Which hand?

I consider myself to be very right hand dominant.
I just finished my fourth shave with a straight razor... a 5/8 Genco Master Barber with a square point.
Shave #1 was great as was #2. Took a nick on shave three, and three nicks today. All on the left side from forcing myself to use my left hand.
I have trouble making my left hand go the way I want it to go while looking in the mirror. I know my right brain will learn, and muscle memory will help, but, here's my question.
Should I be concentrating on applying the same strokes with my right hand to my left? I can do nice curved cuts and get into problem areas easily with my right... Should I try to do the same with my left until I learn, or do some folks just cheat..

I've watched some video clips, but i wonder if anyone could point me to more...

I figure I might as well learn properly the first time!

But, I've been getting great shaves already. As close, or in some areas closer than my best with a DE.

Thanks for the help.

P.S. I do practice a bit with a dull razor in the mirror..

Do what is most comfortable for you, there is no set in stone way to shave with a straight.
You do not have to use both hands because you saw it in a video, there is many guys who use only one hand and get great shaves.
If you feel like you can do certain spots and passes with your left hand by any means do so, but only if you are not risking cuts to your face.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BlacknTan

I consider myself to be very right hand dominant.
I just finished my fourth shave with a straight razor... a 5/8 Genco Master Barber with a square point.
Shave #1 was great as was #2. Took a nick on shave three, and three nicks today. All on the left side from forcing myself to use my left hand.
I have trouble making my left hand go the way I want it to go while looking in the mirror. I know my right brain will learn, and muscle memory will help, but, here's my question.
Should I be concentrating on applying the same strokes with my right hand to my left? I can do nice curved cuts and get into problem areas easily with my right... Should I try to do the same with my left until I learn, or do some folks just cheat..

I've watched some video clips, but i wonder if anyone could point me to more...

I figure I might as well learn properly the first time!

But, I've been getting great shaves already. As close, or in some areas closer than my best with a DE.

Thanks for the help.

P.S. I do practice a bit with a dull razor in the mirror..

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I'm not ambidextrous but learned to use my left hand a bit through various sports, which helped me a bit when I started straight shaving. If you're starting out fresh from not really using your left for anything, then I'd say just focus on the easy parts of your cheek before trying to navigate the trickier spots like around the lips and below the jawline.

It'll eventually become more natural with practice. You can also try using a butter knife or something dull just to become familiar with the motions.

I shave using just my right hand holding the razor and I get a good result! As Maniaman says, just do what feels natural to you above all. If you force it then you might cut yourself.

Try practicing with a butter knife or something, and using it to wipe the lather off your face in a practice shave using your other hand.

Good luck and keep us posted!

I learnt to use my left hand for shaving. the way i did it was i would "play"

to begin with if i struggled but the more i played with it the easier it became.

At the end of the day though remember its your face, do what feels comfortable for you to get the results you want.

Hello, BlacknTan:

No formalized rules dictate using one or two hands. Do what feels most comfortable to you.

I am right-handed, but I alternated hands from the first day. My shave guru was Lynn Abrams, who uses both hands. I also liked his style and technique. My own technique evolved from his.

The left hand was awkward at first, yes, but eventually my skills improved as I used it as much as possible in daily activities: brushing teeth, opening doors, and so on.

I always recommend using two hands, though, again, use whatever feels more comfortable to you.

For the feel of the straight razor and its optics when coming across your face, I suggest taping together a pair of dull butter knives in the shape of an open razor and practicing. When lathering your face with the brush, alternate hands. Devise your own methods of using the non-dominant hand.

Most of all, have patience with your non-dominant hand.

Regards,
Obie

I'm with ya there, being very right handed and dyslexic to boot :p I don't trust my left hand with anything sharp... It knows it's job and that job has nothing to do with an edge in it lol

It takes a bit of practice to get anything done and if you want to use both hands, practice is the key, same if you only use one hand.

I'm right-handed too. It took some practice to learn how to use my left hand to shave the left side of my face. Now, its second nature for me.

As previous posts have suggested...You needn't push yourself. Do what's comfortable for you. Go slow--as your own signature says--and be patient. Over time, and with daily practice, you'll get the hang of it.

As for the nicks...Make use of the styptic and apply some antibiotic cream or ointment to them. Then complete your shave.

Take care--and smooth shaving.

Thanks for all the good advice!

I'm actually doing far better than I expected I would at this stage in the learning process. The nicks don't slow me down... they're tiny ones, and stop bleeding within minutes..
I used to keep styptic around many years ago, but i have no idea where it is now... Once things enter the "no man's land" under the vanity, I think they slip off into the nether world... never to appear again.

Thanks everyone... My resolve is unshaken!

having worked as a chef for many years i am very adept at using both of my hands for nearly everything.. however.. it just seems silly to switch hands when shaving.. the use of my right hand to shave the left side of my face does not impair my vision in the least.. it seems logical to me that i keep my right hand dry and safely in control of my stupidly sharp feather ac while my left hand stretches my face and wipes away lather when appropriate..

but i'm also a weakling.. if you have a giant popeye arm that is going to block your view in the mirror.. i'd suggest learning to switch hands.

