Thread: I'm Facing a Conundrum

Hello SRP Members,

I'm facing a bit of a conundrum with respect to my str8 razor shaves. Perhaps you can help me figure this out...

I've been shaving with a str8 razor for over a month now. My shaves have been very good so far and getting better by the day.

What is puzzling to me, however, is that the shave on the right or dominant side is always closer than that on the left side of my face. I use my right or dominant hand to shave the right side of my face, so I would think that side of my face would get the closest shave. Such is not the case, though. I have to repeat shaving the right side of my face several times (3-4x) to remove the remaining whiskers, which are quite visible.

By contrast, 2-3 passes with the str8 razor, using my left hand on the left side of my face leaves it almost BBS.

Can somebody explain this for me? Am I doing something wrong?

Is it possible that you're being more attentive, using a lighter grip and more focused approach to your non dominant side?

Could it be that your stretching hand (using your dominant on your left side) is working better for you?

Originally Posted by xman

Is it possible that you're being more attentive, using a lighter grip and more focused approach to your non dominant side?

Could it be that your stretching hand (using your dominant on your left side) is working better for you?

xman,

It could be...I'll definitely explore that possibility the next time I shave.

Thanks.

I don't know what the answer is but .... I shave with my dominant right hand. I always get a better, as in closer, first WTG pass on my left side. As near as I can see blade angle and all else is identical but the left is always smoother. The second pass takes care of it but I have often wondered what the explanation is.

I did post about the possibility that the whiskers could be coarser on one side than the other and some members said that they thought theirs were indeed variable in coarseness from one side to the other. Try the cold water shave and I bet you'll get better results.

Cold water shave?

Originally Posted by DaveStraight

Cold water shave?

Yes, see this post here and the link to the PDF within the post. It ain't exactly a pleasure but I never got a closer or smoother shave.

I've actually found the same..the only reasoning that I can come up with is that i'm being more careful & attentive and thus using less pressure on that side.

I experience the exact opposite! Using my dominant hand on my dominant side I get a closer shave then when I switch.

I don't think it's a big deal though since I do the ATG passes with just my dominant hand, so in the end it's even.

I use my strong hand only to shave and find that the opposite side of my face gets a closer shave with fewer passes. I think it's all because of ergonomics, easier to get the exact angles I need on the opposite side.

Very interesting. Both my sides are always equally shaved or BBS. Cold, Hot, Luke water. Doesn't make a difference. My results are always the same for both sides.