"Wrong-handed" shaving -- terminally right-handed

I'm still a noob, but wanted to add this info for others like me.

I have NEVER been able to do ANYTHING with my left hand. However, after watching a few shaving videos, I figured I ought to give my left hand a try with my SR. Amazingly, I got a better shave with my left hand on the left side of my face and neck than with my right (dominant) hand. On reflection, I think it's because with my left I'm more careful and attuned to pressure, while with my dominant right hand, I'm more inclined to "bear down" and use too much pressure. With my left (off) hand I'm much more gentle.

It amazes me!

I shave only using the left hand.. Iuse my left for eating, writing,winding eatches and all fine tune wwork. My right hand is for throwing, shooting, bow and all heavy work... I dont know what is wrong with me? It just works for me, people think its a little wierd because they cant label me a righty, or lefty.

This has come up before and I think you're spot on. With a bit of proficiency the non-dominant hand does tend to do well, likely due to the reasons listed above.

I believe you are correct sir. I've thought of this many times myself as I always find the areas of my face shaven with my left hand are much smoother. I, like you have attributed it to less pressure from the non dominant hand.

Yea, it is pretty amazing. I found the same thing when starting out and came to the same conclusion you did.

Bob

A good experiment here. Left handed people are way more ambidextrous because we have to use our right hands more to adapt to a right handed world. So, do left handed people get that same result or do both sides of the face have equal results? For me I see no difference from side to side whether I use my right or left.

This is interesting to me. I am a dominant lefty with a neck injury that permanently injured my right hand and arm; for 30-years I've been absent a few muscles that make fine motor control in my right hand and wrist difficult. After deciding one-handed shaving was too dangerous I started plastic-knife practicing with both hands. A week later and I'm already comfortable using both hands (with a razor). I wouldn't have thought it... If I can, anyone can. Butterknife for a week. :D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MisterMoo

This is interesting to me. I am a dominant lefty with a neck injury that permanently injured my right hand and arm; for 30-years I've been absent a few muscles that make fine motor control in my right hand and wrist difficult. After deciding one-handed shaving was too dangerous I started plastic-knife practicing with both hands. A week later and I'm already comfortable using both hands (with a razor). I wouldn't have thought it... If I can, anyone can. Butterknife for a week. :D

---

Man I should try a butter knife with the left hand cause I am a rightly and I can't sharpen hone strop or shave with my left hand.
I just find it impossible for me to sharpen up a knife one up stroke each side of the knife always switching hands.

Even though I am right handed, I have most of my cuts on the right side of my face where I was using my right hand! I do get a closer shave there but the cuts happen much more often. There must be something to being even more careful when I am using my left. I need to be much more careful on my "easier" side to shave now I think...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Haroldg48

I'm still a noob, but wanted to add this info for others like me.

I have NEVER been able to do ANYTHING with my left hand. However, after watching a few shaving videos, I figured I ought to give my left hand a try with my SR. Amazingly, I got a better shave with my left hand on the left side of my face and neck than with my right (dominant) hand. On reflection, I think it's because with my left I'm more careful and attuned to pressure, while with my dominant right hand, I'm more inclined to "bear down" and use too much pressure. With my left (off) hand I'm much more gentle.

It amazes me!

---

I agree with everything you said.....in reverse. :rofl2:

Sincerely,

Lefty

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

A good experiment here. Left handed people are way more ambidextrous because we have to use our right hands more to adapt to a right handed world. So, do left handed people get that same result or do both sides of the face have equal results? For me I see no difference from side to side whether I use my right or left.

---

I am definately not ambidexterous, and I am a lefty, if I hold a razor in my right hand and look in the mirror I just get all confused, then nervous about angles and such, once I am more familiar with straight shaving I might give it a go though.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by edhewitt

I am definately not ambidexterous, and I am a lefty, if I hold a razor in my right hand and look in the mirror I just get all confused, then nervous about angles and such, once I am more familiar with straight shaving I might give it a go though.

---

I don't know what's right or wrong. I like to hear some very experienced old guys weigh in on this.

A qualified (and respected) old-school SR industry member coached me to make the effort to use both hands. His reasoning was, if you only use one hand you unnecessarily pass the razor by the front of your face many times per shave. Sooner or later you'll probably regret doing it, he says. He had a couple of old scars to back up his position.

(I too found right-handed shaving difficult at first; butterknife practice and some visualizing turned it around.)

Come to think of it... I hone with only the left hand also..

I found it helped to hold something in my dominate hand while shaving with the other hand, keeps it busy I guess. After a little while it won't matter which hand you use.