Thread: Shaving using oblique angles or straight up and down?

Hey all,

Just wandering if you typically shave with oblique angles, or straight up and down; across? Does it make a difference. Especially on the ATG pass?

Are you referring to scything? If so, I find that it does make a difference. But it's something that takes some skill to do; if you can't maintain control over the blade, you'll risk slicing yourself.

Im not talking about scything. So for instance on the with the grain pass going down your cheek, should you shave straight down, or on an angle from the side of your ear to your chin?

If the hair in that area grows straight down and you are talking about shaving across it, isn't that just an across the grain (XTG) pass?

So you mean at an angle to the hair growth? Doing so is something between WTG and XTG, and will give results as such. Closer than WTG, not as close as XTG; but also less risk of irritation than XTG.

Really, if it gives you results you like, it can't be wrong.

Na I'm not talking about going straight down or straight across. I'm talking about a diagonal. If its Wtg and the hair grows down, it would be a diagonal down.

Originally Posted by holli4pirating

So you mean at an angle to the hair growth? Doing so is something between WTG and XTG, and will give results as such. Closer than WTG, not as close as XTG; but also less risk of irritation than XTG.

Really, if it gives you results you like, it can't be wrong.

Yea when I was shaving ATG up on my cheek it seemed easier if I went on a diagonal.

So I guess that would be between an XTG and ATG. On the shaving made easy book he said to shave on oblique angles so I guess I just wanted some clarification.

It is unclear to me whether you are asking about stroke direction with respect to facial features or hair growth direction, they are not the same thing. A stroke made from the direction of the top of the head toward the toes is N to S. A N to S stroke may be WTG, but not necessarily so. A S to N stroke may be ATG, but not always so. Neck hair may grow sideways and N to S, S to N strokes may be both XTG.

A stroke is normally made in a direction 90 degrees to the edge length direction. If the toe or heel lead by having the blade slightly slanted, it is a guillotine stroke.

It is usually recommended that strokes be made close to WTG until major reduction has occurred followed by XTG. Hair growth direction is determined by feel. Final cleanup is often made ATG using a low angle and a very light touch.

People shave from many different directions starting near WTG working towards generally XTG and finally generally ATG. Experience will determine what works best for you. Keeping a light touch and skin stretching are important.

HTH

You are talking about maybe a 10-30 degree angle away from exactly ATG. There are parts of my face where I find I almost have to do this. An obvious area which many don't truly go against the grain is the upper lip. For me, I can't seem to go directly ATG on my chin either. So yeah it works for me.