Thread: 30 degrees or Zero degrees?

Not flat, never flat. Low angles are fine. I suggest that you listen. Use a low angle, but the sound of the whiskers being cut is apparent. I opt for the maximum volume of whisker cutting. With a light touch this makes the most sense to me. Typically for me this happens around 20-30 degrees. Below 15 the sound goes way down, and I think, the shaving effect with it.

Originally Posted by souschefdude

When shaving my chin, where the growth is dense and thick, I have to go almost flat on any pass. Also, under my chin, I can never get to a true ATG, and XTG is tough too.
Hope this helps.

Hi! and welcome.
One of my many errors in learning (3 months now) was seeing that diagram and trying to do my entire WTG pass at 30 deg. 'Works fine in the less dense stubble, but the heavy stubble will bring a full hollow to a complete halt. I thought that hollows weren't for me. It was entirely my lack of technique. As souschefdude says, and many others, if the resistance rises, the blade angle should grow smaller (spine closer to the face). As you're able, check out the info on advanced strokes, and any thread by hi_bud_gl. There are others who are wonderful on the same topics. This would be an example of a good one from hi_bud_gl:
http://straightrazorpalace.com/shavi...t-shaving.html

Some of the techniques mentioned in this and other threads on the topic of angles, strokes, etc.
Shaving passes - Straight Razor Place Wiki
'Hope you continue to enjoy the best shaves you'll ever get.

Going out now to get a Straight shave from a Barber, try to learn something.

So I have returned. The guy I went to is a professional Barber, says he does about 10 straight shaves a week, at least. He was using a disposable razor, no name brand, with, oh shoot I forget the brand of blade. Began with a P.
He did the whole prep thing, hot towel, lather, hot towel again.
I noticed that the drag across the face was definitely harder than when I shave myself.
The results are definitely not as good as my own, after 3 passes, (he only did one). Probably my first pass is a little better than his, at least in some areas. I can get my cheeks real close to BBS in one pass, the chin and jawline takes at least 2, and the neck I am still working on.
The rawness and tenderness I have had in the past after my shaves has been getting better over time. The other night I was even doing pass after pass on my neck trying to get to BBS, and still I never got real raw.
Today's shave didn't get me too raw eaither.
So I feel good about the progress I have made so far. It's good to know I can do as well if not better than a pro. (I know, I know, one pro is not necessarily a good indicator of what is possible, but hey, I can't afford to try every guy in town.)

IME, your skin becomes accustomed to the blade, and your technique improves....because of the rawness. I think it's proportional.

I do notice that my skin is a bit tougher now, more manly so to speak, since I have been using a straight razor.

At the beginning, because of time, I was using a straight on weekends. Then I was able to use it three times a week, because I was too tender on the in between days. I didn't have razor burn, but my skin was just a little tender.

Now.... Every day, no problems, super smooth. I've also figured out what razors I enjoy using, and which ones work well for me, which has completely aided the process.

And to keep in line with the thread, my angles are pretty consistent at 30, 15, 5. W, X, A, respectively.

with my artist club razor.. 5 degrees is what's needed for wtg.. and now that i'm learning to use DE's.. angles vary..

Any more than 30 deg. and you will likely start getting nicks & irritation. Flat against the skin probably won't cut very good. Like the other guys said, you will just have to experiment. There are too many variables in every shave to have a set angle.