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What is the best technique to use when shaving? Should you hold the razor in the same hand whilst shaving or swap hands depending on which side of the face you are shaving?
I am right handed, and I currently hold the razor in my right hand when shaving (using the left to stretch the skin). I struggle to see in the mirror when I shave the left cheek. I have tried holding the razor in the left hand and have felt a little uneasy. What habit should a beginner get into when shaving?
I found it easier to start with the left hand by thinking of it as not really shaving with the hand but holding the razor in the hand and using vertical arm motions to make strokes. The hand doesn't really have to manipulate the blade that way, and thus any lack of dexterity in the left hand is less of a problem.
When I started down the path of using str8's the masses all seemed to think if you can, try to use two hands. Makes the angles easier to achieve and can make things a bit easier.
Since I was new, I decided to learn to use two hands which I continue to do. At this point I am happy I learned two hands. The funny part is that I have never nicked myself with my weak hand, only the strong. I guess I pay closer attention to the weak hand.
That is my 2cents.
Learn to use both hands. Look for (less awkward) opportunities to use your left hand, and build from there.
Being able to use both hands leaves you open to lots of possibilities, making it easier to shave in multiple directions on any side of your face.
Excellent, thank you all I will give it a go using my left hand...
I shave with my right hand only, you soon learn whats best for you. Just be patient it all falls into place in the end:)
I think that once you get used to using both hands, you have a better field of vision and it really does get easier to get some of those places you really had to stretch for reaching across your face. Shaving with just one hand is not impossible or impractical and we have all been there. Personal preference is key in this sport and using both hands is definitely my preference.
Have fun,
Lynn
+1 on that
I use both hands primarily because it gives me more options for getting the right angle and better visibility.
Its not nearly as hard to learn as you might think. Gicve it a try, I think you'll be glad you did.
"Srp Founder
Honed 40000 razors over the last 15 years" -- Lynn, were it I honing all those razors, I'd likely still be on the first 10K after a full time 15 years :rofl2:
new Str8er,
I'm fairly ambidexterous, but right dominant, so using either hand is not difficult for me and actually comes naturally when shaving as using the RR and LL approach seems to make watching what the razor is doing much easier.
Interestingly, I can't use a DE with either hand - right only. Go figure.
Adding in my two cents, I am very right dominant. When I write with my left hand it looks like I've had a stroke.
So I think it was downright lunacy of me to attempt to use this very hand, which might actually not be mine, to take one of the sharpest objects used on a daily basis and place it up on my face and against my neck.
I'm glad I took the jump into the deep end. It was very scary and I can't believe I found the coordination to do this, but if I can do it, I think just about anyone can. Now I'm as good with my left hand as my right; I'm practically ambidextrous when it comes to taking a blade to my face. I wonder, if I were to put that much effort into using a sharp blade this way, if I could learn to write with my left hand. I never knew I had this in me and I'm happy I made the effort.
Since I'm still very new to shaving with a straight, anyway, I tend to shave the parts of my face that I use my left hand for first, just to be sure I'm not tempted to use my right hand to cross over. Whenever I do touch-ups, etc., I'm always very conscious about ensuring I use my left hand where appropriate. I don't want to fall to using my right hand as a crutch. As time goes on, the temptation eases and I know there will come a day when I won't even notice that I'm using my left hand at all.
Good luck.
I think the biggest mistake folks make is to try the left hand right away and then become disappointed at the early results. The most important thing is to start off just holding the razor in the left hand and getting use to it being there. Practice the strokes and changing hands and all the movement you can before ever putting the razor to your face. When you do, then just try one little area until you get used to it and build from there just like when you learn with the dominant hand. If you take a little extra time, it can definitely be learned and it is unreal all the things that you can start doing with the opposite hand then.
Hey Bruce, come on down and help me. There is never a lack of razors to hone in this house.........:rock:
Have fun
Gentlemen,
The noble Lynn was my mentor and I followed his advice. I still switch hands — and will always thank Lynn for giving me the best start I could ask for.
