Thread: 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?

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.

Originally Posted by Slartibartfast

like this?

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.

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.

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!