Thread: two hands or one

Six months in and I am getting a good shave with straight razors but I still only use my dominant hand. My neck is super close where I go against the grain with one hand but not as smooth as I would like on the other half. Any advice for someone trying to get their other hand involved? I know most guys use two. Anyone else still using one hand with good technique?

I only use one hand & my shaves are just fine. I'm not going to worry about the other hand, unless something happens to the hand I'm using. I know that's not much help, but that's all I know.

Hello,

Don't worry about it. It's not a requirement to use both hands, more of a convenience. I almost always use my dominant hand to hold the razor and I've been doing a fine job nonetheless, you just learn different ways to hold the razors. I tried and learned two-handed when I started, but I'm a clumsy guy and switching the blade between hands so often felt like I was running toward a disaster, so I settle for one-handed.

As to how to learn the two-handed shave. Here is the trick I used for the harder strokes: mirror every single stroke, one at a time, on both sides. Do a single stroke with your dominant hand, paying attention to angles and positions (blade, head, arms, how you stretch, etc.), switch hands and repeat the exact same stroke in mirror on the other side. Then switch back and repeat for the next stroke. Muscle memory should kick-in quickly.

Cheers.

Even though I can't do anything else with my left hand, I tried using it with a SR for the oft side of my face. Much to my surprise, I found I get a great shave with my left hand, maybe because I use less pressure, naturally, with my left, than with my strongly dominant right hand. As my technique has improved, I have found that my left works better in some areas and my right works better on others, depending on the strike and approach.

Interestingly, one of the very early members here (whose name I can't remember) has a video that someone re-posted in the last few months that shows him shaving the right side of his face with his left hand, and the left side with his right hand.

As others have said, whatever works for you is what you should use. You may find that you adjust and change over time, as you get more confident and comfortable.

The way to get your other hand involved is exactly the same as starting with a straight. Think about what you will do and then just do it.

It may seem "unsteady" and uncoordinated, but it works. I found that I was more deliberate with my left and concentrated more. The result has been equal quality shaves to my dominate hand BUT less cuts/nicks.

I found that it seemed harder but just because with everything in life, its not easy the first time. For me using my left hand freed me from using awkward positions of my dominant hand. At the same time it gave me an opportunity to dial in my fine motor muscles in my left hand. I'm glad I did and would suggest at least giving it a shot.

I agree that you should give it a try. I told myself I was going to commit from the beginning to use two (not that there's anything wrong with one), and by the time it took to get comfortable shaves, it just seemed natural to use two. I now honestly get better results on the left side of my face, and not sure quite how to explain that.

The biggest problem with only using your dominant hand when shaving is that you decrease your field of vision when you reach across your face to shave the other side. Many people are more comfortable with this than learning to use the non-dominant hand. I like to recommend to people to open and close the razor using the both hands and get used to holding the razor in the non-dominant hand. In addition, practice the shaving strokes and different grips with the non-dominant hand without touching the razor to your face for a week or two and then start off just as a new shaver would, only shaving from the sideburn to the jaw on the non-dominant side and building from there.

Have fun.

I predominately shave left handed, though I can use my right (just) and when i do, find certain strokes give a better shave, i rarely bring my right hand into play because it feels awkward, and like i will cut myself.

I did my first couple of shaves with my right hand only, because I can't do much of anything right with my left hand. I've tried to use both hands with a safety razor, and I simply can't do it. After the first couple of straight razor shaves I decided to try to start introducing my left hand into the mix (since the whole thing was new to me anyway). I found that as clumsy as I am with my left hand, perhaps because I was being so careful, it was actually less awkward, and felt safer than some of the contortions I was going through to try to use my right. There are still a couple of strokes that I'm not as good at with my left hand, but over all it's working out much better for me using both. If you had told me that a year and a half ago, I would have said you were nuts.............