Is this common practice?
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Is this common practice?
If you got them uses them :) i have always used both hands and it works very well for me.
Shaving two-handed seemed kind of sketchy to me at first, but it becomes pretty natural after a few shaves. That's the case for most people, atleast.
I'm barely competent at doing ANYthing with my left hand, but I can damn sure shave with it.
Fido,
Using both hands feels most odd at first, but you soon get used to it :)
In fact when I used to use a DE when away on business it felt odd not using the left hand !
Best regards
Russ
I dont.
I use my right hand only and I do weird passes that work for me..!
I really had to train myself to use my left hand. For the first three to four weeks of shaving with a straight razor I used my right hand only, however I soon realised that I was compromising the quality of my shave by doing this and took measures to get my left hand used to holding a razor to my face. I would hold a razor in my left hand while I wasn't shaving, while I was watching TV, or browsing the internet and I would practice strokes with it nowhere near my face. After a few days of this I was able to do a few strokes with my left hand on my cheeks and sideburns before progressing to using my left hand on my neck. It's really made a difference for me and I now find I can get angles and strokes that I was unable to get with my right hand only. I know many people have managed to shave themselves just fine with one hand only and I have no doubt I could have adapted to doing this myself eventually, but I'm glad I trained myself to use my left hand while I was starting out with straight razor shaving.
It's whatever works for you.Some of us shaved one-handed,then learned the two-handed method,and eventually switched back to one.
I shave and hone with both hands. I am more steady and can keep the blade flat with even pressure when using both hands while honing.
bj
I have been using my both hands before starting straight shaving so it was obviously for me to shave with the left too. Naturally right handed.
I write with both hands and do martial arts training with both sides.
It's a fun and not be take too seriously.
A little article
As you can see, it is a mixed bag. The benefit of shaving 2 handed is that there are less types of grip/stroke combinations to learn-- whatever works for the left side of you head will work for the right side, with the other hand.
It was actually pretty easy to learn with my left when I started, because the whole act of shaving with a straight was new-- so my dominant hand really did not have much of an advantage. Probably the longer you wait, the harder it will be to learn.
Once you have the strokes down with confidence, then you can probably gravitate back to 1 hand if you wanted to...
-Chief
Some do some don't. I don't.
I only use my right hand. I have developed some 'workaround' techniques that allow me to get every area of my beard without using my left hand. Sometimes though, stretching my hand across my face makes it difficult to see what I'm doing.
I have noticed that I usually get a better shave on the left side of my face than on my right side, which is odd. I would've thought it would be the other way around, but apparently something in my technique works better when shaving from the opposing side. I've considered learning to shave with my left hand and trying to shave the right side of my face this way just to see if the theory proves true.
Many thanks for all these replies. As always I'll do what suits me. I'll give the two hands approach a try but not feel a failure if I revert to one hand. Not that 'failure' at this will bother me at my age!
You will thank yourself for training both hands to shave. One hand can get an angle advantage of the other hand and this comes in handy for a better shave in less time.
Also, you never know when one hand will get injured and all you have is your other hand to shave.
Good Luck,
Pabster
Scares me, but one hand is not enough. I feel that with the right hand (I am ambidextrous) will be more difficult for me. I usually do it with my left hand only.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fido
Regards
As i mentioned i use both hands but i find that the "offhand" (for me the right) shave a little closer and better than the dominant hand mainly because i take more care to make sure the angles are right because i do not really "trust" the right hand... BTW I've used a straight for around 30 years and shaving is automatic and does not really require a mirror anymore, for which i am thankful because my hideous aged appearance break common glass mirrors :)
Astonishing. I hope to have the half of your skills. Is 45 too late to start SR shaving?Quote:
Originally Posted by syslight
Regards.
Absolutely not, I started at 45. As to two hands or not two hands. As others have said, whatever works is good. For some reason, I'm two-handed WTG, and dominant (right) only against. At some point I'll give it a go again because it seem much more logical to use both but, so far so good, so what the hey?Quote:
Originally Posted by cristobal41
I use both hands -- one as much as the other. It was difficult at first, but I stayed with it and finally got the hang of it. The results were worth the effort. I highly recommend using both hands because I believe it results in a more uniform shave and a closer shave.
As long and you still need to shave and can safely hold a blade ... it is not too late to start.Quote:
Originally Posted by cristobal41
i wish i was good we have a member or two that are actually blind and yet shave with a straight razor, not i challenge i would like but at least more sensible than shaving your head with a straight you know who you are! :deadhorse:
I shave my head with a straight razor and when I do the back I close my eyes...Quote:
Originally Posted by syslight
Thanks for your opinions. I absolutely admire these people woh jump over adversity and do their best.Quote:
Originally Posted by syslight
Regards.
I hope not. I've started at 66.Quote:
Originally Posted by cristobal41
Mind you, perhaps with not much time left, having to step back from the comfort of DE shaving for a few weeks has tested my resolve. But I have not spent my life backing off from challenges because they involved some degree of difficulty. All keen sportsmen know that suffering precedes the promised land.
Hi, Fido,Quote:
Originally Posted by Fido
I declare my admiration for your attitude. Neither am I the one that steps back in the way to a challenge. I want to kee on straight (razor) ahead.
Regards.
Well, I started about 7-8 months ago at age 63. Proud to say I'm pretty good at it now but am still getting better. As a matter of fact, last night's shave was about the best I've had. I was even using one of the razors I consider a little unforgiving -- perhaps that was the key: I was extra careful!Quote:
Originally Posted by cristobal41
So as a 45-year old youngster you should have no problem.
On the original topic of this thread: I use both hands to shave. It is worth training your "off" hand to avoid the awkward positions needed to get one hand to reach everywhere with the correct angles.
Dear Bob,Quote:
Originally Posted by TexasBob
Makes me feel better and encourages me to face (no better word) to do it. Texan spirit, my friend.
At 63, as we say in Spain, you are in the bloom of your life. Say it is true.
Be well.
The eyes in the back of your head? :rofl2:Quote:
Originally Posted by dannywonderful