Here's an old post by me a few days ago in another thread:

"Muscle memory is huge . practice practice practice. I have just recently started to do more work with my off-hand. Like a baseball player that takes a few practice swings with his bat before the pitch, I do the same with my razor. When I use my off hand, I'll mimic the motion of the stroke Im going to do above the skin first 2-3 times.Then Ill put the blade on the skin and continue. This will help your muscle momory. As you get better your hand will just do what its suppose to"

I have to agree muscle memory is so important. So (and I do suggest like other before do what is natural to you, there is no set in stone way of doing it and many as you've already heard shave their entire face with one hand - Japanese straight razor shaving is the same) if you do want to use both handes I think the advise on using a bread knife or something dull first just to warm up and let your hand get into the groove so to speak is a really good suggestion. Good luck and it sounds like you are alreayd on the way.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Obie

I am right-handed, but I alternated hands from the first day. My shave guru was Lynn Abrams, who uses both hands. I also liked his style and technique. My own technique evolved from his.

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I often wondered if Lynn had something to do with the pursuit and/or obsession over shaving with both hands. I'm in the "do what works for you" camp.

BTW - I shave with both hands, at least in certain spots;)

I shave one handed,my right.I have learned to be a contortionist I guess.:shrug:

I'm a newbie and have been straight razor shaving for about a month. I am also right-handed and find it very difficult to do anything with my left (sports, writing, etc). My first couple shaves I tried to keep the razor in my right hand and go over the left side of my face but it came out horribly wrong. Cuts, nicks, inconsistencies in pressure...

I figured that it would be easier to switch to the left hand for the left side of the face and use the same technique, rather than having to learn a new technique and keeping the razor in the right hand. This seems to be working OK.

However, I tend to only use the left hand for the left sideburns, cheek, and neck. The left side of the lip and chin I still do with my right.

Im just gonna quote this if you didnt see it already

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

I shave with my dominant ( right) hand and whenever I tried the left I would become discombobulated upon looking in the mirror and trying to work with the thing in my left hand. Then a fellow member (danny wonderful) posted that he practiced shaving left handed while watching TV or at his computer screen. I took a dull razor and tried this .... carefully .... and darned if it didn't make all the difference in the world. With very little practice I found that I could go to the shave (in the mirror) and manipulate the razor with my left or right hand.

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Just saw this thread and read through it. You saved me a lot of typing. The Danny Wonderful method really did work for me. :gl:

Thanks once again for all the constructive comments. They really do help!
I went back and found the Danny Wonderful method, and a number of similar threads along the way.

In a way, I'm glad is not an easy skill to master.. Facing, and overcoming a new challenge is what life is all about.

Update!

Today's shave, #5, went extremely well! The left hand is coming along a bit, and I got a great shave with no new nicks..
So, while it's premature to declare total victory, I won today's battle!

http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/b...t/IMG_3159.jpg

Basketball, keyboard/piano, violin, hackysack (both legs), guitar. Good to know and good to grow (neurons, that is).

I quickly took to using both hands for str8 shaving as well. In fact, when I experimented with using just one hand (dominant) I found myself having difficulties with getting proper blade placement and comfortable strokes, awkward second-hand stretching too. I'd hate not to use my left hand. In fact, with the ATG pass on my cheek, the most important hand is the left hand because right-to-left is the closest cut, left-to-right is kind of like a WTG for my beard growth pattern. I've taken to using the opposite hand for each side of my face, even as the dicey task of around the mouth. Easy to get close shaves on the upper lip when using the opposite hand and going in diagonally WTG in towards the center (philtrum). For my face I basically use the non-dominant hand about two-thirds of the shave so really have no choice in the matter.

The suggestion to brush teeth, open doors, etc. is right on. I see it as investing in more than simply cleaning your face of those pesky whiskers. It's like people who learn more than one language, or older people who actively engage their minds in puzzles and/or keep challenging themselves and learning new skills, it has a well-known protective effect on senility/dementia. People who've seemed normal, not suffering much cognitive deficit who've had their brains autopsied have shown some curiously strong evidence of alzheimer's, yet didn't exhibit the symptoms.

Like, dudes. Learn it. It's a better shave and a better life.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BlacknTan

I consider myself to be very right hand dominant.
I just finished my fourth shave with a straight razor... a 5/8 Genco Master Barber with a square point.
Shave #1 was great as was #2. Took a nick on shave three, and three nicks today. All on the left side from forcing myself to use my left hand.
I have trouble making my left hand go the way I want it to go while looking in the mirror. I know my right brain will learn, and muscle memory will help, but, here's my question.
Should I be concentrating on applying the same strokes with my right hand to my left? I can do nice curved cuts and get into problem areas easily with my right... Should I try to do the same with my left until I learn, or do some folks just cheat..

I've watched some video clips, but i wonder if anyone could point me to more...

I figure I might as well learn properly the first time!

But, I've been getting great shaves already. As close, or in some areas closer than my best with a DE.

Thanks for the help.

P.S. I do practice a bit with a dull razor in the mirror..

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Did you come across this video on Chimensch's 30th Anniversary Shaving Video?

(http://straightrazorpalace.com/shaving-straight-razor/50228-chimenschs-30th-anniversary-shaving-video.html)


He makes it looks like a breeze...it's a bit challenging at first, but doable...you will eventually establish what's comfortable for you. But, keep at it with your left hand and don't give up. Force it to do work outside the box...the memory kicks in sooner than you think.

Come to think of it...You want to reduce the slope of the learning curve for your left hand, do what I do (which, BTW is working wonders for me): Use your left hand to lather up your face with the brush...for me, that was one of the most uncomfortable things to do...especially, the rotating motion of the brush. Try it, it really pushes the boundaries of the comfort zone for your left hand.


Cheers,
-Robert