Thread: Does anyone use this grip?

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.

One of the great aspects of shaving with a straight is that it is the most customized shave you can get. Everybody's face is different so each shave for particular people is different. I'm still a rookie (about 22 shaves in) and I'm starting to figure out what strokes and grips work for me on each part of my face. I don't use that particular grip, but if it works, go with it.

After thinking it through and visualising a shave in my head I use something very similar if not the same as that grip for my right jaw line going ATG (my whiskers there grow from chin to ear) I find it easier to control the razor with that grip and way in which I attack my jaw

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.