Thread: My 1st stright razor shave (ouch)

Originally Posted by Chugach68

I only use my dominant hand, I know the purists will say use both but I am too uncoordinated with my left, and I don't want to bleed out while I learn.

I hope you took more from that link than just learning to use both hands..............

By all accounts I'm a full fledged newbie; just over a month shaving with a SR.
This month's Beginner's Tip is dead on- Slow Down.
What seemed impossible a month ago is now very do-able.
I'm embarrassed by what I used to classify as a good shave with a SR early on against what I know now. I can't help but wonder what I'll think is a good shave in another month...another year. That definition will change as proficiency increases.

Along those same lines and more in-line with the topic, non-dominant hand is VERY do-able. Lot's of suggestions as how to increase proficiency here on the site (one being as simple of brush your teeth with your non-dominant hand...it works).

Like they say in Jumpmaster School: Slow is Smooth, Smooth is Fast.

Good luck and Enjoy.

Greetings Jim,
Only 4 cuts? My first SR shave...
face looked like I ran through a barbed wire fence.
That was using both hands. Even after a few shaves,
I still felt like the shakiest gun in the west.
You would be surprised how fast that weak hand
Joins the club. Don't know if you DE shave, but you
could practice using both hands there.
These days the only time I use oil is when there is
time for a Leisurely shave. Pretty much, I'll apply oil
for first pass. After that everything goes smoothly.
Pre shave prep. is very important.
Good luck&hang in there.

quality gear, face prep, lather, stropping, and technique are only a few of the dimensions of SR shaving. All are equally important.

interestingly, i find i can shave better with my non-dominant hand, with which i can do nothing else, than i can with my dominant hand....maybe caution, maybe touch, maybe vision in the mirror....not sure.

Originally Posted by JimW

Normally I would agree 1 time is not enough data to make a call 1 way or another. However, I did a ton of reading and youtube watching and agree both hands would be better but when I actually tried it I found out a problem I had and was not a wear of. About 25 years ago I had a shop accident that mangled my middle finger and when I try to hold the razor with my 2 fingers infront of the pivot on the spline I dont have good enough control on the angle and I dont think i will ever get there. My thoughts are master the 1 handed way and maybe a few years from now try both hands again. For now I'm a 1 handed lefty so be it.
Also to everyone out there that has posted how too and what nots awesome work guys it has all been super helpful.

Sorry to hear about your accident. I never ever hold my razor with two fingers on the tang in front of the pivot, I always hold it with one finger to the front of the scales and one to the rear. Of course, this won't solve your problem

@JimW,

Hang in there. I just had my 8th shave and it was a DFS(Damn Fine Shave). *And* I successfully used my left(weak) hand without a thought.

I'm obviously new, but I've had a fair share of issues to work through. Just keep on reading, asking and practicing Oh, and the most important, keep LISTENING!

Welcome.

If you have physical limitations then this will be similar to any other "new way to do it" task. Using only one hand is no sweat. I use my dominate hand for about 80% of my face. You'll figure it out just keep trying.