I am new to straight razor shaving. I am right-handed and doing fine with the right side of my face but hacking my left side.
Do experienced shavers use left hand for left side or use right hand for both.
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I am new to straight razor shaving. I am right-handed and doing fine with the right side of my face but hacking my left side.
Do experienced shavers use left hand for left side or use right hand for both.
I use both of my hands. I find that it's easier to manage, but definitely not necessary to get a good shave. There are plenty of veterans who use the same hand for the whole face.
I was comfortable with it at the start, but if you have any reservations then try using a dull knife or something just to practice the technique and get used to holding it. I've also read suggestions to try doing simple tasks left-handed first, such as brushing your teeth.
My short answer is that a shaver does what works for him.Quote:
Originally Posted by MJCP
Here's my long answer: I think it evolves over time. After three months of doing what I thought was right: left hand, left side; right hand, right side, I achieved BBS results on my cheeks but when I didn't make progress getting the razor stubble under the chin and jaw line I began to focus on attacking it any way I could. I think we become familiar with our hair growth patterns with experience and get to the point where we learn where our facial hair growth differs from the ones in the diagrams and make adjustments. The definition of insanity is doing what you know doesn't work over and over again.
Anyone with more experience correct me if they think I am wrong, but I don't think you can train facial hair to grow in a different direction by continuing to shave in "textbook" fashion.
I use both hands to shave with after watching Lynn's dvd "World of Straight Razor Shaving." It felt very awkward at first, since I'm right-handed, but now it is second nature to me.
You notice, though, that he uses the opposite hand under the jaw line. After three months and not getting the desired results in that area, I followed suit. I'm still trying to figure out what works.Quote:
Originally Posted by jhenry
I only use my right hand. Tried my left but i am not confident with it. I shave pretty well. There are probably a few spots that could be done better but overall a good shave
I can only use my right hand with something like a str8 razor due to some nerve damage to my left.
It is awkward to get full face coverage but my dexterity of my right hand makes it possible.
Do what you can with what you got.
Brian
Hi, I use both. I felt it would be easier in the long run. Yes, it was a little awkward at first, but if you decide to try, it will come quicker than you think. With that said, if it seems TOO uncomfortable, lots of folks use one hand.
Gerald
I also use both hands, as follows:
- WTG: Right side, right hand; left side, left hand
- ATG: Right side, left hand; left side, right hand
- XTG(1): Right side, right hand; left side, left hand
- XTG(2): Right side, left hand; left side, right hand
I don't always make the second XTG pass (but when I do, I prefer Dos Equis) :)
I use both.
When I first started it was very awkward and I would stop and go back to the right hand. I persisted though, and slowly got the hang of it. Now, I also use the opposite hand on the jaw line. It allows me to stretch the skin better.
I'm right handed & was never comfortable using my left for anything but playing my guitar when I was in the Navy.Quote:
Originally Posted by MJCP
It was quite awkward at first, learning to use both hands when I shave, but now it's second nature to me.
Give it a try. Be patient. And above all -- trust your right brain to lead your hands as you shave.
Namaste,
Morty -_-
I use one hand for my face (right hand), but both hands for my head.
I think it was said before but bears repeating - whatever works best for you. While you are still new and not too set in your ways, why not try using your left hand and see how it feels? If it doesn't feel comfortable and controlled, you can always go back to single handed shaving and concentrate on that left side of the face more. But give it a try with your left - you might be surprised.
Good luck.
James.
I use both hands but I am extraordinarily lucky in that I am naturally cross dominant. Meaning I use my left hand for writing but my right hand for everything else, playing tennis, shooting a rifle, etc. So it was very easy for me because I can do most tasks with either hand naturally or only need very little practice to get comfortable using either hand. The same goes for stropping or honing with me. When one hand gets tired I just use the other.
Quote:
Originally Posted by borebrush
I'm that kind of lefty as well-we're strange breeds. Coordination-lefty, strength-righty. Tennis-righty, Ping-pong-lefty. I've used a straight about 10 times and though the right hand was a bit strange it's coming along nicely. Most of my "mishaps" have been with the right hand, but they're happening less often.
Right handed for everything as my left hand doesn't always move the way I want it to...
Hello, MJCP:
I am right handed. From the first day, however, I chose to use both hands, because I preferred the two-handed technique. Besides, my shave guru, the Noble Lynn, used two hands and he was my teacher from the start. The left hand needed some training, but I did it.
Regards,
Obie
Yep, Lynn's the reason I started shaving with both. Right hand for left side of face, left hand for right side of face...some call it cross face shaving. These guys said it best, have patience...if you don't, your razor will force patience upon you:)
I use only my dominant (right) hand and have been doing it that way for years. For me, using my left hand for any delicate operation is clumsy and unnatural, and I believe that the quickest path to serious injury while shaving is trying to do anything unnatural.
Shaving with the opposite hand is a learned process as is shaving with a straight razor. If you just try it on the opposite side from the side burn to the jaw for a while, your ability improves. Move on in small increments only as you feel comfortable. Actually just holding the razor in your opposite hand will help you adjust to using it. The funny thing is after you do get used to using the opposite hand, there is all kind of things you end up being able to do with both hands that you would not have thought possible before including writing.
Have fun,
Lynn
It must be different on the other side of the equator... I use both hands on my face but only my right hand on my head.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jimbo
Well I sure can't write with my left hand, but I can shave with it. It takes some time.
On the other hand (pun intended) I've seen dominate hand only shavers that do a really nice job. It just seems awkward to me.
I'm right handed - only straight shaved a handful of times, maybe 8, and tried using both hands after watching Lynn's video and it did not go well. I'd like to get more proficient at it because I feel I can get everything really well with my right hand except the right side of my neck, just can't quite get it...
I'm right handed, but following advice I read here on the wiki somewhere, I have worked on using the left hand (my off hand) on the left side of my face. Ironically, that side of my face seems better shaved, with fewer nicks, than the "Strong side" (right) part.
I have decided that when I use my off-hand, I'm thinking more, concentrating, watching, and perhaps less likely to do something that "feels right" but instead concentrate on actually doing it right.
Maybe using my left hand I'm more aware of my need to learn. Maybe it's humility?
I started as right hand [ I am right handed] only and after a few months decided to use my left hand. Felt really awkward for a while, a month or so, but gradually it has come to be as easy as the right hand. Very satisfying to train the left hand, once the motor memory is set then you are fine. Plenty of blokes shave with only one hand, and do a fine job.:beer2:
Cheers
I use both hands and have from the start. Most of my beard grows from left to right, so going ATG needs to be with the left hand to get BBS. Even though I'm right-handed, now shave much quicker using both hands than with just my right. Best advice is to use what feels comfortable.
I use my left hand for my left cheek, then I use my right hand for the rest of the face, including the left side of the neck, that's what works best for me.