holding the razor?

hi everyone ,

just finshed third shave and its going well!!!!
now a quick one about holding the razor . i have been holding it in my right hand first and second fingers on top of the tang , thumb under the tang and the monkeys tail resting on the third with the scales pointing up at 90deg between third and pinky. now i found it hard to see and jugde angle and pressure that way.

so i sore something on you tube last night so i tryed it , it was holding in the right hand again with the first finger on top of the tang and thumb under and the rest of the razor and scales horizontal in my parm of my hand with the monkeys tail resting on my pinky and the scales just poking up throught my tird and pinky fingers. (bit like a knife cutting bread) this way i had a good view and got the angle and pressure spot on also with the left hand thus making the shave great.

as i said a quick one. is this normal or have i made it up because it seems to work????????:shrug:
your stan
P.S rad setting in brought a W&B special off OLD_SCHOOL last night (ta mate looking forward to it)

I've taken to holding the razor that way as well. It doesn't seem to me, as long you are careful and attentive, that it is inherently bad.

But could this be a troublesome habbit to learn?

I hold my razor in lots of different ways. Which ever works best for me in the spot I am shaving. I think what ever works for you is the right way, it may not be for everyone but so long as you make it work then its ok.

When I start over-thinkin' how to hold a razor, I think about the Japanese style straights and Euro style straights:

both are held different ways, and both work great. I sometimes switch back and forth from "conventional" to "Japanese style" when shavin' face and head and whatnot.

Whatever gives me better control of the angles is what is best, regardless of what everybody else does.

I say try your own way, get proficient at it, and post a video of your personal technique!:tu

Iv'e been using a straight for about 4 months now. My main concern was how to grip the razor so I wasn't tense yet felt in control and how to find the right angles while shaving so I could see what was going on and get a smooth shave. My goal is to be relaxed and proficiant, To achieve a great shave while having a great time doing it. I'm getting there and becoming more confident and enjoying the heck out of my time shaving and grooming. I love the smell of the soap and whipping up lather, the aroma of the coffee rising up from the cup on the counter, choosing an aftershave lotion and balm. How do I hold the razor? I don't know. Whatever works. Whatever feels comfortable. What ever keeps me from cutting the heck out of my face! I'm left handed. I use both hands while shaving; left hand for the left side of my face, right hand for the right side. I never thought I'd take a razor in my right hand and put it to my face but it works.
:tu

I think it all depends on the size and shape of your hands and what's most comfortable for you. That's the way I do it. I find it really lets me choke up on the blades and get a full grip. I like that.

X

Im a new str8 shaver, had some troubles holding the razor as well, tried to keep the "Missionary" position but it was hard when i moved to the left of the face.

Also the neck is a problem maintaining the position...

I guess i will just hold it as i want and forget the traditional position...

Thanks :)

I alternate between the classic grip you describe and many others after initially fixating on keeping that classic grip going and worrying about where the handle was. You can hold it in whatever way works for you! You just need control but lightly so that any skips or snags don't become cuts and nicks. I've found that I've now got a good feel for whether it's sharp enough and when it is it cuts so lightly it's almost doing the job for me under it's own weight and can be gripped very lightly.
Hardest thing for me to overcome is that I can't ever see the first stroke at the bottom of my sideburns so it's always a blind start. Just don't seem to be able to get in a position where the stroke is clearly visible but that said, it's less of a problem every time I do it as my feel for the blade improves. Just about to ditch my DE and force myself to manage with the str8.

im with dannyr on this one hold it in whateverway feels best to you i hold it differant for parts of my face than i do others if it works for you do it :D

As long as you're getting the job done it can't be wrong, eh? I'm right-handed and I've only been shaving for a month so far. I remember the first couple shaves were just horrendous on the left side of my face and neck! As was mentioned above I couldn't see trying to use just my right hand for everything, yet my left was shaky and unsure!

Now...I'm better, not great, with my left hand and I have an occasional red line accross my cheek :gaah: but it feels right to me!


Just keep doing it so that the job gets done! :rock:

I just received a GOTTA 120 Hamburg from OLDSCHOOL the other day and I must say the razor is wonderful. Much better shaves, BBS smooth, light years above my WAPI. I think you will really enjoy his razor, the guy seems to really know what he is doing when it comes to bringing a blade into shave readiness.

You should update pics and shaving results when you get it!

I just finished the article from ways to hold a straight razor.

Check it out if it helps.

Different ways to hold a straight razor - Straight Razor Place Wiki