I Cut Myself Shaving And It Won’t Stop Bleeding

What should you do if you cut yourself shaving it won’t stop bleeding?

I’m specifically talking about cutting your face or head while shaving. I’ve got experience with both so I can offer some personal anecdotes plus suggestions as to how to stop the bleeding.

In the old days, you’d grab a bit of tissue or toilet paper and stick it on the cut(s) and wait for the clotting to begin. These days you have more effective options.

Aftershave

Aftershaves contain alcohol which act as an astringent to quickly tighten the skin and shrink pores. Depending on the size and location of the cut, an aftershave can at least help to slow the bleeding if not stop it.

If you’ve ever used the old standbys from a bygone era like Aqua Velva, Brut or Skin Bracer, you know the feeling of splashing it (literally) on your face after shaving. That slightly stinging feeling on your skin for a few seconds…the scent didn’t last all that long though. The point of aftershave is to quickly tighten the skin which can help with cuts.

Some aftershaves also contain an antiseptic which helps to prevent cuts from becoming infected. Some brands also contain a menthol or other ingredient to soothe the skin.

So while a cologne is used for the nice scent, an aftershave is used for its practical purposes to help your skin after shaving. Ergo the name aftershave.

Ice

Cold water or an ice cube applied directly to a cut helps to constrict blood flow. Have you ever watched a boxing or MMA fight and seen the cut man press a small metal object to the fighter’s face, often to the eye or cheeks area? It’s called Enswell, a small piece of hard metal usually left in the ice bucket (ie. it’s cold) that when pressed to a fighter’s face, will help to reduce swelling in between rounds.

Other Items You Might Have At Home

Powder deodorant (with aluminum chloride), Vaseline (just like boxing cutmen) and lip balm may all help to stop bleeding. Men often try these and other solutions at home when they cut themselves and are in a pinch.

There are also commercially made products like a Styptic Pencil which is made of mineral astringents and usually comes in a stick form similar to a Chapstick. You apply the pencil to the cut to stop it from bleeding.

And if none of these items are handy and assuming it’s possible, a bandaid can stop the bleeding usually within a few minutes. Whether or not you keep the bandaid on after the bleeding stops is another question.

How Long Do Shaving Cuts Take To Heal? — Some areas are more likely to be cut than others.

Problem Areas To Watch Out For

Cuts On Your Face And Neck

Typically, guys cut themselves on the neck while shaving particularly around the throat. Above the lip and directly below the earlobe are also common trouble areas. Be very careful when shaving these areas. Shave slowly and in the direction of hair growth particularly if you have sensitive skin and/or tend to cut yourself.

I find that cutting my Adam’s Apple is the number one place I cut myself while shaving these days. It’s a nuisance more than anything else because of the mess a cut makes on the collar of a nice shirt. I typically daub some vaseline on the cut and wait for it to clot.

Cuts On Your Head

Many times I don’t even realize I’ve cut my head while shaving. When I cut my head, it tends to be on the back of the head near the base of the skull where the head and neck meet. I occasionally feel a slight nick and know I’ve cut it. Other times I see a bit of red on my bath towel and realize I cut myself.

I occasionally cut the side of my head but not as frequently as the base of the skull area.

Normally for the back of my head, I do nothing. I can’t even see the cut without a mirror and usually find the cut is small enough that it stops on it own. Then I have to avoid shaving that area for at least a few days or longer until it heals. You don’t want to reopen a cut as it’ll bleed again and take longer to heal.

Lose the bandaid! How to avoid cutting yourself shaving.

Tips To Avoid Cutting Yourself While Shaving

Use a fresh razor blade. Replace blades before they dull.
Especially with new blades, don’t press too hard on your skin. Sharp blade + too much pressure = greater chance of cutting yourself.

Shave after a shower ideally. The warm water and steam soften your whiskers and skin.
Look at using a pre-shave and/or post-shave lotion. A pre-shave lotion helps to soothe and moisturize the skin before shaving. A post-shave lotion repairs the skin after the shave.
Shave in the direction of hair growth ie. with the grain. Shaving in the opposite direction of hair growth (against the grain) increases the chance of cuts.

When you cut yourself, avoid shaving that same area until it has fully healed. This might take several days or more depending on the size and where the cut is located.
If you cut yourself frequently when shaving, consider shaving the night before instead of in the morning. There are a few benefits to doing this.
Use an electric shaver. With an electric shaver you’re less likely to cut yourself.

Conclusion

Aftershave and ice applied directly to your skin can help to quickly stop a cut.
Some guys apply powder deodorant, Vaseline or lip balm directly to a cut to stem the bleeding.
A Styptic Pencil is a commercially available product used to stop shaving cuts.

Be careful when shaving problem areas like your throat around the Adam’s Apple, above the lip, under the ear and back of the head/neck areas. These areas are easy to cut.
Improving your shaving habits like the suggestions mentioned above can reduce the chance you cut yourself in the first place.

Rather than yelling “I cut myself shaving and it won’t stop bleeding” what do you do? Let us know in the comments below!