Thread: ambidexterity?

Hey folks - newbie here - struggling through what is apparently a lengthy learning curve...

I shave about 30% with a straight, and the rest with a M3. Not very effective with the straight yet, but I figure time spent will yield improvement.

I'm curious about the ambidexterity demonstrated on Lynn's DVD...
I've made my living playing the drums for 25 years and play ambidextrously - not perfectly the same with both hands, but I'm better with certain types of things right-handed and vice-versa... Not so with a straight razor!!

Any suggestions would be welcome.

Also - I read about a scuttle somewhere in the thousands of pages of information on this site (!) that was lauded by several other folks - it looked to be hand-made - and people were referring to it by it's brand name... "I'm hoping to get a *&^%$#$& for Christmas..."
It wasn't ridiculously expensive.
I couldn't find it when I went back the next day - I need to start bookmarking things... I know that's a pretty vague description, but if it rings any bells, let me know...

Thanks...

I started straight shaving with both hands, and it worked just
fine. You don't have to shave this way, so if you're having
lasting difficulties I would say stick to the dominant hand. Just
make sure you give it enough time and practice.



- Scott

I only shave with my right hand and I get a great result that way. If you want to develop the two handed technique then practice with a butter knife in front of the mirror. That should help you get the feel for it without slashing anything..!

Good luck and keep us posted!

Johnny, I shave with my dominant ( right) hand and whenever I tried the left I would become discombobulated upon looking in the mirror and trying to work with the thing in my left hand. Then a fellow member (danny wonderful) posted that he practiced shaving left handed while watching TV or at his computer screen. I took a dull razor and tried this .... carefully .... and darned if it didn't make all the difference in the world. With very little practice I found that I could go to the shave (in the mirror) and manipulate the razor with my left or right hand.

The scuttles I am familiar with are the Moss, the Straight Razor Designs, the Dirty Bird and the Oskar. The first two mentioned are designed to keep the lather warm by having the walls close to the bristles which means you'll need a separate bowl to lather in. I find those the most effective for the purpose. Others prefer to generate lather in their scuttle.The Dirty Bird and the Oskar are that type.

Originally Posted by Johnny68

I read about a scuttle somewhere in the thousands of pages of information on this site (!) that was lauded by several other folks - it looked to be hand-made - and people were referring to it by it's brand name...

Hi John, from another newb with a lengthy learning curve.

Learning to use my non dominant hand to shave the left side of my face was awkward at first but it got easier over time. Feels fairly natural now and I've only been using a straight since February. Lots of guys only use one hand so give it a try and go what your body/brain tells you is right for you.

I was going to say that shaving scuttles are pretty much all the same. A convenient size double wall mug that holds a reservoir of hot tap water to make and keep your lather warm for your entire shave until I read JimmyHAD's post. I learn something new every day.

They are mostly hand made to order by potters who throw them on their wheels and fire them as there is not a tremendous demand for scuttles. If you'd like to shop for a particular style or price, you can Google "shaving scuttle" (with the quotes) and that will get you a number of potters who make them.

One brand that gets a lot of talk on the forums here is Dirty Bird. <http://www.dirtybirdpottery.com/shavinggear.html> Out of the ones I looked at, I liked her design the best so I ordered the mid-size one and am quite happy with it. So make a choice based on what's important to you: style, size, color, price or whether you think you'd like the make the lather in the scuttle or in a separate bowl.
Namaste,
Morty -_-

Johnny,

I can shave with both hands, but can't do a flam paradiddle to save my soul. So you may be ahead of the game.

As to scuttles, my personal opinion is that the best is the Moss Scuttle made by Sara Bonneyman Handmade functional stoneware pottery, Tatamagouche Nova Scotia, Canada - she is a wonderful potter who makes scuttles and lathering bowls with some delicacy. Some of the others, while functional, are heavier (clunkier?) than her's. Another maker to check out while you're at it is Georgetown Pottery.

good luck, good shaving,

If you want to develop the ability to shave with both hands practice writing with you non dominant hand. You don't need to actually be able to write well but it will teach you control.

As far as scuttles go I've used the georgetown v5 and it doesn't keep lather warm long. I have an Oskar now and it's great. I'm not familiaer with the others.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

If you want to develop the ability to shave with both hands practice writing with you non dominant hand. You don't need to actually be able to write well but it will teach you control.

As far as scuttles go I've used the georgetown v5 and it doesn't keep lather warm long. I have an Oskar now and it's great. I'm not familiaer with the others.

Yeah, why is it I speant $50 and my scuttle dies by the third pass. Not much heat left for touch ups!

Johnny,
I can't really say why, but I fell right into two handed shaving. I never had an issue, it just seemed too clumsy to try and force my right hand into strokes that is would not do and my non-dominant hand did not argue.

One thing I will say, approach your face CAREFULLY with the non-dominant hand. You can really get yourself into a bloody position if you don't

I am a "newb" (and drummer - now "ex" though) as well. I have a problem being told that one way is better then another - when it comes to a dominant hand. So I did what Lynn suggested on TWoSRS and practiced with BOTH hands. I did it "right from the get-go"! At first I was as awkward as a guy is the first time in a brothel. But after a few times it became more comfortable. I now do it fairly well and have only been doing it a few months.

Try what YOU like, though. That's the bottom line.

This hobby is "personal" and the one to satisfy the most is YOU! If you cannot shave with the other hand comfortably then don't do it. But from my experiences "practice makes perfect". And that's with ANYTHING - as long as one has willingness to try.

Nuff said!

Cheers!

~Phil

I use both and prefer it that way.