Intro and First try. :)

I am a forty-something that has been interesting in giving the art of manly shaving a try for a while.

I bought a Sight-Unseen razor, Poor Man's Strop kit, Badger Brush, Soap sample, Safety Razor (for backup) etc. from WhippedDog.

Broke everything out for the first time last night. Been reading, watching vids, etc...

After shower I prepped and lathered. I took the straight in my left (dominant) hand and lightly shaved a small patch on the left side of my face in the sideburn area all the way down to my neck without any drama.

Tried the same area on the right with my right hand. I was remarkably uneasy on this side, and only touched a tiny area before chickening out.

I figured that was enough for the first night and finished up a nice close shave with the safety razor, cleaned up my stuff and called it good.

The whipped dog stuff was remarkably inexpensive and seems to be adequate to the tasks.

Is it normal/OK to shave with a straight in one hand only, or is there some unseen pitfall that may result in me slashing my throat if I try?

Richard

It would be worth it to use both hands if possible as it can get hard to see whats going on with one hand on the opposite side, that being said there are quite a few on here that only use one hand. You can practice by lathering up and using a dull razor shaped object with the weak side hand to get some muscle memory.

I am by no means an expert. But I believe that your less likely to slash your throat if you are confident with what your doing. Personally I did my first dozen or so shaves with only my dominant hand. And have slowly worked in my non Dom hand. I know this isn't what's preached here but I believe the technique that works best is the technique you're most comfortable with. Stick with it. It's worth it

Welcome to SRP! Think of this way, you have the rest of your life to practice shaving using both hands. It definitely takes time to get used to using your non-dominant hand. Take it slowly and it will come. :)

Hello, and welcome to the SRP forum. Yes it is quite normal to shake with your weak. hand. Just keep at it and it will come around, and only shave what you are comfortable with on your weak hand, and you will find you will be covering more area with each shave. Take it slow an enjoy the journey !!

You should do what is comfortable for you.
I learned with two hands and got better shaves from my non dominant hand starting out.
Then I had to go back and learn to do it all with one hand as I picked up a Kamisori and wanted to do it right/traditional like.

Many here use one hand, many use both.

Relax and enjoy!

Hi and welcome. I tried using both hands to start but gave up and just went one handed. Lately now I'm more proficient I've started trying again and found it easier this time. Really it is personal preference and what works for you.

G'day and welcome to SRP :)....Speedster, Walter,eddy79, Pfries and the rest of the gents have made excellent observations.
Take it easy, don't rush, be comfortable and find your own personal "groove".

As a matter of interest, what type of straight did you get from Whipped Dog ?
When starting out, I found a round point razor best and the least likely to cut my face !!
Attachment 165445

I have been shaving with the one hand for almost 3 years now, the main issue in my case with shaving with one hand is the first with the grain pass on the opposite cheek. (your right cheek in your case since you are a lefty) it is hard to get it as smooth.

With that being said, when you re-lather and take your second across the grain pass. It will all even out to be about the same on both cheeks.

I recently tried shaving with my left hand for that cheek and I must say, I got much better results from that first pass so I am slowly incorporating it now into my shave. I dont regret learning with one hand to begin with and then trying the left hand, I know a lot more about angles and pressure now so its kind of a safer approach.

Thanks for the encouragement!

I think I will be able to use both hands eventually with practice.

As for the razor from WhippedDog, I will take a photo of it tonight.

I was very pleased with the three pass shave with safety razor and Bald Frog Soap. I will be very excited when I get to do more with the straight.

Never used anything except cartridge/disposable razors in my life. Always been an against the grain guy, so I am used to a pretty close shaves. The result with the safety was more luxuriously close than I expected and feels very nice. No irritation or blood, but since I am cheating by working on a mustache/goatee at present, I did not have to do the hard parts ;)

I've had barber shaves (shavette) a couple of times with mixed results (not close enough or missed spots).

Welcome to the fun adventure.

We have all struggled initially. Others have already said what I believe, which is get comfortable , slowly. It will all come together eventually.

I have been at it almost a year, and I still finish with a DE...partially for my own education and entertainment (if I hear whiskers cut with the DE, I need to pay closer attention to that area with the SR the next time) and partially because I haven't figured out a few areas yet (mustache area, point of chin).

You have a great beginning, typical of what many of us experienced.

I think you're gonna love it. Great start.

Practice non-dom hand in the mirror with a plastic- or butter knife. It get easy faster than you'd think. This from earlier in the week: http://straightrazorpalace.com/shavi...hands-one.html

Whipped Dog items!

Attachment 165489

Razor is a Hartford Cutlery item with "Extra Hollow Ground" engraved on blade. It appears to be a well worn square type with the sharp corners well rounded.

