
How To Prevent Shaving Cuts
- Replace razors regularly and don’t keep them after they’ve become dulled. The razor will let you know when it’s dull and it become harder to shave and doesn’t shave as closely.
- More expensive disposables razors have indicators when they need to be replaced.
- Using an electric shaver will minimize shaving cuts if it’s a chronic problem.
- Shave with the grain. Don’t shave against the grain.
- Shave slowly in front of a mirror if needed.
- Choose a decent quality razor. Try different brands. Consider a Double Edge (DE) razor especially if you tend to get ingrown hairs.
- Buy a decent quality shaving cream. Canned shaving creams contain additives. Shaving cream from a tube is often more expensive but may offer better skin protection.
How To Prevent Shaving Cuts From Bleeding
- A daub of Vaseline on a small cut (just like cornermen in boxing use) will help to stop a small cut. You can also use a clean daub of lip balm in place of petroleum jelly.
- A warm, clean, damp cloth applied to the cut for several minutes will help to stop bleeding.
- Use a bandaid where appropriate on areas that won’t stop bleeding and if time is of the essence (ie. you’re late for school, work, etc). I once used a bandaid for 2 days when I accidentally sliced the top of my right ear while shaving my head.
- Not all shaving cuts will bleed. Some neck cuts will get red and clot quickly. Avoid shaving these areas until they’ve healed.
How To Prevent Shaving Cuts From Scarring
- Stop shaving in that area until the cut is healed. Otherwise the cut will reopen and possibly enlarge.
- Don’t scratch or pick at the cut.
- Avoid aftershave and cologne as it makes a cut sting and might cause you to scratch the area as a result.
- Consider use of a scar cream if you’re concerned about leaving a permanent scar.
My Two Worst Shaving Cuts
About 2 Inches Under My Left Eye
One of the dumbest things I’ve ever done. I was shaving while getting ready for high school graduation that evening. I applied shaving cream to my face as usual and accidentally got some shaving cream high on my left cheek just underneath my eye. It’s a spot I don’t need to shave. Rather than wiping the shaving cream off like a normal person would, I shaved it off.
I literally took a small piece of skin off my face and immediately started bleeding. The cut was about 0.25 inch in diameter so it was big.
To this day, I have no idea why I did this.
This was 1989. There was no Internet for me to search “how long do shaving cuts take to heal” otherwise I’d have been Googling it like crazy.
It took me some time to get the blood to stop. I used a combination of applying pressure to stop the bleeding and eventually used a bandaid for a few hours just to keep it from bleeding again.
I have a graduation picture standing next to our school principal with a developing scab underneath my left eye as a result. Fortunately it healed and I have no lasting scar.
The Top Tip of My Right Ear
Another dumb shaving injury that could have been avoided. I was shaving my head in the shower and as I shaved above my right ear, I nicked the tip of the ear and I knew right away I’d cut it. I could just feel it.
Then I saw a drop of blood on my razor and shower floor and that confirmed it.
Being an extremity, the ear bleeds quite consistently if not a lot. In other words, what it lacks in volume of blood, it makes up for in a slow, steady, long bleed.
This time I actually needed a bandaid to stop the bleeding. Again, I was left with no scar so I was lucky.
Conclusion
- How long do shaving cuts take to heal? At least 3 days and probably longer if it’s a larger cut in a sensitive area like your neck which is a common location for cuts.
- Stop the cut from bleeding by applying pressure from a clean, warm, damp cloth. Vaseline, lip balm and other products from a clean source daubed on the cut will help it to clot.
- Don’t scratch or pick at the cut and avoid aftershave or anything else that will make the cut sting, increasing the likelihood you will scratch it.
- Minimize the chance of razor cuts by using fresh blades changed regularly along with a good quality shaving cream.
- Consider a Double Edge (DE) razor or electric shaver if shaving cuts are a chronic problem.
How long do shaving cuts take to heal in your experience? Let us know in the comments below!