Thread: Any particular ways to NOT hold a razor?

I'm 22 and looking to begin shaving with a straight after using standard cartridge razors all my life. I've been doing some research and now I'm looking at grips.

I've checked out the wiki and read the article on shaving grips and wanted to know: are there any particular "donts" when holding a straight? Is there really a right and wrong or does each individual eventually find something that works for them? Thank you!

You should never hold it by the blade. Failure to hold it by the tang will lead to a poor shaving experience and months of therapy learning to use the re-attached muscles and nerve endings.

Just don't grip it too tight, a nice firm grip about as tight as you would hold a pen. otherwise whatever grip feels most comfortable for YOU is the best way too hold your razor

And since the scales pivot, holding just the scales isn't very stable: try always have a grip on the tang or at least be careful how it moves.

Also holding it stationary on the skin is inadvisable: minute moves of the hand and body might cut you.

Also +1 on not holding it too tight. The pen reference might not apply, since some people strangle pens too. JimmyHAD has a good advice in his signature to hold firmly, but lightly so that your fingers flex if the blade snags on the skin.

There isn't any specific etiquette in holding the blade and you should use what feels natural to you (see the different grips in wiki and choose your style). I frequently change styles in midshave so the razor has free movement.

Welcome to SRP. As ursus said, read my sig for a good tip on avoiding cuts and nicks. Another user, Danny Wonderful, posted something that helped me get the hang of shaving with either hand rather than my dominant right and it might help you to get the hang of the grip.

In my beginning the razor felt awkward in my hand but after awhile it became very comfortable and familiar. IMO this will help a new shaver get used to maneuvering the razor.

Take a practice razor and either make sure it is too dull to cut you or maybe tape the edge and practice with moving the razor with that. I couldn't get the hang of left hand shaving looking in the mirror.

As soon as I read Danny's post and practiced without looking while watching TV it came to me. Sounds strange but is really worked for me. The important thing is that it is either taped or too dull to cut. You could also use one of those cheap replaceable blade straight razors without a blade.

It doesn't really matter which hand I use for either side of my face because I can simply adjust the grip, yes?

Try using both hands, it'll help in the long-run. You'll find that gripping the razor at the tang (and not the blade) is also useful in that it doesn't allow you to easily apply excessive pressure. If it gets uncomfortable then you know there's a problem you need to correct.

Originally Posted by Zerstorung

It doesn't really matter which hand I use for either side of my face because I can simply adjust the grip, yes?

IME it took a bit of practice to begin to feel comfortable with holding the razor and maneuvering it. Sometimes with the handle at a 90 degree angle to the blade and for other areas at a 45 or straight out holding the tang and handle was if it were a knife. Practice and before you know it the razor will become an extension of your hand.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Welcome to SRP. As ursus said, read my sig for a good tip on avoiding cuts and nicks. Another user, Danny Wonderful, posted something that helped me get the hang of shaving with either hand rather than my dominant right and it might help you to get the hang of the grip.

In my beginning the razor felt awkward in my hand but after awhile it became very comfortable and familiar. IMO this will help a new shaver get used to maneuvering the razor.

Take a practice razor and either make sure it is too dull to cut you or maybe tape the edge and practice with moving the razor with that. I couldn't get the hang of left hand shaving looking in the mirror.

As soon as I read Danny's post and practiced without looking while watching TV it came to me. Sounds strange but is really worked for me. The important thing is that it is either taped or too dull to cut. You could also use one of those cheap replaceable blade straight razors without a blade.

I love this idea! thanks
Do you perhaps have a link to the post you're referencing?
I'm gonna go search. I'll edit if I can find it.

Edit: Found it I think.
http://straightrazorpalace.com/newbi...tml#post487767

Originally Posted by Hayduke

I love this idea! thanks
Do you perhaps have a link to the post you're referencing?
I'm gonna go search. I'll edit if I can find it.

Edit: Found it I think.
http://straightrazorpalace.com/newbi...tml#post487767

Yes that is the post that enabled me to finally shave with either hand instead of being only a dominant handed shaver. I think the same practice of making the motions with a straight with a dull or a taped edge would be great for a new guy to learn to feel comfortable with maneuvering the blade. After all the actual shave is relatively short. A person could practice like that for a lot longer and the progress should be faster.