Thread: Switch hands?

Sometimes when I'm using my left hand I feel a bit like Dr Strangelove fighting with his unruly, gloved hand but since I only really need it for the upwards, with the grain stroke on one side of my neck it's all over and done with quite quickly.

For myself, I am a left handed Shaver. This is my dominant hand for writing but I play sports and do everything else right handed (though shooting is left handed)

I mostly use just my left hand but I am wanting to try out my right hand in the next little. When I first started shaving I was trying out both but ended up just with my dominant hand.

Originally Posted by Jimbo

I think in the long run it's beneficial to be able to use both hands when shaving. Although there's nothing inherently wrong with one handed shaving, it can be cumbersome and awkward occasionally, particularly if you do against the grain or south to north passes. At least in my experience

James.

I agree with James. And you might as well learn to do it now before new habits/muscle memory forms and you have to re-train later. I don't even realize I'm using my "off" hand anymore.

Jordan

I'd give my left arm to be ambidextrous. I too hack myself up on the left side if I stay with just my right hand. It's pretty easy to teach the left hand, just take it slow and easy.

What a wonderful forum this is! Thank you all for your very helpful answers.

Michael

Question....

Now you do the right side of your face with your right hand and vice versa correct?

Originally Posted by IsaacRN

Question....

Now you do the right side of your face with your right hand and vice versa correct?

That is correct if you are wanting to follow the correct way with both hands.

One day....one day..

I started out trying to use my dominant hand exclusively, thinking that I would have more control. What I found out was that I couldn't get the correct blade angle on certain portions of my face and I was getting irritation and nicks in the same spots every time I shaved. Then I decided to try using the other hand on those spots and the irritation went away, and I rarely nick myself anymore. It took a couple dozen shaves to get used to it, but now I don't even think about it. It just sort of comes naturally. I don't, however, "mirror" my strokes, meaning I don't use the same strokes with one hand on one side of my face and then do the exact same strokes on the other side with the other hand. Instead, I use a slightly different set of grips and strokes on the right side of my face, where in a couple spots the whiskers grow in many different directions. The left side is a bit easier since the whiskers tend to grow in a more uniform direction, and I don't have to switch grips as much.

The bottom line is that even though it feels awkward at first, it generally works better for most of us if we learn how to switch hands.

I'm also just getting started, and was worried about using my left (non-dominant) hand. Strangely enough, I feel more in control with my left hand than my right.