Single Hand Straight Razor Shaving

I have progressed on my straight razor shaving to the point where I'm shaving both cheeks and partially down the neck below the cheeks. No problems, except that I don't feel that I have any control of the razor with my left hand so I've been doing all the shaving with my right hand. It feels right for me and I feel in control. Any problems in my future being a right hand only shaver? I was also wondering about a "practice" straight razor. I've looked at a lot of videos and read a lot of articles on straight razor shaving. No one has ever talked about using a "dull" straight razor for practice and get some of the razor handling into muscle memory. Is there a reason there isn't a "practice razor" for newbies? Thanks in advance for any guidance.

RBFH1

Well the reason you feel that way is muscle memory. Now I take it that you are a right hander? That is the reason you are so unsteady. Now to be honest with you, as someone who is well versed in psychology, your best learning tool will be your razor in your non-dominant hand. You will be evenore cautious about cutting yourself that youay very well come out with a clean shave. It just takes practice. Now the issue with the "practice razor" is that you will never learn the angle that you need to hold the razor to actually shave unless you do it.

I used a plastic knife from Bojangles to practice stropping and shaving with the non dominant hand.

each to his or her own. I'm a right hand shaver only myself. it just seems to work better for me. now I have known people who could write with either hand use a knife and fork with either hand but some of us don't. now i'm not saying I can't use my left for some things but when it comes to a sharp object next to my face not in this lifetime. I shoot a pistol, drive, turn wrenches (i'm a retired mechanic and welder) and type with either hand. . For those of you that shave with both hands my hats off to you but as the man said MANS GOT TO KNOW HIS LIMITAIONS also each person should progress at there on speed

Right hander only here.

Yes there are some "creative" ways I have to hold the razor to get to certain spots, but it works pretty good for me.

Single handed is not a problem at all. If it feels comfortable and you get good results why change. As for a practice razor I've recommended this to a bunch of new shavers. I did it myself and still occasionally pull it out to try a movement I've read about. You can definitely learn a lot this way and you can easily monitor your angles. I just picked up a Gold Dollar off fleabay and dulled the edge.

I had the same trepidation about using my non dominate hand which would be my left hand. I took it easy and eventually got comfortable with using both hands to shave with. The only pass I do entirely with my right hand is the ATG pass for some reason. That said, if you can do all the passes using one hand and are comfortable with it then why not. There is no law that says you must use both hands and I am sure everyone does not shave exactly the same way. Take it easy and figure out what works for you.

Bob

Like Chevhead, I learned one handed and have developed a "flow" and habit patterns that work for me just fine.

the only problem with using one hand is.....sometimes when crossing over to shave the left side of your face, your view of the mirror could be blocked by your forearm.

Now the practice razor thing is good in theory but you could practice with a butter knife and achieve the same result.

I'm leftie,

I use both hands to shave, I did try to use a shavette with the blade removed to practice but it didn't really help. My right hand still isn't as good as my left in my opinion however my face gets shaved equally well on both sides.

I used struggle looking in the mirror when using my right hand, but now I have changed the angle at which I look, I tilt my head down and slightly sideways to see as I start and change position as I need to. It's become second nature but it sure isn't symmetrical in position for the shave compared to when shaving the other side of my face.

I guess I have accepted that i'm left handed and my brain and hand work better that way, however I feel confident to shave and shave well with my right hand though my brain says this is odd… which of course it is to my left sided brain…..

Learning to to use both isn't hard

I am, for most purposes, incapable with my left (off) hand, but have learned since I have tried and documented elsewhere in the forum that I seem to be more cautious and sensitive to angle and pressure than I am with my right (dominant) hand. I think it's because my dominant hand is so much stronger than my left. I was a framing carpenter before pneumatic nail guns & used a 20 ounce hammer.

Anyway, I'd suggest experimenting carefully. Lynn's videos are especially helpful, as are other folks' videos.

Keep working at it!

I'm fine with two hands now, could do everything no problem except the ATG pass on my right hand neck area with my left hand, I had to actively practice with that area to get to the point where I could do it comfortably. But it's true, with practice, you'll eventually get the hang of it.

Here's what i did and recommend:

Try it. Brains are "wired" differently.

If it works for you great, then you can use "mirrored" left and right strokes.

If not, well then you have another set of challenges in developing the strokes that don't block your vision. I only have one place where it's a problem and i tilt my head to look over or under the blade to get that area. Sucks sometimes to find a really good stroke for one side but can't replicate it on the other because you only use one hand.

For me, i'm wired One Hand for Shiftin' The Other to Steer.

Trade-offs. there'll be more. :hmmm:

I'm still a beginner and when I first started I thought there would be no way I'd use my off hand for more than a cheek stroke. Little by little, with no real conscious effort, I'm using my off hand almost 50% of the time now. It just snuck up on me, the coordination building slowly over time. Just do what's easiest for you and let things develop as they might.

