Thread: Finding the right angle

For some reason, there is a very natural tendency around the chin area to flatten out the angle. Don't know why, but have seen a bunch of people have trouble here. So if doing the trimming being discussed the angle discussion is good and I agree with 30 degrees or less. Really have to watch it though.

Have fun,

Lynn

I've noticed the flattening out too around my chin and I think for me at least it's because I feel the increased resistance and I feel like if I increase the angle, or maintain it, the razor is going to cut straight into my chin. So I try directing the blade at a 90 degree tangent to my skin hoping that will cut the hair.

I have seen some people use a slightly diagonal stroke, so that the razor edge also slice the whiskers a bit like a carving knife does. I haven't tried shaving with a straight yet (but I will do as soon as I get off work today), so I can't really give more advice, but I think the idea is to move the razor ever so slightly sideways while at the same time moving it down, just enough to get the edge to slice the whiskers, but not so much that you cut yourself. I also have the feeling that the sideways movement per whisker is less than 0,5 mm

For me, a bit of angular motion (scything) works wonders.

Originally Posted by Stuggi

I have seen some people use a slightly diagonal stroke, so that the razor edge also slice the whiskers a bit like a carving knife does.

the old shaving instructions that came with razors often suggested this and described this motion as leading with either the toe or the heel of the razor

Well guys, I really want to thank you for all your suggestions. I tried to be much more careful with the angle, and watching the adjustment more closely, and was able to get a MUCH better shave! I still have some issues with the area around my mouth, but it was overall a much better experience.

For one thing, I didn't question my sanity for using a big knife on my face when I was finished!

Baby steps...

Originally Posted by Stuggi

I have seen some people use a slightly diagonal stroke, so that the razor edge also slice the whiskers a bit like a carving knife does. I haven't tried shaving with a straight yet (but I will do as soon as I get off work today), so I can't really give more advice, but I think the idea is to move the razor ever so slightly sideways while at the same time moving it down, just enough to get the edge to slice the whiskers, but not so much that you cut yourself. I also have the feeling that the sideways movement per whisker is less than 0,5 mm

This is very important for me when shaving the chin area. Not really sliding the blade across the skin, but either angling the edge (think guillotine blade) or moving the blade in a toe leading manner.

Jordan

I had the same issue, on my WTG stroke downward, the blade would just hang, I then got a razor honed by Don, and the same thing occured, so knowing it was not the razor, if found that..

stretching is everything, i know we read it, but it really made a big difference once I got better at it

also i found that starting the stroke in the air (as opposed to on the skin) really worked well, once I found the right angle, I would begin my stroke, and once the blade touched my skin the whiskers didnt have a prayer.

keep experimenting with angles that work for your particular face, for me it is about 25 degrees WTG,but about 20 degrees XTG, but it took a while to figure this out, but lack of razor burn indicated that I was moving in the right direction

Originally Posted by Stuggi

I have seen some people use a slightly diagonal stroke, so that the razor edge also slice the whiskers a bit like a carving knife does. I haven't tried shaving with a straight yet (but I will do as soon as I get off work today), so I can't really give more advice, but I think the idea is to move the razor ever so slightly sideways while at the same time moving it down, just enough to get the edge to slice the whiskers, but not so much that you cut yourself. I also have the feeling that the sideways movement per whisker is less than 0,5 mm

Interesting....it sounds REALLY dangerous, but I guess I'll try anything once!!!

Originally Posted by JimR

Interesting....it sounds REALLY dangerous, but I guess I'll try anything once!!!

Maybe, but many use it quite often. something like this:


hmm, wish that image was clearer. Anyway I do something like this with most of my strokes. toe leading throughout