Training your non-dominant hand

[cjc15153]

I am interested in using my left hand to shave. Partially as a right-brain exercise, partially to make me more aware of technique and partially because someone's med-school professor recommended everyone do it, and I try to do what doctors tell me.

I tried a couple days ago and now I've got a couple ingrowns on my neck. Someone else must have tried this. Should I stick to the easy parts of the face, or alternate hands on passes when I'm feeling sinister?

This was sort touched on a couple years ago, but I thought it better to create a new thread, rather than revive the old one.

[notthesharpest]

You can do whatever you want and works for you. There is no "should" available to guide you.

To really get the point of the right-brain/technique awareness thing, I suggest shaving wrong-hand-only for a week and reporting back (assuming you're still in one piece).

Lots of guys shave good-hand-only, so certainly it can be done the other way too.

[marsos52]

yes ,,,,many straight razor shavers use both hands...

if they can shave straight with both hands...could be easy with a de..

before i had my stroke i could shave either hand...i could do many things
even eat and write with either hand..

now i just trust my left one...

[brothers]

The left hand didn't cause the ingrowns. I think you should be adventurous, use either or both hands on all, some, or none of the passes. we really should give our brains more exercise. It can't hurt anything.

[gil3591]

i don't wish to improve my brain. ignorance is bliss!

[Blue As A Jewel]

It's weird, I can shave with either hand using a straight, but have difficulty doing the same with a DE... maybe its not weird come to think of it... I play the drums, but can't dance...

[drumana]

When I was using my straight razor more, I trained myself to use both hands. Around that time I also trained myself to use my DE with both hands. It was somehow easier with my straight razor, probably because that was also new information for my dominant hand as well - how to hold the razor, shave with it, not slice my face off, etc...

I've since then gone back to using my dominant hand only with my DE... for no real reason actually. I just prefer it. Sometimes I brush my teeth with my non dominant hand, which is just as much of a brain exercise without the risk of getting a sub par shave.

[JarmoP]

I'm sort of limited in my shaving. I use only my right hand and only the darts strokes. I never even learned the Mantic spoon hold and I think I'm doing just fine.

Jarmo

[Squire]

I trained myself to shave left handed but never got really good results.

[Odio Barbillas]

It's weird, I can shave with either hand using a straight, but have difficulty doing the same with a DE... maybe its not weird come to think of it... I play the drums, but can't dance...

I played drums right- and left-handed! I had plenty of practice as my best friend back then was a lefty.

And I do switch hands with a DE. It feels kind of natural.

[Blue As A Jewel]

It's weird, I can shave with either hand using a straight, but have difficulty doing the same with a DE... maybe its not weird come to think of it... I play the drums, but can't dance...

I played drums right- and left-handed! I had plenty of practice as my best friend back then was a lefty.

And I do switch hands with a DE. It feels kind of natural.

Cool! I can switch out my lead hand no problem, but it's just the DE feels odd (and dancing)... maybe I'll give it a whirl without the blade!

[Odio Barbillas]

I've found over the years that you can get used to anything. Even switching hands. Patience.

Note: I would not use a straight even if I was an ambidextrous octopus!