Thread: How do you hold the razor? is there consensous

I have a way to hold the razor that feels comfortable to me. I wonder whether is there a general (I know people would have variations) way to hold the razor when you shave. This has probably been discussed extensively in the past. Please do not be afraid to point me to the previous threads. And by all means, tell me how you hold your razor when you shave.

Al raz.

Originally Posted by Alraz

And by all means, tell me how you hold your razor when you shave.

SECURELY.

I think whatever works for you and allows you to get the blade in the right places at the right angle. Since most razors are similar in design and most of our hands are similar many people hold it the same way. I used to shave with something like a shavette that took injector blades (short) and I held the razor with the tang over my little finger and the scales between my little finger and the next one. The blades on a conventional straight are much longer and I find myself holding the razor with the scales between my middle and ring finger in order to get the heel of the razor out from my hand to where I can see it (and keep track of it) better. Trimming around my beard and goatee all kinds of things happen... screw driver grip, pencil grip, you name it.

The last time this discussion got brought up it lead to my posting a shaving video. http://straightrazorpalace.com/shavi...technique.html
below are a couple of diagrams from an old barber manual, probably still in the Help Files here. It should be noted that the two grip (freehand and backhand respectively) are intended for barbers shaving patrons, but easily adaptable to the self shaver.

X

Originally Posted by Alraz

tell me how you hold your razor when you shave

I change the way I grip the razor throughout my shave, and that may be a consensus among straight razor shavers. The nonvariable is a steady, sure, firm, focused grip.

[Edit: I am reminded of the old proverb: hold it as you would a small bird - firmly enough to keep it from getting away but not so tight that you crush it]

As I have previously mentioned in other threads securely but lightly enough so that if the razor pulls i.e. stops it moves in the hand rather then cuts into the skin. I learned this from and old barber and due to following that technique I rarely get a nick.

i haven't mastered left handed shaving yet as i am still working on my dominant hand so which ever way seems appropriate i guess. i did start by gripping it like a screwdriver at first which was OK (i do still use it for certain spots) but once i realized that lighter was better then the white knuckle death grip i was using i typically stick to having the scales between my index finger and middle finger, and when i shave up i reverse it except for my neck where i may hold it with my index and thumb parallel to the tang, knuckles out. i am pretty new i guess but am pretty consistent with the ways i hold the blade now as i am getting a lot better shaves. i think in a year or so i will probably throw a wrench in things and try to learn with my left hand, i'm keeping one blade dull for practicing.

I messed with left handed shaving a couple of times and gave it up. I know that I could probably learn to do it but I am doing fine with my right hand so why fix it . I may come back to it at a later date. Presently I have the scales at a right angle and between my middle and ring fingers when doing down passes and I have the scales straight with the blade as if it was a Japanese style razor when going up. Same for either side of my face.

Since I am getting an little older, my grip has changed somewhat, I find that shaving using the toes for holding the razor is getting a bit tiresome nowadays..... So I have finally switched to a simple finger hold on the tang


Sorry just had to!!!!

I have large hands. I am a large man. Large men have large hands. Being that I have such large hands I put my index finger on the blade side and middle finger on the hook doodad, and this is how I shave. If I put two fingers on the blade side...well I am a large man. . . .

I hold it pretty much just like X's diagrams.