As Hart said. I am also a beginner. Waitting on my blade to show up at my house I was sweating bullets thinking about how I was going to do my left side. I am around the 25 shaves mark now and my left hand is my better angle and smooth hand. Before I ever picked up a straight, my left hand was only a phone holder. You will get it.:D

Been using my right hand only for the past 4 or so years, works fine for me! I can swap to the left and shave OK although i find its just easier and more comfortable to stay with the right

It doesn't matter how you get the best results, all that matters is you feel you're getting the best results. If you feel that you could be doing something better then try changing to make it the best. if not, stick with what feels right.

I decided that I would use both hands from the beginning. I had a commitment to traditional shaving and knew that the slices in my flesh (mostly with a shavette) really shortened up the learning curve. One of my worst 'cuts' was more of a sushi chef removal of a super thing piece of my face that I cold have laid over some seasoned rice. Now after a year (?) of regular straight shaving only the Across the Grain, off hand, yanking my right ear out to stretch my Gumby face still causes me to take an extra moment to fix the angle before proceeding.
Having babbled all that, do what works for you, you can always modify if not outright change the process later. Never forget how lucky you are to discover this righteous pursuit and this community of enthusiasts that cover a broad spectrum and are always willing to lend a hand so to speak.

I am also a right hander, and was having the same thoughts about using my left hand with a sharp razor! The key is just starting slow and building a familiarity in your left hand. I had the best luck by just going slow and only doing parts of my face that I felt comfortable doing, mainly just the side burns. I am still by all means a newbie, but I am able to comfortable use my left hand on my entire face and neck when needed. Just keep practicing, even if its only a little at a time.

I use just my right hand. I have tried using both but just never felt comfortable that way.

Right hand only as left arm is paralysed. I have no problems.

My major problem isn't deciding which hand to shave with, it's deciding which part of my face should I use my left or right hand on. And the choices are interchangeable. Some days one or the other hand is the better for that particular area. I guess I am still working on getting the best shave possible each day. It would be so much simpler if it took both hands at the same time to shave. Both hand are interchangeable except for writing. Stuck with the right hand only for that, but working on it.

Yes my thoughts exactly when I first started but if you are able to use both hands it gives you more options.
It took about 4 shaves to start to move the blade with confidence in my left hand. Now I shave that side first and the rest just seems to flow.
Having said that it's not a competition it's learning an art to enjoy so just do what feels good for you.

I'm right handed and a bit over a year into shaving with a straight razor. I just can't get comfortable shaving with my left hand. It is kind of strange that I can't as due to a lazy eye I have shot pistols left handed for years. I'm satisfied with the shave on both sides doing it right hand only, so I'm not that concerned.

Thanks, good info here.

I'm left handed but shave with both. I made a decision to do that from the beginning. Right handed used to be difficult, but it came together pretty quickly. I say give it a go for at least 10 shaves before giving up. It's much easier for me to use two hands than one.

Lefty here. I use both hands. I think it's whatever works for you, but I also think you have more options if you can train the non-dominant hand.
I'm still unable at this point to shave my neck with my right hand. The way the hair grows I need to, but something just hasn't clicked even after 3-4 years... been an ongoing issue I haven't been unable to resolve.

The way I see it is you're either awkwardly doing something with your non-dominant hand, or you're doing something extra awkward with your dominant hand.

Either way it's going to feel weird starting out so why not do it right in the first place?

You guys are daredevils :D

Yeah my Hollywood face has never been at risk from my left hand holding the sharpest steel known to mankind :rofl2:

32+ years never even tried it, not one time, never even held the razor to my cheek with my left hand....

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gssixgun

You guys are daredevils :D

Yeah my Hollywood face has never been at risk from my left hand holding the sharpest steel known to mankind :rofl2:

32+ years never even tried it, not one time, never even held the razor to my cheek with my left hand....

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+1...Ditto...Couldn't agree more! I could no more shave left handed than I could shoot with accuracy with my left hand. My left hand does fine as a 'skin stretcher' and as a 'sand bag' rest for my shooting hand...but that's the extent of it.

You ambidextrous boys have my respect!

WP34

I find that by using both hands, I have to make far less contortions to get at the different parts of my face. At first, my left hand would shake, as I was so nervous. After maybe 10 shaves, my left was just as dexterous as my right.

Another reason to use both hands is passing that blade in front of your face while shaving...I once heard that referred to as the, "fools pass", or maybe it was under the heading, "how to slice the tip of your nose off in one easy movement"...:D

It's amazing how quick the muscle memory sets in when faced with a razor.

I'll bet you could start by brushing your teeth with the off hand, combing hair, stirring coffee, eating with a spoon…just a few days to build some neuron pathways.

I'm still a beginner so I usually use only my right hand for most of my shave and it seems to work fine. Using the left only seems to help on the neck area as there are some weird angles you have to reach to really go XTG.

As far as practicing, I've heard quite a few people suggest just using a butter knife like a razor to practice pressure and holding angles, and I'm sure it might come in handy just to at least get you confident that when a real blade is placed in your left hand, it won't get a mind of its own and just start whackin' away at your face or something...

Hope this helps...

I began practicing with my left hand with my cartridge razor and that really helped me get comfortable using my left hand on my face.