Greetings and welcome to SRP - fellow Texan...
As others have said, you do what works for you. (we try very hard not to be judgmental here at SRP)

Just learning how to use a Straight razor takes some time - and it seems to come in steps for many of us, picking up a new level or pass every 5-10 shaves. It will be easier if you can work with both hands. Just as you can't do everything with your non-dominate hand that you do with your dominant, but you can do a lot of things, it seems to be the same for many with shaving. Much of the process is "muscle memory" and since its all new, why not try to bring both hands along at the same time (as you feel comfortable...)

One of my older Barber friends told me that in Barber school they learned working with shaving cream on a ballon. Let us know how that works if you try it, suggest you do it outside wearing something you can hose off.

And you don't have to do everything with the non-dominant hand. There may be only one pass/area/stroke that you can do in the beginning, but this is a one step at a time process.

We start off and we watch those youtube segments and cringe and say to ourselves "I will never be able to do that move" - and then one day you will be shaving and have to stop and have a moment to yourself, realizing that you did just make a pass from your Adams apple to the bottom of your lower lip and there are no parts on the counter...

It is one of those things that you get out of it what you put in to it, and you seem to be on the right path.

Smooth Shaving...

Had another go at it last night. Did not prep well, but at least I managed to touch the most of my face with the straight WTG. Did not really get very close and finished with the DE. With the abbreviated prep, the DE shave was pretty dicey.

Gonna do a full prep (shower, lather, hot towel, lather) tonight and have another go.

We are behind you,
Slow and steady will get you to the finish line.

Relax and enjoy!

Just got it done! Did a full three pass with the Straight! Minimal blood from a bump or two (same as with the DE).

My lather was a little too watery. I forgot to empty the brush before starting to work it up.

Needs some work on the funny grain under the neck, but overall pretty satisfied.

Still cheating with the mustache and goatee though.

Smells like success to me!
Great to hear keep at it, it only gets better!

:tu

Got a couple more shaves down.

Did the full three passes tonight with good results.

I had downloaded Larry Andro of Whipped Dog's beginners guide. After reading his advice and reasoning behind getting a proper WTG pass being he key to minimizing razor burn from the other passes, I took more time/care to ensure the WTG pass was smooth and thorough before moving on. Big difference in the confort and productivity of the final passes.

Richard

Here I am just over a month into the experience.

I have not touched a disposable at all since the day my SR arrived. I have only picked up the DE twice. Once in the beginning and again a week ago when I wanted to compare my SR shaves to the DE shave.

I am doing all three passes using both hands and have had only two or three nicks and some weepers along the way. Still growing the goatee, so no experience on the chin or lip yet.

My razor seems to be holding up to the noob abuse that I have subjected it to. My stop technique must not be too bad. I have been to the pasted balsa strop with it twice and that seemed to refresh the edge.

I am thinking it is time to acquire another razor or two (or ten..:idea:)

If youre feeling real adventurous you could try doing a restore and shaving with something you personally resurrected.

Way to go ! I am a lefty myself. I've been at it a little over a month and starting to get nice shaves most times with no nicks. And acquiring razors even has a name. RAD (razor acquisition disorder)
I must have it as I have ten shave ready razors, not to mention 3 strops and 5 hones and 5 razors I'm going to try restoring. (Sitting here writing this I have a brand new bench drill press in the back bought just to drill out pins) lol

Yikes! You got it bad...

I think the honing and restoration will certainly come to me eventually. I am certainly hooked on the experience, but for now I am content to just get a nice therapeutic shave.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by leftyonly

Yikes! You got it bad...

I think the honing and restoration will certainly come to me eventually. I am certainly hooked on the experience, but for now I am content to just get a nice therapeutic shave.

---

it creeps up on you quickly.

It is a different kind of adventure. The shaving part actually does just seem to happen. It an eye-hand-skin feel thing!!
The honing to shave ready I find isn't as easy[emoji33]

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by nodakjohns

Way to go ! I am a lefty myself. I've been at it a little over a month and starting to get nice shaves most times with no nicks. And acquiring razors even has a name. RAD (razor acquisition disorder)
I must have it as I have ten shave ready razors, not to mention 3 strops and 5 hones and 5 razors I'm going to try restoring. (Sitting here writing this I have a brand new bench drill press in the back bought just to drill out pins) lol

---

+1
This is one trip that has many ups, downs, and a few surprise twists..."OUCH"...along the way but once started you must go all the way! So says the little voice in my head. Resistance is futile. Not quite to the point of wanting to restore or change scales, but tomorrow is comin.