Thread: 1 Hand vs. 2 Hands

Originally Posted by cmontgomery

Hi all,

I am scared to death to try and shave with my left hand. Not sure how many of you have had issues with this. I have yet to try it. I see it suggested by most this is the best way of going about shaving. Anyone have any issues where they only use 1 hand, or do all of you use 2?

I am and always have been a single handed shaver. I am very right hand, right eye dominate and this makes using my left hand for any precise work very difficult.

In addition, I see no practical benefit to two handed shaving, I can get a perfectly good shave over my entire face using just my right hand. My basic shaving mantra is "do what comes natural." and shaving with both hands is to me about as unnatural is it gets.

OK is it a Blue Moon????

Because I absolutely completely agree with FCC..

After straight razor shaving since 1981 I have managed to train my left hand good enough to hold a bone down on the plate so I can chew on it...

Those of us who are southpaws have the advantage of having to live in a right handed world so we're more ambidextrous.

If you want to improve you facility with your left hand just sit down with paper and pen and write-print with your left hand. It will teach you control.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

Those of us who are southpaws have the advantage of having to live in a right handed world so we're more ambidextrous.

If you want to improve you facility with your left hand just sit down with paper and pen and write-print with your left hand. It will teach you control.

You know I never realized how true this is until I taught a few Lefties in martial arts... They are always way more coordinated and can do both sides of a technique way faster and way better than most Righties...
Southpaws are almost always more ambidextrous BUT they don't seem to have that big haymaker kick or punch that a right hander has... (this of course is just in general, and there are many exceptions)...

I am fairly new to SR shaving, but I use my right (dominant) hand and am very pleased with the results. I just eased into it and found the easiest angles of attack and now I am actually quite good at it. I may only nick my self once during a shave now.

I shaved for probably about a month using only my right hand and then started using my left. Now I'm not bad at it, believe me its hard to get used to but it is easier using both hands then having to use one and trying to see through your hand. I'm not going to lie I'v been using both hands for atleast a month now and I'm not used to it but its getting alot better! And also I'v nicked myself using my left alot more then right but its somthing you need to get around. And once you get around it, you will be a better shaver!

I guess I never put much thought into it before, even back when I was shaving with a disposable, I have always used both hands. So when I switched to a straight razor the thought of only using my dominant hand never occurred to me. I use my left hand for the left side of my face ( WTG & XTG) and right hand for right side and all ATG passes.

Originally Posted by ReardenSteel

I guess I never put much thought into it before, even back when I was shaving with a disposable, I have always used both hands. So when I switched to a straight razor the thought of only using my dominant hand never occurred to me. I use my left hand for the left side of my face ( WTG & XTG) and right hand for right side and all ATG passes.

See I started shaving with a straight so I had to learn everything not that shaving with a disposable is hard but I had to learn everything about shaving in general. Anyways, to the point of this post, I don't know how many people shave the same way I do but I find it easier while going against the grain to use the opposite hand. For example while shaving the left side of my face going against the grain I use my right hand and the same for my right side. I find it easier becuase I don't have to adjust my arm in a weird way to shave.

When I started, ouch.... in 73, getting used to the left hand was pretty awkward. I have found over the years that by getting good with both hands at shaving, that it has really helped me with in many other areas where using both hands can be beneficial. I actually feel that my shaving improved dramatically using both hands and that my field of vision is also definitely better without having to reach around my face. It also helped when I was learning to use a Japanese razor.

At the end of the day, it really boils down to what you feel comfortable with, personal preference and your level of patience when learning new things.

Have fun,

Lynn

Originally Posted by cmontgomery

Hi all,

I am scared to death to try and shave with my left hand. Not sure how many of you have had issues with this. I have yet to try it. I see it suggested by most this is the best way of going about shaving. Anyone have any issues where they only use 1 hand, or do all of you use 2?

cmontgomery,

So was I at first. As the previous posts suggest, it takes some getting used to, but over time you become more adept at using your non-dominant hand. The two keys are: 1) be patient and 2) be careful. I've only been str8 razor shaving since December 26th and I feel more and more comfortable each time I use my left hand to shave the left side of my face and neck.

Ironically, when I first began using my left hand to shave the left side of my face, the shave on that side was actually closer and required less touch up than the right side of my face. Go figure...