My "off hand" is getting better!

[JPDyson]

I never really thought I'd get used to using my left hand, but I couldn't arrive at a comfortable way to get to my left side any other way (at least for the leftmost parts of my face). This morning, I noticed that after one pass, my left side actually matched my right side for closeness and lack of irritation!

No real point to this other than a little horn tooting and maybe an encouragement for those of you worried about shaving with the off hand. Give it some time (in my case, at least a couple dozen shaves) and it starts to really come together. I'm still unsure of it - it requires more focus and it goes a touch slower - but it IS possible.

 

[BladeRunner001]

Way to go Josh...initially, it can be a bit scary but I also found my left (non-dominant) hand to learn very quickly. In some respects, it is a bit better than my dominant now

I never really thought I'd get used to using my left hand, but I couldn't arrive at a comfortable way to get to my left side any other way (at least for the leftmost parts of my face). This morning, I noticed that after one pass, my left side actually matched my right side for closeness and lack of irritation!

No real point to this other than a little horn tooting and maybe an encouragement for those of you worried about shaving with the off hand. Give it some time (in my case, at least a couple dozen shaves) and it starts to really come together. I'm still unsure of it - it requires more focus and it goes a touch slower - but it IS possible.

 

[ouch]

Way to go Josh...initially, it can be a bit scary but I also found my left (non-dominant) hand to learn very quickly. In some respects, it is a bit better than my dominant now

Lacking the confidence displayed by your dominant hand, your off hand is probably slowing you down and forcing you to concentrate more, which we should all be doing anyway. I've cut myself far more with my dominant hand.

 

[professorchaos]

Congratulations!

Eventuallly, using your non-dominant hand will become second nature.

 

[huracan]

Actually, that is a pretty good idea for a thread. What are the top 3 things you told yourself it was impossible to when you first took on shaving with a straight.

Mine where:

1. There is no way I can use my (non-dominant) hand

2. There is no way I can keep my scales dry.

3. There is no way this can take less than 30 minutes.


Congratulations on your milestone.

 

[Bay Rum]

I'm working on it too, I can't believe I was able to do it.

 

[luvmysuper]

Lacking the confidence displayed by your dominant hand, your off hand is probably slowing you down and forcing you to concentrate more, which we should all be doing anyway. I've cut myself far more with my dominant hand.

Amen!

Congrats Josh, keep at it.

 

[PaulX608]

I have a pretty useless left arm from a childhood farm equipment accident. I never thought I'd be able to use it in shaving at all. After trying in vain to do a S-N pass on my right side with my right hand, I finally tried the left. It took a while and I'm still a bit surprised to see the guy in the mirror using that hand for much of anything, much less holding a sharp blade to my throat. I learned quickly and couldn't think of not using it now.

 

[Wid]

Nice to hear your making progress with the left hand. It took me a while to get comfortable using my left hand also. It has been really coming to together here too.

 

[JPDyson]

Lacking the confidence displayed by your dominant hand, your off hand is probably slowing you down and forcing you to concentrate more, which we should all be doing anyway. I've cut myself far more with my dominant hand.

Well that makes perfect sense. Good point.

I have a pretty useless left arm from a childhood farm equipment accident. I never thought I'd be able to use it in shaving at all. After trying in vain to do a S-N pass on my right side with my right hand, I finally tried the left. It took a while and I'm still a bit surprised to see the guy in the mirror using that hand for much of anything, much less holding a sharp blade to my throat. I learned quickly and couldn't think of not using it now.

If anybody deserves congratulations for overcoming an obstacle, it's you, sir. Well done.

 

[PaulX608]

If anybody deserves congratulations for overcoming an obstacle, it's you, sir. Well done.

Eh, it wasn't that bad. The hardest part was trying. I've never used that hand for shaving with a safety razor, but it was necessary with a straight. All in all, it was a lot easier than learning to tie my shoes the second time at age 15!

 

[professorchaos]

Actually, that is a pretty good idea for a thread. What are the top 3 things you told yourself it was impossible to when you first took on shaving with a straight.

Mine where:

1. There is no way I can use my (non-dominant) hand

2. There is no way I can keep my scales dry.

3. There is no way this can take less than 30 minutes.


Congratulations on your milestone.

Funny, I went through some bizzaro deja vu this morning using a Japanese straight.

1. there is no way I can shave with only one side of this razor.
2. there is no way I can shave only using one hand.
3. there is no way I won't cut myself.

All three turned out to be true. For now.

 

[Ru4scuba?]

I never really thought I'd get used to using my left hand, but I couldn't arrive at a comfortable way to get to my left side any other way (at least for the leftmost parts of my face). This morning, I noticed that after one pass, my left side actually matched my right side for closeness and lack of irritation!

No real point to this other than a little horn tooting and maybe an encouragement for those of you worried about shaving with the off hand. Give it some time (in my case, at least a couple dozen shaves) and it starts to really come together. I'm still unsure of it - it requires more focus and it goes a touch slower - but it IS possible.

Congrats dude! Never really thought I would be able to do this either. I watched Chimensch's video and realized it was easier (for me) that doing in dominant hand whole way. Eventually I got very comfortable with it

 

[ouch]

I have a pretty useless left arm from a childhood farm equipment accident. I never thought I'd be able to use it in shaving at all. After trying in vain to do a S-N pass on my right side with my right hand, I finally tried the left. It took a while and I'm still a bit surprised to see the guy in the mirror using that hand for much of anything, much less holding a sharp blade to my throat. I learned quickly and couldn't think of not using it now.

Truly inspirational.

 

[Luc]

Good work! I thought the same when I started using both hands and it feels more natural after a few shaves.

 

[dpmtherrien]

Congrats. I had the same problem, until I started using my other hand. Now its no problem at all.

 

[Brownbear]

I'm near the end of my second week after starting and I find my left hand is doing pretty well. So well that now I use it sometimes in place of my dominant hand just to get a slightly better angle in an odd spot.

Truth is both hands felt so awkward at first that my off hand was only a little more difficult, so I really do think starting using both is an advantage.

Wouldn't have predicted it, but it is so.

 

[Shangas]

Actually, that is a pretty good idea for a thread. What are the top 3 things you told yourself it was impossible to when you first took on shaving with a straight.

Mine where:

1. There is no way I can use my (non-dominant) hand

2. There is no way I can keep my scales dry.

3. There is no way this can take less than 30 minutes.


Congratulations on your milestone.

That sounds like a fascinating idea for a threat. I entreat you to make it.