Thread: Straight shaving with dominant hand only

Hello folks,

Im new to straight shaving only 12 shaves in with a shavett, getting pretty decent results. Im curious is shaving with two hands with a straight always been a rule of thumb? I do better shaving with my dominant hand only. I went to the barber to get a hair cut today thats barbered 50 years and i asked him his opinion, and he said dominant hand only. Then i told him well when you shave clients you use one hand and you can walk around the client and position your self differently. When shaving myself would it be easier to shave with both hands, but my dominant hand is more comfortable. He told me of a barber the he worked with, infact side by side for more than 30 years has been passed many years now, but he told me that guy would come to work every morning at 6:30 am strop his razor and shave with one hand.

both hands are better since you can switch angles better. But, I only use my dominant hand and do just fine.

I'm lucky to be ambidextrous, but do better with my dominant hand. I use both hands though

I'm still fairly new, so still training my non-dominant hand.
As coachschaller, mentions the angles really do matter.
Pulling is easier than pushing (at least for me). [By pulling I mean right hand, going from left side to right side of face.]

Of course when I am not feeling as confident, then dominant hand only. At which point good enough is good enough.

I wonder how the gents did it back in the 1800s?

Originally Posted by Southbound

I wonder how the gents did it back in the 1800s?

Can't remember the book out there that is from the early 1920's that show how to shave and they show both hands.

That is what I do - learned to shave against the grain with left hand. Not the easiedt but getting there.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk

I would imagine there was a fairly even distribution back in the day compared to now. Only real difference is nowadays we learn by watching YouTube & reading guides. Back then up until not too long ago the greater majority learned by watching their father shave, so they were likely to do it the same way he did.

I use only my right hand. It was awkward at first, getting my left sideburns visible enough to get it right, but after a few shaves it got pretty easy. It's 6 of one, half dozen of the other.

It's a matter of personal preference and comfort.
I was comfortable with a razor in my left (non dominant) hand from day one seeing that I am almost ambidextrous. Some guys can never get comfortable with a razor in their non dominant hand.
It's just a matter of finding your comfort zone and doing what works for you.

Pete <:-}

I shave with 2 hands or one hand,, its just how I feel at the moment. but I feel you should be able to use both hands ccause what if you injured one? Tc

Originally Posted by Cincinnatus

Can't remember the book out there that is from the early 1920's that show how to shave and they show both hands.

It's called The Art Of Shaving available on amazon. Can't seem to repost the link from my phone