Did you know that the average man who shaves on a regular basis will spend around four months of their life doing so? In other words, we love our facial manscaping enough to invest a lot of time into it, as long as things go smoothly!
Unfortunately, there’s one common complaint that can ruin the effect of your daily ritual: shaving nicks.
These annoying wounds tend to bleed a lot, and it’s not always clear how to get a razor cut to stop bleeding. Short of pressing toilet paper onto the skin, what can you do to stop it? Let’s take a look at why these wounds bleed, how to stop them, and ways to prevent them in the future.
Why Cuts From Shaving Bleed So Much
First things first: why does even the tiniest nick from shaving seem to bleed for ages?
There are two main reasons for this. First, the skin on your face and neck contains a large amount of blood vessels near the surface. This means that even a minor cut can create a large amount of blood.
In addition, the razors we use to shave are designed to be very sharp. They create clean cuts that make it hard for platelets to coagulate. This, in turn, makes it harder for our skin to seal the wound.
How to Get a Razor Cut to Stop Bleeding
Knowing how to stop bleeding is a good idea before you start to shave! In general, the key is to apply pressure to the area.
You’ll want to use gauze, a compress, or another clean material. Use these to apply pressure for a few minutes before checking to see if the bleeding has stopped.
If you’re dealing with a serious cut from shaving, you likely have a few products on hand that can help. Here are a few tricks to help you staunch the bleeding:
Ice
Putting ice on any bleeding wound can help reduce swelling and pain. Grabbing an ice cube from your freezer can also cause the blood vessels in your skin to constrict. This can help keep blood from flowing to the surface of your skin.
Because ice can be tricky to apply, wrap an ice cube or two in gauze instead. Put pressure on these gauze-wrapped cubes to stop your bleeding.
Tea
If you have green or black tea in your home, you can use it to help. These types of tea are rich in tannins, which experts believe promote clotting. Tannins are also astringent, meaning they cause our tissues and blood vessels to constrict.
This trick works best if you have bags of tea rather than loose-leaf tea. Steep your tea for a few minutes and remove the bag.
Next, apply it against the cut for a few minutes. You can use loose gauze to hold it in place if the bag is still warm.
Witch-hazel Toner
Witch-hazel toner is a popular skin cleanser and anti-inflammatory agent. It’s also calming and astringent, which makes it great for stopping small nicks from bleeding.
Apply a small amount of witch-hazel toner to some clean gauze. Press the gauze against the wound until the blood has stopped.
How to Treat a Cut From Shaving
Once the bleeding has stopped, it’s time to learn how to clean a cut.
Start by using a clean towel to rinse the wound and the area around it. Be gentle so you don’t disturb the clotted blood.
Next, grab your first aid supplies.
You should always try to have simple products on hand for healing and disinfecting a cut. Witch-hazel can work in a pinch, but other over-the-counter options like Neosporin are better. These solutions can help your skin ward off infections and boost your healing.
Last, protect your skin from further harm.
If the nick is small enough, you can use an alum block if you have one for shaving. These mineral blocks can help with bleeding and inflammation. All you’ll do is massage your alum block over the nick.
If the wound is large enough, you’ll also want to bandage it. Pat the area clean and apply a sterile bandage to the skin.
How to Avoid Future Shaving Cuts
Minor cuts are common complaints after shaving. However, there are a few things you can do to minimize your risk of future nicks and cuts.
Prep Your Skin First
Before you break out the razor, prepare your skin with a warm wash. Use a facial scrub to remove dead skin, which can cause your razor to drag, and use a lubricating pre-shave oil to lay down a protective layer over your face. When you apply your shaving cream, use an upward motion to lift your facial hair off of the skin.
Grab the Right Razor
Dull razors are more likely to cause nicks and scratches. Instead, make sure you’re using a clean, sharp razor that offers a close shave no matter the direction you’re shaving in.
With a sharp razor, it’s even more important to make sure you’re not applying too much pressure to the skin.
Shave in the Right Direction
You can shave in two ways: in the direction your hair grows or against it.
If you shave in the direction your hair grows, you’ll get an easier and safer shave. If you shave against the grain, you may cause irritation and redness, and you’re also more likely to cut yourself on accident. However, many people prefer to go against the grain because it results in a closer shave.
One solution is to shave in the direction your hair grows and then do another shave against the grain. This can reduce your chances of cuts.
Get the Perfect Shave
The right shave can keep your face smooth, soft, and lubricated, but poor preparation or the wrong movements can wreak havoc on your skin! Make sure to avoid nicks and cuts and use the tips above to know how to get a razor cut to stop bleeding.