Thread: Closed eyes shave?

I shave with my eyes closed pretty often. It's because of my poor eyesight. I either had to learn how to shave without seeing or not shave. I have glasses which usually fog up.

It's not really that hard at all.

I went through a period of time when I was shaving with the same razor every day. Because I noticed that I was so familiar with that razor, I noticed that I could easily shave without really paying attention because it just seemed instinctive. I tried shaving with my eyes closed with that razor and by doing so realized how much I had come to rely upon the FEEL of the shave more than the view of the shave.

When you learn to ride a bike, it's a struggle just keeping it upright. Later, it becomes instinctive. When you start with a straight, you're constantly worrying about angle of the blade and the contact of the edge with the skin. Later, it too becomes instinctive.

If I were going to shave with my eyes closed, I would first develop a routine that was precise and consistent every time. Then, I would pay attention to every detail of the shave (free hand placement when stretching), committing it to memory.

Next, I would start trying to just use peripheral vision before going completely eyes closed.

With your experience, I have no doubt that you'll be shaving with your eyes closed in no time.

Not really the same thing but.... forum member Danny Wonderful (haven't seen him post lately) once posted that he practiced maneuvering the blade on his face while watching TV to learn to shave with his non dominant hand.

So I tried it and that is how I learned to shave with my left hand as well as the right. How it became quite easy and coordinated. When I had tried it looking in he mirror, before that, I would become discombobulated.

So doing this isn't doing it with your eyes closed, or with a sharp blade, but it is going through the motions without looking at what you're doing. Might be a good precursor for a person who will have to shave with their eyes closed in the future.

If I remember correctly, back in the day of the Yahoo SRP, there was a member who claimed he shaved with his eyes closed..... in the shower!

I can "see" the day coming when I will need to learn this...like tomorrow!

I always shave the back of my head without the assistance of a mirror. I will try my face tonight and see how it goes.

On the back of my head I set my index finger on the blade so that it's half on the edge, half off. Then I bring the blade into my head and I can always feel where it's at in relation to the skin and the curvature by keeping that finger on the edge.

I'm at work right now and trying the motions with a ruler... For my face, I think I will set my finger on the point of the blade so as to know where it's at in relation to my ear.

(when I'm doing all of this, the razor isn't opened to it's "proper" position... The scales are straight in line with the blade like a pocket knife would be)

I have tried shaving with my eyes closed, and still do, once in a while. My goal was to improve my shaving technique. It is harder shaving without eyesight, and obviously you have to pay double attention to your other senses so it seemed a logical thing for me to try. I do feel it helped, angle and pressure certainly got a lot of attention. Scything motions seemed scary at first. I did not nick or cut myself, but it was not so fast. If I had to shave regularly without eyesight, I think I'd use a shave oil to improve lubrication. I also find it harder to get a feel for the toe of the razor, gotta watch the ears and nose.
I never tried making lather without eyesight, but I imagine that would be difficult.

Originally Posted by HNSB

I always shave the back of my head without the assistance of a mirror. I will try my face tonight and see how it goes.

On the back of my head I set my index finger on the blade so that it's half on the edge, half off. Then I bring the blade into my head and I can always feel where it's at in relation to the skin and the curvature by keeping that finger on the edge.

I do the same. Using the finger as a guide is a great help.

As per the question at hand, I haven't shaved with my eyes closed, but I have shaved in near darkness (less than candle light). Its not something I'd like to do on a regular basis, but I was proud that I was able to get a decent shave. It took me longer than normal, but that is to be expected when one is trying to to slice one's ears off in the dark. I also experienced that my sense of touch seemed to try and compensate for the lack of sight.

I remember reading on here some time ago about a good skill to learn is to be able to shave without a mirror, which is something I'd like to work up to someday. Not yet though, as I still feel I'm still getting working on my fundamentals.

Hi,

I've thought about this and thought to post the question but never did. What brought this to mind was the idea of using other sense to guide the process. When I started with a straight I shaved my entire face with with my right hand. Add to that I can have just one good eye, my left and there were times when it was a bit of a challenge to learn the straight razor.

Shaving with your eyes closed is like trying to shave with both left and right hands or brush your teeth with your non-dominate hand. While it may have not immediate value you be prepared for something you never expected, having to do it for the rest of your life that way.

- Mike

I too shave my head. Blindly shaving around the back of my ears wtg, xtg, atg is second nature, NOW. When I grace the razor near that small mole at the back of my head, the razor intuitively dances with it. Any more, I use mirrors to view the back of my head to make sure no soap got left behind after rinse.

When I think back, it was very clumsy when started, often drawing a nick.

I would imagine the same confidence would emerge at the front of my face if I were to practice it. I'd guess gents of the past did this often, when a mirror wasn't available.

I may try a few rounds on my face now that you mention it. I'm more worried about my long goatee getting in the way. I tie it up when I shave, but seems like there are still always a loose hair or two in that area.