Cuts and bleeding: first aid
A cut is a reason to stop shaving. Repeated injury is not a necessary part of learning. Small superficial cuts can often be cared for at home; deeper wounds or persistent bleeding need medical help.
Stop the bleeding first
- Put the razor down safely and wash your hands.
- Press a clean dressing or clean folded cloth firmly onto the area with sustained, uninterrupted pressure. Do not repeatedly lift it to check.
- If blood soaks through, add clean material on top and maintain pressure.
- Seek immediate medical help for heavy bleeding that you cannot control, and keep applying pressure.
If an object is embedded, do not remove it or press on it. Apply pressure beside it and seek medical help. Do not wait for a fixed time before getting help for uncontrollable or heavy bleeding.
Then clean and cover
Once bleeding has stopped, rinse a small cut with clean tap water. Gently clean the surrounding skin, pat it dry and protect the wound with a suitable clean plaster or dressing. Replace the covering if it becomes wet or dirty.
Keep alcohol-based aftershave, perfume and shaving soap away from an open wound. An alum or styptic stick may be used for tiny shaving nicks according to its instructions, but it does not replace pressure or wound care. Alum does not sterilize the skin and may sting or irritate. Ingredients vary between products.
When to seek medical help
- Bleeding continues despite sustained pressure, is very heavy or spurts.
- The wound is deep, gaping or close to a sensitive area such as the eye.
- There is numbness, an embedded object or difficulty moving the area.
- Redness, warmth, swelling, pain or pus increases; seek prompt help for fever.
- Seek advice earlier if you take blood-thinning medication or have a clotting disorder. Do not stop prescribed medication yourself.
A dirty or deeper wound may also require a tetanus vaccination check. For life-threatening bleeding, call your local emergency number; 112 is available throughout the EU.
Preventing further cuts
Short, controlled strokes, little pressure and a clear view of the area help more than hurried touch-ups. Avoid shaving over the wound until it has healed. Open blades require particular care and instruction; there is no guaranteed learning period or percentage reduction in risk.
Read more: Shaving technique, Shavettes and blade formats.
Editorial comparison with the sources below: 10 October 2026 ยท Editor: Rasurapp.