Thread: Does anyone use this grip?

Not me. I have my ring finger on top of the monkey tail, like you do, but my thumb pad is on the tang and actually, upon examination, touches the tip of the scale where it makes the 90 degree fold. My fore and middle finger tips are on top of the spine and my middle finger is touching the scale opposite my thumb underneath. That is my basic grip. I may vary it, along with the angle of the scales relative to the blade, depending on where I'm shaving. Not saying that your way is wrong. Just how I happen to do it. Whatever works.

For most of my face I use the standard grip,

but there are a few areas I have to get a touch creative.

It took me a while to get used to the grip; I am already ambidextrous so I was fortunate on that front.

When I was first starting with a shavett style I would find myself changing grip to one similar to what you are showing,

it would cause me (not saying you) to use too much pressure.

Find what works well, you are the one shaving your face.

Originally Posted by pfries

When I was first starting with a shavett style I would find myself changing grip to one similar to what you are showing,

it would cause me (not saying you) to use too much pressure.

Find what works well, you are the one shaving your face.

Maybe that's why I'm getting such razor burn, because I'm using this grip which allows me to more securely bear down on the blade and my skin?! That and my lather keep drying up on me.

Originally Posted by K37

Maybe that's why I'm getting such razor burn, because I'm using this grip which allows me to more securely bear down on the blade and my skin?! That and my lather keep drying up on me.

Yeah, you don't want to be bearing down on the razor at all. Let it do the work, and things will go much more smoothly. If you notice your lather is drying out, just set down your razor and re-lather the parts that need it. You can try adding more water to your lather as well, but usually when lather is drying out for folks starting out, it's mostly because they are (rightly) taking their time.

Originally Posted by K37

Maybe that's why I'm getting such razor burn, because I'm using this grip which allows me to more securely bear down on the blade and my skin?! That and my lather keep drying up on me.

We all had our lather dry up on one side before we were done with the other in the beginning. That will improve as your technique improves and the shaves go faster. Not saying to try to go faster. Let it happen as you progress.

Visualize a guy scraping ice off a windshield, or using a floor scraper to pick up old vinyl tile. There is a tendency to angle the blade toward the skin like the guy with the windshield or the floor scraper. Let the edge glide over the skin and cut the whiskers with no pressure on the skin and your irritation should come to an end.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

We all had our lather dry up on one side before we were done with the other in the beginning. That will improve as your technique improves and the shaves go faster. Not saying to try to go faster. Let it happen as you progress.

This is very true, just switching from a shavett to real steel recently one side of my neck sometimes dries out and I have to reapply lather.

Don't rush it embrace the challenge and enjoy it.

Had to grip a few different styles of razors and see, that's how I hold my kamisoris.

I use the "standard grip" for most of my shave, but different areas of the face and different hair growth patterns sometimes require a different grip. For ME the standard grip held securely but lightly is my best defense angainst cuts/nicks. I dont want a super firm grip that will cause me to use too much pressure or wont be sensitive enough for me to feel when something is not right and allow me to stop. All that being said, shaving with a straight is not anything you can take a cookie cutter/one size fits all approach to. Find what works for you and then that is all that matters.

I'm with you on this one Kenrick. My thumb joint is hyper-extensible and I can't fully stabilize the blade if I use the "standard" grip , i.e. where the tip of the thumb is against the bottom jimps.

That said, for some reason I'm more comfortable with the standard grip for left hand work.

As they say, YMMV - and have fun varying it :-)

Yes, I do use that grip. Not for the entire shave, but for a good part of it. Provides quite a bit of control.

Only difference (after looking at additional views from OP), I keep my pinky, not ring finger, on the tang.