Thread: Left, Right, Both or One Over the Other

Some of us are naturally ambidextrous while others have to learn to use the non-dominant hand when shaving with a straight. My question is how many people use both hands while shaving with a straight but find it impossible to use both hands when shaving with a DE. I find that despite my natural ability to use either hand for almost every task except writing and shaving with a DE. I have tried innumerable times to use the non-dominant hand and find I get the equivalent of being tongue-tied to do a decent stroke with the DE.

That leads me to part two in the use of straights and DEs. We all have different skin types and I find that as I have aged I've developed some rather sensitive skin areas on my face and neck. One in particular, around my Adam's apple, has gotten so sensitive (read thin-skinned) that using a straight, even with the lightest of touches, gives me weepers. I resorted to using a DE just in that area. But that soon left me super sensitive there. I resorted to the gasp, disposable, plastic throwaway and have been able to shave that area sucessfully to where, after a short period of time that area gets toughened up enough I can switch back to a straight for a while.

I use my dominate hand for both straights & DE safety razors.
My left hand just hangs there & watches the right hand work.

Originally Posted by Hirlau

I use my dominate hand for both straights & DE safety razors.
My left hand just hangs there & watches the right hand work.

I take it the left hand is clutching a bottle of your favorite liquid just waiting to splash it on?

I am left dominate, I shave with the razor in both hands, although against the grain is all left hand. In general I have good dexterity with both hands. I know both lefties and righties that are useless in most activities with there non dominate hand.

I am right handed but shave with both, straight and safety.


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I'll weigh in on this BUT let it be known, I don't shave with a DE, just SR.
I'm right handed but use both.
I learned how to get my left 'in the game' based on guidance I recv'd here. I started brushing my teeth and doing other menial things with my left.
It was difficult at first, but now, regarding shaving, well I've messed up with each hand equally.
Seriously, I don't even think about it anymore.

I shave SR with both hands. First shave with the right, lather up again and shave with the left. It takes a little more time but who's in a hurry?
A DE is so short a blade, it's no problem doing a 3 pass using only my right hand.

I shave more or less both handed with a SR (no left hand ATG) but only right hand with a safety razor

I use both hands when SR shaving, I'm Left handed, but use my right very often.
Was taught Left was the wrong one to use when growing up. But that was a good thing, as I'm just about totally ambidextrous.

Originally Posted by Dieseld

I use both hands when SR shaving, I'm Left handed, but use my right very often.
Was taught Left was the wrong one to use when growing up. But that was a good thing, as I'm just about totally ambidextrous.

My dad was just like you, he golfed, bowled and shot right handed and fished, ate, wrote and used tools left handed. I learned to fish with left handed reels and still can't right handed ones lol