Shaving with a Kamisori, how to and stuff.

while I know this has been posted before, I did find more on honing the Kamisori than shaving with it. so I will ask it here, what is the proper[meaning accepted really] method of shaving with a Kamisori one sided bevel razor??? how to hold it, what side of the blade to use?? and any other basic facts I might need to get a BBS with a Japanese razor.
i have been useing a double bevel razor for about 2 years now, with "SOME" success.
feel fairly competent with basic wet shaving protocol, so things like face prep and so on are already good for me at this point.
any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks as always to all of you out there
who in times past have beed so helpful to me in this great hobby or ours.

tinkersd of SRP!!

In reality japanese blades do have 2 concave sides. one is smaller then another. there is no convex side of the blade.You will need to keep smaller concave side toward to your face.
hope this helps.

If you go up to the search bar and enter "Kamisori shave" you'll find quite a few threads about this, and at least two videos (including mine).
Here are links to the videos.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/video...tml#post472859
http://straightrazorpalace.com/shavi...tml#post603474

When I started shaving with mine , a little over 3 years ago , I only shaved with the stamped side towards my face . I now shave with both sides , and it works just fine . Just hold it by the handle , shave , and keep the angle on the low side .

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Originally Posted by dave5225

When I started shaving with mine , a little over 3 years ago , I only shaved with the stamped side towards my face . I now shave with both sides , and it works just fine . Just hold it by the handle , shave , and keep the angle on the low side .

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Me also. I follow instructions about that Kamisori is just one side shaver but lately I discover that opposite side is also very nice shaver so I start using it. The angle is little bit different but it shaves as well as wedge side.

I've always used it as a one sided shaver.

Thank you all for your great advice, I feel more confident about trying to get a Kamisori shave as well as the traditional shave I get with starndard type of straight.

Thanks again, tinkersd of SRP!

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Originally Posted by JimR

If you go up to the search bar and enter "Kamisori shave" you'll find quite a few threads about this, and at least two videos (including mine).
Here are links to the videos.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/video...tml#post472859
http://straightrazorpalace.com/shavi...tml#post603474

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Those are excellent videos that help me in dealing with Kamisori when I start to use it for the first time.

I tried to use it both sides and when i turned it around (larger concave to face) It gave me rather unpleasnt feeling!

Because it's asymmetrical when you use both sides you need to alter your angle.

So.. First shave today with a kamisori. It was interesting. I'm not sure about my angles, and MAYBE it needs a hone; 'twas a bit tuggy. Any tips, hints? 1/2 way through I switched to a straight to check the lather (thought maybe that was at fault) but it was fine...

How do you do the LH side of your neck? I could only use a S to N stroke there... Used only one hand, the more concave side to the face...

Hi Carl I recently started using a kamisori also. I was driving myself batty trying to use it the traditional way. My shaves where coming out decent enough but the razor burn was horrible. So finally I just used it how I would any other straight and the shave was amazing. As bigspendur said you do have to adjust the angles when you switch sides.

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Originally Posted by Castel33

Hi Carl I recently started using a kamisori also. I was driving myself batty trying to use it the traditional way. My shaves where coming out decent enough but the razor burn was horrible. So finally I just used it how I would any other straight and the shave was amazing. As bigspendur said you do have to adjust the angles when you switch sides.

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I agree! The razor should be held lightly; only tight enough to control the angle and make the pass. That will allow it to follow your face rather than planing it. That has been the way i use any razor and I usually get very nice shaves and do not get razor burn. If I tighten up on the razor I can tell in a hurry!
~Richard

When you use a Kamisori it's like learning to shave all over again. You need to build facility with the razor and you'll find (in time) some of those seemingly impossible strokes will become easy.