You've already answered your own question; use straps. Now using straps does not improve your grip, but it does help you with hanging on to the weight effortlessly. As an Olympic weightlifter I used straps when heavy pulling or when doing exercises like halt-deadlifts, and clean and/or snatch from the hang (and of course when explosively shrugging 200kg). So you see, it's not about looking like bit of "tool" or any such thing. You're in the gym for a purpose and that's all there is to it.
Fadi.