Thread: Shave with just the one hand?

I'm curious and a VERY beginner, so this seems the appropriate place to ask about shaving. I'm right handed. I find it difficult to switch to my left hand to shave. Is there a set rule that one must use Right and Left hands to shave with or are there here that simply shave their entire face with just their right or left hand?

You can shave with only one hand. By the time you learn to shave well with one hand, you could of also learned to shave with two.

Everyone says they have trouble shaving with thier off hand, until they try to learn.

Objectively, there are only a few small spots that you'll find challenging with only one hand. You just have to be a little creative.

Start by shaving most of your face with one hand, then transition as needed to a few left hand passes.

One handed shavers need to watch for potential irritation on the off side, because they can't always shave in the most appropriate direction for the whisker.

Now, let's see if we can avoid a million silly posts describing what shavers have learned to do and their immaterial opinions on the matter.

There are quite a few experienced straight razor shavers that only use one hand. In fact, when using a Japanese Kamisori razor (which has a asymmetrical blade) one-handed is the preferred method.

That said, with a conventional western style straight it is preferrable, in my opinion, to switch hands as you go from one side of your face to the other. If you find this difficult or impossible I wouldn't worry too much about it. Once you become fully comfortable using a straight you might want to try using both hands again.

I took the time to learn to shave with my off hand. On some places on your face it just makes it easier. Just so you know, I have never cut/nicked myself with my off hand. I guess I'm so much more careful with my off hand, that I don't hurt myself.

Having said that, I am a lefty....which means I am in my "right" mind, I think.

Perhaps I can take my wife's hair razor, with it's changable blades (it looks exactly like a regular straight razor, but cheaper) and put in a piece of plastic, lather up my clean shaved face, and familarize myself with my left hand to see how it would work. My razors at present *used are not sharp enough to have with comfortably. I tried the other day and it drags and pulls, so I finished up with the disposable. Trying on the off hand was horrible. It was like it didn't want to glide down the face, so, before I cut myself, I stopped and finished up with the "norm".

Originally Posted by Gibbs

Perhaps I can take my wife's hair razor, with it's changable blades (it looks exactly like a regular straight razor, but cheaper) and put in a piece of plastic, lather up my clean shaved face, and familarize myself with my left hand to see how it would work.

hey thats an inspired idea!
personally I haven't taken the time to learn to shave ambidextrously however I don't have any trouble missing spots or getting a close clean shave, however 99% of my hair grows north south so I've got the easiest face to shave on the planet lol

I have heard that the barbers notch was invented so that men comming home from the civil war with only one arm could open their razor easier. They could only use one hand so I guess it is ok either way.

Originally Posted by Bill S

There are quite a few experienced straight razor shavers that only use one hand. In fact, when using a Japanese Kamisori razor (which has a asymmetrical blade) one-handed is the preferred method.

That said, with a conventional western style straight it is preferrable, in my opinion, to switch hands as you go from one side of your face to the other. If you find this difficult or impossible I wouldn't worry too much about it. Once you become fully comfortable using a straight you might want to try using both hands again.

+1 on what Bill said. I just use my right hand only. Some guy's like to challenge themselves and learn both left and right handed holds. Perhaps someone suffered an injury and made the switch. It's totally users preference. I would first learn how to use your dominate hand before experimenting, it might save on styptic. If you want to PM me I can hone your razor proper. no charge
Mike

I only use 1 hand.. mainly because my left hand has always had the "shakes" and is never really steady. I practiced with a butter knife for about a week once using my left hand and came away with a bunch of red marks from where it would have cause a cut if it had an edge so I stopped worrying about shaving with both hands.

I only use one hand. It may not be right, er correct, but it's what works.