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I've seen a lot of instructions on how to hold the straight razor, but it's always for WTG passes. I have yet to see anyone describe how to hold the razor for ATG or even XTG passes. I might get an idea from the shaving demonstration videos, but the grip itself is discussed.
So... how do you hold a straight razor for your XTG and ATG passes? What is the conventional way and what are any alternative options?
(Watch someone dig up 15 threads and videos that I somehow missed - that's my luck :w)
Well my answer is kind of complicated. ATG I have the scale straight in line for the most part, but I never go ATG for the mustache. As for across, that goes sideburn to chin and under my jaw to my neck, and the grip is different for each of those. The first XTG is pretty standard grip, scales up at near 90 and the tang between two fingers and my thumb. Grip is also not quite accurate. It always implies a tight hold and I have to say it is much more loose than that. Firmly but gently held. You will always be able to tell the you are holding the razor correctly because it will be very comfortable and you will have full control over the blade. That is basically the rule on how to hold a razor. You will absolutely need to figure out how that works best for you by trying different grips. Feel free to move the scales around to find your comfort spot. You can also change your hold for different parts of your face and different passes. I found in the beginning the tighter I held my razor the more aggressively I shaved with it. Gently wiping the lather off of my skin was the goal.
This is kind of hard because what is ATG for one person is not necessarily the same for another. Your beard pattern is different from the next guy. For some it's up and down. For others it's side to side. And for some of us, the hair transitions at some point.
Another factor is whether or not you change to your non dominate hand during your shave . In the beginning I used only one hand, but over time have evolved to using both. Shaving with a straight razor is probably one of the most individually varied skills you can imagine. I doubt many of us perform it exactly the same way. You have to find your own technique based on your beard/skin type,growth pattern not to mention manual dexterity and variance in razor grind etc. I probably watched this video a hundred times in the beginning trying to emulate Chimensch's style and grip, but in the end I had to adapt and create my own technique. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIM0Coix6Gg
I use both hands. Right hand for right side and left for left for wtg and switch to right for left and left for right on xtg. Atg is whatever works and a mix of all different sorts of grips. For the first 2 its just a basic grip for the most part. There is a page in the library of all the various grips. Give a few a try and see what works.
Different ways to hold a straight razor - Straight Razor Place Library
I have never seen that library page before. Apparently I did not search nd read on this site as well as I thought I had.
Good reference.
There have been some very good points raised in this thread.
That shaving video is awesome.
I hadn't seen that library page before either. But I can tell you that I have been using #8 all along and its the most useful grip for me.
That video is definitely a great find, but Chimensch's technique is just unnatural for me.
I'm starting to get the hang of ATG passes, but it's still kind of weird because what works great for me one day feels foreign and strange the next. Whether it's the way I'm holding the razor or the hand I'm holding it with, whatever. I'm still trying to get muscle memory down, I guess.