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Being new to the game I'm curious..
Is it better to shave using just your dominant hand or to take the time to learn with both. I've watched videos and heard pros and cons on each way. It will be interesting to hear what your style is and what works for you.
Pete <:-}
I shave with my dominant hand. I eventually taught myself to shave with my left hand (non dominant) by practicing with a shavette with no blade in it. First in the mirror, then while watching TV or surfing the web. Going through the motions to acquire muscle memory and dexterity with the left hand. I went back to the dominant hand shaving because I'm quite adept at it and didn't see that much of an advantage in using both. YMMV.
I realised as soon as I started it would be easier to learn to use both hands. Personally I would encourage everyone to do it. To start with its clumsy and awkward but very quickly it becomes second nature. Just another advantage to shaving is I am fully ambidextrous as a result.
Even if you find you can shave just fine with your dominant hand it's still with taking time to learn. Some blades are easier/harder to reach the different angles with, it would be much harder to adjust to both hands further down the line of you got a trickier to use blade. It's easier to forget how to do it if you don't need to.
At the end of the day whatever is best for you, I shave with both and find it easier to see over my hands in the mirror. The way I started was with the test pass from your sideburns over the jowl to the jaw bone. Once I had that I then started to shave parts like under my neck and then chin. The most difficult stroke for me was the left nostril with my left hand. Reason for this is that the blade is at an acute angle and you are not so much cutting as scraping with a sharp blade. It took me about four to six months before I had the hang of it and about a year before I did not think about swapping hands to shave the left side of my face. Beyond that I have heard of quite a few people who shave with their dominant hand only and are comfortable the way they are.
You can also practice using a butter knife, that's what I did. Now I use both hands and don't give it a second thought The butter knife will help establish muscle memory plus you don't get cut.
It feels natural for me to use both hands with a western tho I am not ambidexterous.
On the other hand ,pun intended, I feel more comfortable with my right hand when using a kamisori.
I always found the added risk made me learn quickly! LolQuote:
Originally Posted by DoughBoy68
Whatever gets the job done for you and you are comfortable with.
Bob
I have been shaving with a straight for about a month now, I am right handed and started with both,now I do better with my left for some reason,maybe because I am more cautious when i move to the left side:)
There are many ways to shave. Some rather dull. Other methods that I haven't even conceived. Note:
http://youtu.be/019DrIQ05uk
Both hands works just fine for me. I learned using both so it made it all a bit less intimidating starting out.
It's hard enough to get a DFS with my hands as it is.
Actually, I'm waiting for the trained seal video where the seal shaves you for a fish.
Start using both hands before any bad habits start. It's easier (for me) to see what's going on....by using both to shave with. Besides that's what Lynn said to do !!!
Siguy,
That video is just ..wrong;) ;)
Pete <:-}
I have always used the right hand exclusively, it's a bit tricky at first and it can be hard to see in the mirror on some strokes but with practice you'll master the trickier strokes that are needed and you learn how to shave mainly by feel, so not seeing in the mirror becomes a non-issue.
Both hands for me, it was hard to start with, but seems worth the effort now. I can't imagine using one hand, although I have watched quite a few videos and it didn't look like a problem at all, in fact quite skill full.
I started with a featherDX a week ago. Day 1/2 I attempted both hands, disaster, days 3/4/5/6/7 right hand only. Today I discovered I like to hold the razor with my palm facing my face as much as possible rather than the other grip. My left ear gets in the way when I keep this grip and cannot do it on the left side of my neck,this is where the left hand comes in.
ATG (south to north for me) I will probably never attempt to use left hand.
^probably doesn't make sense but it makes perfect sense to me.
Both hands. Practice makes pefect
I fought and fought. Stretched skin and pulled skin trying to get an awesome shave with just one hand. In the end there are spots of growth that I could just not get smooth enough unless I used both hands. I can get a DFS with one but two is better. Go smooth and confident and slow with the off hand until you feel comfortable.
Dominant hand only for me. I've never felt anywhere near comfortable with my off hand.
Both. Easier than you think.
I just had a shave 10 minutes ago...I tried using one hand for a complete shave.....not good. How do you right handed guys do an up stroke on the right side of your throat......stand on your head or pull a muscle doing it....?
I am right handed and can do absolutely nothing with my left. When I started SR shaving I immediately started using both hands and actually am better at it with my left
I can't shave with both hands because I need one of them to help with skin stretching.
Just use duct tape...gets the skin nice and tight,and frees up both hands too !!!Quote:
Originally Posted by ace
From my first shave I used both hands. It just seemed the natural thing to do.
I have tried using just the dominant hand and it was not a good shave. The reason being the non-dominant was in a cast.
Since that time, whenever I have a hand incapacitated, I use a DE.
On the downstroke I use my right hand for the right side of my face and the left hand for the left side. On the upstroke I use the opposite.
Several years ago, following an unintentional experiment to see if the law of gravity still applied, I ended up needing to have my right shoulder rebuilt. Up to that point my left hand served to keep my watch from falling off my wrist.
Necessity does interesting things and I was shortly proficient with my left hand for anything but writing.
I'd recommend at least gaining some ability with both hands just in case.
I have used both hands since I began. I have taught myself to shave with just my right hand and now am learning the same with my left. This way if I ever lose the use of one hand, I'll still be able to shave.
I forced myself to learn to use both hands when I started. I got very comfortable with it pretty fast. Today I cut the knuckle on my left hand. Got it wrapped up with a splint so it looks like I'll be using only my right hand for at least two days, maybe three. I don't look forward to it. But if I cut my right hand I'd be even worse off.
http://i800.photobucket.com/albums/y...psaf065766.jpg
WHY? Just why...Quote:
Originally Posted by Siguy
I use both hands. Committed to learning that when I first started largely in part because there seemed to be a significant base of expertise here making that recommendation and the other was visual impairment. When I use only one hand I frequently loose clear vision of the shaving surface which "scared the hell out of me with such a sharp instrument".....So.....the journey to use both hands began and now I'm a "switch hitter" in the mirror and don't think much of it anymore.Quote:
Originally Posted by petercp4e
Whether I use my dominant right hand, or my non-dominant left hand depends on which half of my face and in which direction I shave.
It felt somewhat unnatural at first, but once I developed the muscle memory I started getting better shaves using my non-dominant hand too (for WTG left side of my face, XTG and ATG ride side of my face).
B.
While I do shave with both hands, my skills are asymmetrical and non-dominant side actions are very different than what I can confidently do with my dominant side..