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G'day all Straight Razors and Shavettes,
I'm asking to all wet shavers who used either a straight razor or shavette, how long does it take you to master your non-dominant hand while using either a straight razor or a shavette be honest with me while I'm learning to used a IBC shavette.
FYI. click here for Irving Barber Company (IBC) shavette topic.
Cheers.
It took me a couple of weeks of daily shaves to get comfortable. Probably 30 shaves to get proficient. Now it's no problem at all.Quote:
Originally Posted by SpeedyPC
Good luck!
About the same length of time it takes to learn to shave if you start with both hands. 100 shaves in, it will all seem natural. Well worth the effort IMHO.
It probably took me close to 50 shaves to get proficient with my non-dominant hand.
My guess is about 3 dozen shaves, but I have a bit of ambidexterity that I didn't recognize until after I started straight shaving. I've even considered re-training myself to learn honing left-handed which might help me resist the urge to overpressure the blade...and help avoid RAD (specifically getting into JNats). ;)
However, I am not certain I would say I've "mastered" my left hand technique quite yet. I still sweat a little going ATG under my nose using the left hand. I'm hoping I get this down by summer.
I agree, having used both hands from the start. When you start to move from dominant hand to non-dominant hand without thinking about it, you'll know that you've arrived.Quote:
Originally Posted by Grazor
About 30 shaves to feel comfortable and 100 to feel proficient.
It was within the first few shaves but I have always been a bit ambidextrous.
I also am ambidextrous so it only took me about 5-6 to feel quite comfortable and then got proficient
I am a lefty living in a righthanded world so I had a bit of an advantage leaening to use my non dominate hand. Still it took several months before I became comfortable with a sharp razor on my face. Breathe, do not rush and stop if it isn't comfortable for you.
IMO, I learned quicker with my shavette because if my angle was wrong it would bite quicker and harder than any straight I have used. So when I started with a shavette I really focused on using my left hand with efficiency as to not get that little pink line on my cheek. Id say mostly though it is like anything we do in life, some will pick it up right away and some take more time.
Well it take 21 days of doing something in order for it to become a habit so I would put that as a baseline. But could be up to a few months to become truly proficient
Thanks for all the feedback guys which has really help me a lot while I'm trying and learning to used an IBC shavette with my non-dominant hand left.
Cheers
I have been shaving with a straight since last Summer. I started with both hands form the beginning, I just thought it's a completely new skill I might as well.
I would say about 4 to 6 weeks in I really didn't even think about using my left it seemed quite natural. I will say though that even now if I ever see blood or razor marks (and it is quite rare at this point) it is almost always on my left side.
Stick with it, you will get there, just remember don't use any pressure and you will be fine.
Maybe it's beacause I'm a guitar player it only took me about a week to get used to it. Of course I started whit a DE before the straight.Quote:
Originally Posted by SpeedyPC
I'm about 40 shaves in and while I cannot say I've mastered the non-dominant hand, I do feel comfortable with the left. I have to admit the area just under the left nostril is typically where I still tend to get a nick. I take a deep breath before I tackle that area.
My left hand(non dominant) doesn't get to touch my razor. I do it all with one hand. You just have to come up with a technique that's all.
I've shaved right handed some 47 years with my dominant Right hand. I've thought about left hand use, as I shoot pool left handed, but if I mess up playing pool, I scratch or miss the pocket. I like my face the way it is and work around it. With DE never think about it for hand switching. What I need to invent is a computer video camera/monitor set up so that I can still see my face when I'm doing the left side. ;)
In my recent meet up with Larry in Butte, MT, I said give yourself three month to get proficient, then three more, then six more. In a year you'll be amazed how far you've come. Applies to honing, shaving, and all things related.