Question re: technique

[ee32]

What is the angle at which you hold the razor relative to your face? In other words angle between the handle and the plane of the face at point of contact?

Is it close to parallel? Or about 20 or so degrees? I know it’s hard to gage but just a guess would be good to know. Wouldn’t this determine the aggressiveness of the razor?

Also, do you vary that angle between open comb type and straight bar type?

Is there an optimum angle for specific razors?

Thanks,
e

 

[Luc]

30 degrees would be the magic number. As far as I am concerned, the same angle regardless of open/close comb or straight...

 

[scottish steve]

Gillettes and Merkurs have a different angle. Hold the DE upright at arm's length and slowly turn it into the cut until you can see the point at which the blade and bar are against the same plane. This is the angle you use. Thirty degrees from flat against your face is a good starting point for a straight, but I found I was too rigid about this and made my life v difficult for a long time.

 

[tsmba]

I've found that I learned the correct angle quickly...by feel. I like the analogy of having the blade meet whisker like a scythe, not a hoe!

 

[ee32]

Excellent info guys, thanks. I tend to go by feel, but it's good to see other opinions.
Thank, again.

 

[danek]

I've found that the best results for me, DE or SE, is keeping the blade as shallow an angle to the face as possible and still cut the whiskers. This also happens to be about the loudest "cutting sound", so that's another good measure.

 

[kingfisher]

Start by placing the razor head against your face with the handle parallel to the ground, then rotate the razor handle down toward the floor until the blade contacts the skin. The more you move the razor handle down, and make the razor closer to parallel to your FACE, the more it hurts.

IMO, you want to keep the razor as close to parallel to the FLOOR as you can and still cut hair (that is if you want the mildest, most comfortable shave).