30 degrees or Zero degrees?

First, a hearty thank you to all contributors to this site. I just started straight razor shaving this week, and I couldn't have done it without all the valuable info and videos posted here. I'm enjoying my escape from the disposable world tremendously.

Now to my question. The advice I've seen given here is to angle the blade at 30 degrees when shaving WTG, and slightly less ATG. However, on the Spanish websites I've surfed, they recommend as shallow an angle as possible. In the videos, it looks like they're practically holding the blade flat against the skin. Does anyone here recommend one angle over the other?

Cheers!

like this?

http://straightrazorpalace.com/srpwi...ing_angles.jpg

Welcome to SRP. IME you have to use these numbers as a guideline and experiment with what works for you. There are a number of components to successful straight razor shaving, prep, lathering, skin stretching and finally stroke and blade angle, not to mention proper stropping. All of these take practice and time to come together but with patience and persistence they eventually will.

Yes. It seems the Spaniards opt for the 5 degrees even for WTG. Makes nicks less likely they say.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Slartibartfast

like this?

http://straightrazorpalace.com/srpwi...ing_angles.jpg

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Yes, I have no doubt of that now. To my surprise this morning, I realized I've made a little bit of progress with each shave.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Welcome to SRP. IME you have to use these numbers as a guideline and experiment with what works for you. There are a number of components to successful straight razor shaving, prep, lathering, skin stretching and finally stroke and blade angle, not to mention proper stropping. All of these take practice and time to come together but with patience and persistence they eventually will.

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angle of the blade depends couple factors.
at first are you using ATG OR WTG.
ATG TRY go the point where your blade will shave more comfortable.
Don't try to use curtain angle while you go wtg.
Angle greatly will depends how is your blade honed. In case it has been taped your angle will be lower then not taped blade.
This is why always when you start to use new blade at first start to make small strokes and find out in which angle your blade cuts easier.
Find that angle and keep blade in that angle.
hope this help.

I think the above advice is dead on. The blade itself will likely determine the best angle. The recommendations for various angles are a guide.

+1 to the above.

I have some blades that just work best almost flat to my face, and others that prefer a higher angle.

Each blade has its ways, its up to you to learn them!

I have only be straight shaving for 6 weeks now. but I have been trying to pay close attention to what works and what doesn't, for me. The diagrams in the previous posts are a good representation of what I have experienced, with some exceptions. 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.

These responses help a great deal. Thank you very much!

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.

Quote:

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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.

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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.