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So, I’ve been shaving for months now with my str8 and I’ve been getting great results. The one shortcut I took on my learning was to NOT using my off hand for the non-dominant side.
So my question is, now that I’ve gotten the swing of things using a cross shaving technique – should I spend the effort on the off hand? What are folks thoughts on this? What folks out there use both hands, vs. a single hand?
Thanks!
Michael
I followed the same route as you, sticking to the dominant (right) hand for the first couple of years. It's only been within the last year that I've invested the time in learning to shave with my left and it has been worth the effort. My shaves are smoother, with fewer passes...especially the problem areas, such as the hollow on the right side of my neck. I've found that the way to get the best angle on that is with the left hand.
Start slow. Sticking with just one easy area at first will give you practice without slowing down your shave routine too much. As you gain confidence, you can work into the trickier areas. If you're anything like me, you might use too much pressure with the off hand in an unconscious attempt to steady it. I never cut myself that way but I did have a few cases of razor burn as a result. Remind yourself to go easy.
I'm starting off the bat with the off hand. It has been surprisingly quick to progress. I'm not great yet with my left hand, but am now comfortable and continuing to improve. I find it well worth the effort. There are a few trouble spots that are much easier to get to with the off hand in my case as well.
Go ahead and give the off hand a try. I've been shaving for a whole few weeks. I tried with only the dominant hand the first few times and found reaching around awkward for some passes. After a week or so you become pretty proficient with your off hand.
I'm about equally bad with both so far!
Ed.
Just thought I might lend a hand here(pun)...I wouldn't overthink this.Use what comes natural.There is no hard rule here. Straight shaving is very individual and not all straight users shave alike.It's very easy to get stuck in the herd mentality as it were.Use one or both whichever is working for you best. I use both and sometimes just one or the other and I get good results unless I am being careless.It's all about learning your own face....Good shaving to ya m8te ! :) Welcome to SRP
You know Michael, it's all about what works the best for you. Offhand onhand, amberdexterosity, eh. Getting a good, comfortable shave is the test. Are you getting the good, comfortable shave with as many hands as you choose to use?
Well there you are.
:beer2:
You also get a much better view in the mirror by using your off-hand. I've also found that, while awkward at first, there really seems to be a steep learning curve. It is never quite as natural-feeling as using the dominant hand, but is pretty close, and the advantages with angles and view outweigh the slightly less comfortable use of the non-dominant hand.
I broke my right arm at 14 and realized that I would have to master doing everything with my left. God fore bid I ever lose my right arm,
Now I can do everything except write well.
I think everyone should learn to use there off hand, You never know when you may be forced to use it on a constant basis.
Silver2
Personally, I think using your off hand gives you more options when you shave and can make things easier however it's an option and not necessary.
I started out using both hands. It was tough at first, because I consider myself to be strongly dominant in my right hand.
Honestly, I thought it would take much longer to become comfortable with my left hand than it did, and after about two months, it felt quite natural with both hands.
I also think it helps to do other tasks with the off hand also, such as brushing one's teeth... Might as well get as many new neuron connections into the act as possible! :)
I agree here. I started off using my weak hand also. Seems to have done some good things.Quote:
Originally Posted by DBurnette
What ever makes you comfortable!!
I'd give my right arm to be ambidextrous.
The answer is what ever works.Quote:
Originally Posted by MichaelM
I was advised to use both hands way back when
and it was worth the bother.
It is easy, awkward, hard, impossible for some folks to
use the other hand so it depends on you. I do advise
shaving the easy bits with both hands and then
use what ever works for the rest. With time both hands
will feel right (or not).
I've been using my Right so far, but I am pretty good with my left hand after a lot of surgery on my right, so I'll have to give it a try.
From the start, I was following the wiki (after a pretty disastrous first two shaves). So I started with the off-hand on the off-side by shave 3. I'm really glad I did. I now have both hands and sometimes find the left (off) hand helps even on the right side.
Some what like learning to fire a handgun left handed, I discovered that with the off-hand, i paid more attention to correct technique, I was more deliberate, more attentive, and my left hand in some ways shaves better than my right.
So I would encourage anyone to develop the off-hand as much as you can comfortably.
Here's a suggestion: Buy a cheapo Gold Dollar or Kriegar straight. Then round the edge on it good, so it couldn't cut anything but butter. Then use it as a practice razor. Lather you face up and using that smooth-but-totally-dull razor, use it to train your hand. When you can easily swipe lather off your face, you can try the real thing.
Learning the off hand would be very useful. It will be hard though because you will know you can get a much better shave reaching across. What you can do it shave off hand, then touch up with the cross.
One thing I've noticed is that my jaw line is much easier to stretch and shave when I reach across, so I use my right hand on the left side of my jaw, and vise versa.
I do both, with both hands. Just hold the razor however it gets you the best angle.
When I first started I did not think that I could use my off hand and tried the cross shave. I quickly found that I could not do that and switched to my non dominant had. Now this is the only way I can shave.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Silver2
I agree with both. I do, however, use both hands myself. For Cutthroat as well as DE shaving. I've been using DE of late because it's new to me and I need to get used to it. I think I prefer the quality of a straight shave though.Quote:
Originally Posted by thebigspendur
Mick
I've also switched to using both hands even when using my DE razor. Might be good practice to build that dexterity..
It does improve your form in the long run-
I have also watched shaving on youtube where he shaved with both hands, but the right hand shaved the left side, and the left hand shaved the right side.... Is that what you do? or each hand shaves its own side???
.:beer2:
Sometimes yes and sometimes no.
It depends on your face and the stroke.
For example - for my cheek wtg pass I use the hand on the same side and also down the neck same side. But for up the neck it is much easier to reach and more fluid with the opposite hand.
My atg pass (ear to nose) is easier with the opposite hand but I find if I decide to go nose to ear its easier with the same side hand.
You just need to experiment to see what works best. I'm still finding new tricks to use in my pursuit of the perfect shave.