Thread: Kamisori: how do you handle the 'other' side?

I am having difficulty envisioning how one shaves the 'other' side of the face with a kamisori. For example, on my throat, the only stroke that works is from the outside of the neck, directly horizontal towards the larnyx. Inside to outside is 'with' the grain, and up or down is across the grain. Outside in is the only across the grain stroke.

How does one get this stroke with a kamisori if only one side goes against the face?

Use both sides - or if you insist on using just one, learn to hold it upside down.

But if you hold it upside down...doesn't the handle run into your jaw? Or...on the other side, into your clavicle?

Don't know - I take the simple option of using both sides. Try it and see if you can tell the difference.

Originally Posted by UKRob

Don't know - I take the simple option of using both sides. Try it and see if you can tell the difference.

Don't have on yet, didn't want to get one before understanding this particular point. I figure the japanese have figured out a way....

get a western grind kami tc

Originally Posted by tcrideshd

get a western grind kami tc

Got one of those coming! :-)

Whether it's western grind makes no difference - both sides of a japanese grind have bevels - it's just that they are asymmetrical. Using both sides is no difference to shaving with normal straights that have different sized bevels. That's what I was trying to get at when I suggested you try it - I can't tell the difference between the two sides of a traditional kamisori. The notion of using one-side does not make sense to my mind - and I don't want to get into a debate about tradition - the fact is if you look at videos of Japanese barbers, you will see them using both sides.

Jim Rion kamisori shave vids

These are a great resource

There are tons of others but Jim did a really good job of showing the strokes as he was learning them

Thanks!

Now, with regard to your sig line: "No amount of money spent on a Stone can ever replace the value of the time it takes learning to use it properly"

Do you think you can have that made into a mandatory red splash screen that pops up everytime I look at Japanese Natural Stones Toishi ?