I agree. I started with both hands, and I'm very glad. It was just about as easy to learn both hands equally, but I would expect it might be frustrating to learn how to use my left hand after really figuring out how to use my right.
I found holding it properly in my left hand to be a challenge. Then I held it correctly in my right hand and just used matching fingers in my left hand. Since I was forced to think more about using my left hand I was more careful using my left hand.
its just like having to switch hands when you find yourself cornered on a small stream and your HAVE to catch that rising brook trout :)
When I started shaving with a straight I used both hands. Now I'm probably the most right handed person on the planet. However, inexplicably I've always done two things left handed, shoot a rifle and shoot pool . Other than that, my left hand was just a decoration that the Almighty seems to have added for looks and symetry. I don't mind saying using my left hand to shave was more than a bit awkward at first but now it's just something that I do automatically without ever really thinking. On the North-South pass my right hand does the right side of my face and left hand does the left side of my face. For some reason however, when I go South-North I do cross body (left hand for right side and visa versa) but still change hands. Not sure why I do this I just always have.
I agree that it probably would have been much more difficult had I totally mastered the dominant hand only and then tried to pick up switching hands. I guess it's easier to learn good habits without muscle memory than break old ones with lots of muscle memory re-enforcement. Great analogy with the brook trout by the way.
My right hand is fully ambidextrous and can shave either side of my face.
It's a darn good thing I wasn't drinking something at the time or you would have owed me a new keyboard.Quote:
Originally Posted by nun2sharp
I started using both sides. Since I was only doing my cheeks it was a good opportunity to get used to using my left hand along with my right.
Quick update from me. I've now probably been straight shaving for about 3 months. As advised I shave with both hands, however, its not easy. When shaving with my left I find I cant always get the angles right and therefore end up shaving the upper cheek without be able to see in the mirror. Not yet been able to shave the neck area with my left either. This is not to say I will give up but can take a little getting used to. On the whole it is well worth shaving with both hands.
Hi Pritesh,
I agree. Normally I find that my left hand is about a week behind my right hand in skill. However, last night I picked up a blade with a square tip on it, one that had cut me before. It's the only sharp blade I have left now. I got a wonderful shave with it, and oddly enough, the parts of my face I use my left hand for were better than the side shaved by my dominant hand. I have seen other posters mention this effect before, where when you're trying to be unusually careful and attentive, your weak hand actually does better (if it's already used to being used). For me, I think it's because I concentrate especially hard on not killing myself with my weak hand, especially with a razor that I had a previous run-in with.
By the way, it still got me. With my right hand.
-Mark
I have areas where I can get better results with the left hand on the right side of the face, for example XTG from ear to jaw.
That's an interesting observation, Ace. I've do this, too, on occasion. I still go back and forth on whether I use opposite hands for certain passes. Sometimes the angles just work better when I do.Quote:
Originally Posted by ace
I tried to shave with a straight a couple of years ago, and gave up after a pretty bad cut with my weak hand - left - along the jaw line. I struggled mightily to get my left hand to work at all. But since I've come back (nearly three weeks in, now) I have been concentrating on my left hand. Intrerestingly, I have cut myself twice now - once on each side, but the cut with my non-dominant hand is worse: I think its a control / pressure problem, and I seem to have cut deeper on that side. *its the same place I cut myself and quit last time.
Its getting better every day, and its worth the effort.
Barry
Glad this got brought up...I'm left handed. I have a left prosthetic eye..so switching hands and doing rug side while stretching is extremely hard..
I contribute this to my left side of my face never having razor burn..and my right always having it lol..
Still perfecting it obviously so any help is appreciated :)
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The 1st couple months I did the whole thing right handed. Little by little I learned and still am getting better
I watch what I do with the right then repeat as close as possible with left. When I get stuck I go over the motion again with the right and watch then repeat. I only do it once in a while now. I was on auto pilot yesterday and did not even realize it until I had to stop and check my form. Had not had to for a couple of weeks. Cool.
Both of my daughters do this. Right handed, left eye dominate.Quote:
Originally Posted by 1OldGI
Jeff