Thread: Do you shave with dominant hand or both

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.

Originally Posted by DoughBoy68

The butter knife will help establish muscle memory plus you don't get cut.

I always found the added risk made me learn quickly! Lol

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: