Thread: Shaving with both hands - is it required?

Ive been shaving with one hand mostly for years. I do however use my left hand for the upwared stroke on the right side of my neck. I guess i started doing that a year or so ago and it makes things easier for me. I get great shaves this way. I am not however a mythotical shaver where i spend a half hour shaving. I shower and shave before work at 7 am so i dont really have time for the hot towel stuff except on the weekends sometimes when i feel like spoiling myself. otherwise its a five minute deal. This weekend when i have time i think im going to try switching hands when i have time to spend doing so because shaving is not a good excuse to be late for work. lol

I've developed a highly convoluted and symmetrical 2 hand approach involving multiple grips and contortions. i swear there's a spot on my neck where the hair growth looks like someone set a bomb off in a forest.. i think there's a benefit in using 2 hands in terms of getting your non dominant (submissive?) hand a bit more agile, but that takes second place to doing what works for you.

Anyone manage to slice their thumb while changing hands? i'm suprised all parts of my body are still attached sometimes..

I only use my right hand and always shave with the grain, never against it, though I do sometimes go across. Like others say, it's what works for you.

From what I have learned so far its not necessary to learn to shave with both hands. I can tell you though, that I am glad I did learn to use both hands and wasn't as hard as I thought it would be either.

Originally Posted by tekbow

Anyone manage to slice their thumb while changing hands? i'm suprised all parts of my body are still attached sometimes..

if there is ONE thing i've learned from this forum, its to never shave naked!

Originally Posted by hcintineo

if there is ONE thing i've learned from this forum, its to never shave naked!

Now you have to spill.. you can't build it up like that and not tell

A year ago I dislocated a finger on my dominant hand and all of a sudden I had to use my non-dominant hand for a lot of things. So I think the main advantage to shaving with both hands is that you're not totally dependent on the dominant hand, should that, for whatever reason, be unavailable to you. I'm still not totally comfortable or skilled shaving with my non-dominant hand, but I'm deliberately practicing with it to become more "resiliant" in case of need.

Doc Lars

When started shaving with a straight about 5yrs ago, I was getting really discouraged with my right hand because I just couldn't hold it like I could with my left. I finally decided that I needed a little help and I've been shaving with "two hands" since.

Now I'm actually good with both left and right hands but I still like the control I get with using two hands especially on my upper lip and my jawline.

Being new to shaving with a straight razor, I am still learning and in discovery mode. I am left-handed and I have done a little bit of shaving on my right side using the right hand. It's going to take me some time to figure out what really works. The key thing for me is to carefully experiment with techniques to see what works for me.

Learning to shave with the 'off' hand is made easier if instead of using the hand to shave you just hold the razor with the 'off' hand and initiate the shaving movements with the arm, pulling down with the elbow. Start slowly on the cheek and expand your efforts only as your skills and comfort with it increase.