Thread: Switching Hands

When I started, I figured that it would be better to shave using both hands. After a brief initial period of getting used to the way a straight shaved, I started incorporating my non-dominant hand more and more.

Tip: practice doing forehand and backhand strokes with each hand. If you get comfortable with them, you'll be able to tackle whatever tricky angle you need to without weird arm contortions.

I started using dominant hand only thinking, what the heck it wont hurt anything it will be fine, untill I started developing some bad habbits with different ways I had to try to shave. For example and people will think I'm crazy, I can't remember where but one place while going XTG to get it right I had to take the razor back to where the spine was at the back of the scales and using thumb and fore finger hold the tip of the blade and shave XTG, deffinatly not good, although it worked I knew it was a bad habbit to start and I'm happy now that I stopped.

What I do and I don't know if other people do it to, but with my right hand going with the grain I'll go WTG on the right side of my face, then the same with my left hand going on the left side of my face, then after I re-lather to go XTG I use my right hand to shave the left side of my face and then my left hand to shave the right side, going up (XTG) its easier for me. To hold the razor with my right hand and shave the right side of my face XTG feels so darn weird the way I have my arm its much easier for me to do opposing side. Now if other people do this I'm not completely sure, makes more sence to me.

I say the first time you shave, take your time and don't get discouraged if you nick yourself. But use both hands so you don't develope habbits. You will get the hang of it, the more you do the technique the better you will get, as the same for everything in life practice makes perfect.

Funny thing, the very first time I shaved with a striaght razor I didn't nick or cut myself at all! Sence then there have been very few bloodless shaves. Although most are from bumps on my face but some are from accidently mishandling the razor.

As I was about to quote untill I relized he posted here, look at JimmyHAD's quote.

"An old barber told me to hold the razor securely but lightly enough so that is if it pulls the razor will flex in your fingers and be less likely to nick. He also told me to never force it if it does pull. Following that advice I have rarely gotten a nick"

Practice this while you shave with your non dominant hand ecspecially, as you probably know if you lurk around here, your razor should never pull.

Hope this helped in anyway!

-Zach

Thanks guys been thinking about this my self while waiting on my razor

As Jimmy said, I manged to train myself to use both hands by holding the razor in my non-dominant hand while I wasn't shaving. I held it and did practice strokes while watching TV, reading, using the PC etc. For my first three weeks I had shaved with my dominant hand only, but as I started to incorporate XTG and ATG passes on various parts of my face, I started to see some limitations in being one handed. I'm glad now I trained myself to use both hands, but after being here a while I've seen enough posts from one handed shavers to know I would have adapted to shaving with one hand eventually.

I set out to use both hands right away and have been comfortable since, for me i can get some angles with my non dominate hand(left) better than my other. JimmyHAD mentioned a post from dannywonderful about practicing,while waiting for my SR i used a butter knife on face to get the feel with my non dominate hand,for me that helped.

I started with my right hand only, then after about a couple of weeks started using my left hand also. I now do three passes, 1) with right hand, right side and left hand left side. 2)right hand full face. 3) left hand full face. If any touch up is needed, it is done with right hand.



Lu

I started shaving with both hands right from the getgo....I am left handed but use my right hand for some things like: writing on a blackboard...I started shaving my right cheek, then progressed to the jawbone and neck; in about two weeks, I was shaving regularly with both my hands. Good luck.

My beard grows from Adam's apple to ear on my neck. I find it much easier to shave WTG by using my left hand to do under my right jawline and my right hand to do under my left jawline.

I know, seems a bit counterintuitive - almost as thought it would require some contorsion. But it doesn't, and it REALLY made it easier - and greatly reduced irritation - in these areas once I made the discovery.

I've tried a few times using my non dominant left hand and both times I cut myself. I do agree it's easier to get at any angle using both hands but for me, I can get a BBS shave with just my right. I tried brushing my teeth with the left hand but it just feels too weird.

Originally Posted by Rolex1979

Thanks guys been thinking about this my self while waiting on my razor

Told you we'd be learning together lol. Soon........... very soon now ........ Countdown!!!