Nicked Yourself Shaving? 5 Fast Fixes
There are several rites of passage for tween/teen girls that leave a lasting impression. Among them? Getting your period, popping your first pimple, and your maiden leg-shaving voyage.
For me, shaving my legs was the most monumental. Not because it signified that I was growing up, or because I was particularly stoked to be freed of the fuzz. Nope, for me, shaving for the first time was memorable because, at the tender age of 9, I grabbed the razor my mom left beside the sink and, in a half trembling/half spastic hand, raked it over my dry shin. I still have the three-inch scar to show for it.
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Happily, I wasn't so traumatized that I never shaved my legs again. In fact, I quite like the ritual (I find it oddly soothing, is that weird?) and have never used any other means of hair removal. Don't get me wrong, I've yet to master the art and, from time to time, still manage to nick myself and bleed like a Carrie on prom night. What is it about leg wounds -- particularly around the Achilles -- that make them gush so much?
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Of course, it's one thing to be a kid and have your shin covered in first-time-with-a-razor-bandages. It's another thing altogether to be a grown woman branded with telltale Scarlet tissue paper. That's why I pumped every last one of my beauty industry contacts for the best ways to stop those bloody nicks in their tracks. Here, as a gift to you and all my fellow blade-wielding females, are the 5 most effective methods:
No. 1: Use lip balm
Yep, you read that right. The lip balm's waxy texture seals your skin to allow a blood clot to form -- which then stops the bleeding. You can also use Vaseline, which will seal the nick instantly. (And if this tip is reminding you about your hunt for the best balm, check out the 14 best and worst lip balms here.)
No. 2: Grab your deodorant
Antiperspirants' primary ingredient is aluminum chloride or a derivative of it, which clogs your skin's glands to prevent sweating. Similarly, aluminum chloride works as a hemostatic agent, allowing a blood clot to form, according to Dr. Jeffrey Benabio, author of "The Dermatology Blog." All you have to do is swipe a bit of your antiperspirant onto a cotton swab and apply it onto your cut. (Are you using the best deodorant/antiperspirant? See our roundup of the 14 best and worst ones here.)
No. 3: Sprinkle on some sugar
Sugar is a natural disinfectant and will kill any bacteria that may be lingering in your wound. Sprinkle a pinch of sugar into the cut and apply pressure on it for a few minutes to help stop the bleeding. You can also use cayenne pepper or black pepper, but expect a slight sting.
No. 4: Dissolve an aspirin
Dissolve a tablet of aspirin in a glass of water. Then dip a Q-tip into the solution and swab it onto your cut. The dissolved painkiller will soothe your skin that's been irritated by the razor.
No. 5: Get an ice cube
Grab an ice cube from your freezer and press it against your cut. The blood vessels will constrict from the cold, which will cause your blood flow to slow down and eventually form a clot. And check out the other beauty emergency you can fix with an ice cube here.
More from TotalBeauty.com:
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The Busy Gal's Guide to Skin Care
