Does anyone else increase the angle for BBS?

Ok guys, here's what I mean. I do a normal WTG and XTG after a good pre-shave prep and while stretching the skin. Then I do an ATG pass at a very low angle. Around 5-10 degrees again stretching the skin. At this point I have a DFS going but there are still spots that are like a fine grit sandpaper. If I go over them again with the same angle ATG it doesn't get them even by stretching the skin in different directions but if I increase the angle to around 25-30 degrees with good skin stretching and little to no pressure it seems to clip the remaining hairs off for a BBS shave with little to no irriitation.

After reading many posts here about people that use low angles to get close (BBS) shaves I was wondering if anyone else does it this way (increasing angles for final pass/touch up). Lower angles are great when I first go ATG otherwise the hair drives the blade into my skin and I nick myself but when I am down to that last little bit it seems the only way to get it is to increase the angle. Not to crazy angles but like I said above to 25-30 degrees.

Anyone else?

I do the same as you. I don't like to shave against the direction of growth so increase the razor's angle on the second pass to about 30 degrees, depending on the proportion of drag/grab versus cutting action. With *very* light pressure the increased angle provides a very smooth shave.

If I am going for a total BBS which is not every day.
Well let me start with my normal shave anymore it is two passes with light touch up.
Both passes hit most of my growth at around a 45 degree angle to the growth pattern.
Both passes are a mix of scything and guillotine strokes. Touch up areas are chin corners, jaw line by ears, and Adams apple.
If BBS is desired it is a true ATG pass, water only, no stretching.
This allows the skin so slightly bunch up in front of the razor, so I guess the angle is changed a bit although I hold a low angle on the blade itself.
It is a very light pressure pass.

If you are getting the desired effect without irritation you have found what works for you.
A steeper angle can be done with a sharp razor, in some peoples experience/opinion it may dull the blade slightly faster.
Glad to hear you have found something that works well for you,
and for putting it up here so others have the opportunity to have something to try and possibly benefit from it.

+1 pfries I use pretty much the same game plan. I usually spend extra time chasing a smooth shave in my trouble areas with water only or very light lather. I too find lip corners, chin, jaw line and sides of my neck requiring many different angles to get a really smooth shave.

Steel I generally agree you need to play with the angles to find what works for you. I'm still learning new things which makes it fun. When time is short I break out my DE and a BSS shave is quick and easy especially with a new blade.

It all comes down to what works best for you:) The whole point of lowering the angle is to gradually cut the hair as you progress through passes. If you go too extreme you risk cutting the hair below skin level and increasing the risk of ingrown hairs..one of the joys of a straight is preventing this horror. But if that final pass with increased angle works for you, then so be it…if it works then it works and good on ya :tu

Yes. Knowing there is no 'right' or 'wrong' way but the way that works best for you I decided to ask to see if this is what works for anyone else and of course to get some talk going around angles to maybe get some more info/ideas.

Pfries I will have to try a final pass without the stretching. Always interesting to try new things :) Btw-I have to force myself to not spend an hour in the bathroom going for BBS everyday. Especially when I have to get my face (and butt) to work but it's so addicting to have that smooth all over shave. Hahahaha.

I usually do a three pass shave. After the WTG and XTG there is very little left to remove. I raise the angle of the blade and lighten the pressure even more to get a closer shave and have no razor burn. Play with the angles to find out what works for you.

I have gone to using a very shallow angle for my ATG pass. My Parker is basically laying flat on my face at that point. My WTG pass is a bit steeper with the spine just off my face same with the XTG. I use ATG just to get the more stubburn spots knocked down. I get little to no irritation useing the shallow angle and my shave is DFS to BBS. Also I have noticed that I get more shaves out of a blade by keeping blade angle low.

On my particular mug decreasing the angle is what I do. If I increase it to the same level as you are I tend to get irritation. My solution to the 'trouble' spots, and by now I know where they are, is to approach at varied angles that I've found effective with the guillotine stroke + skin stretching techniques. Then again, I have to go easy, more than two passes and spot touch-ups and I will have irritation.

I usually find the same going on as Steel & pfries doing all 3 directional passes and touching up with multiple angle changes etc to get the trouble spots, on my neck under jaw area

It is important to remember that angle and pressure are inter-related. You can shave with a surprisingly high angle as long as the pressure is kept low. This will allow the blade to remove whiskers without removing skin.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Steel

and little to no pressure it seems to clip the remaining hairs off for a BBS shave with little to no irriitation.

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Reading your post this is where I think you are getting the improvement..

Something to try and see if it works

After you finish your passes, stop, rinse your face with clear water once, and use the razor without any skin stretching at all just glide the blade over the skin, basically try to ride the skim of clear water adjust the angle so that you feel the hair catch if possible..

I find this yields the closet yet most comfortable results... try it and see if it helps YMMV of course as much as all our faces do :p

For me when I'm shaving my thicker areas (like chin and upper lip) I raise the angle- which seems to be the opposite of many. On sensitive and thinner spots I lower it down to 25-30. But like others have said, this is also in concert with pressure and SPEED, scything or straight.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gssixgun

Something to try and see if it works

After you finish your passes, stop, rinse your face with clear water once, and use the razor without any skin stretching at all just glide the blade over the skin, basically try to ride the skim of clear water adjust the angle so that you feel the hair catch if possible..:p

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Thanks Glen and pfries for something new to try! Although I already have BBS shaves that are very comfortable I do like to hear about and try different techniques so I gave this a try and had some great results.

After my normal 3 pass shave instead of stretching and touch ups I just went a once over with the razor and very lightly clipped off anything left. Surprisingly it was also a BBS shave but with less time! The only draw back I had was that without stretching the stubble seemed to be back in about 9-10 hours as opposed to around 13-15 hours (give or take). All in all I really liked it, it saved time, and had great results. I still increased the angle but I think I will be doing this last pass with water and no stretching going forward.

Thanks again for the new stuff to try and to everyone else that confirmed that I am not the only one who increases the angle to get the trouble spots.

Just an update. This new routine of making the final pass with no stretching or lather has shaved off (pun intended) 10-15 minutes of my shave time!! I have a few thoughts as to why.

First, since there is no stretching on final pass I avoid the trap of stretching-shaving-rubbing to find a few whiskers left-stretching-shaving-rubbing to find one or two more-stretching-shaving-ahhh finally. With no stretching on the final pass I am only focusing on the whiskers that matter to the end result of a smooth face/neck and not all the other ones that seem to only seem to be felt when stretching. Of course I stretch in the other passes which helps with a very close shave.

Second, there no lathering so that must save time too.

Third, it's just a single pass instead of going over and over spots.

Whatever the cause it is much quicker which is helpful to someone who chases a BBS every time. As to the reason for this thread I still increase the angle and maintain almost a negative pressure (of course this is impossible but meaning very very light) as I 'clip' off any missed hairs. A word if caution though. If you can not keep the pressure very light then you run the risk of a bad cut with no lather and a steep angle. FWIW.