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Which is better - to much or not enough?

Assuming one is unable to maintain the optimal blade angle of 30 degrees, in order to avoid cuts and nicks - which is better - a flatter angle - or a steeper angle? :blink:

Freehand
 
Assuming one is unable to maintain the optimal blade angle of 30 degrees, in order to avoid cuts and nicks - which is better - a flatter angle - or a steeper angle? :blink:

Freehand

Im still learning , but I think it comes down to what part of your face your shaving. Some area's Im finding I go on a lower angle , and some I go higher. I think really try to see what is working best for you.
 
Lower angle, almost flat to the face is optimal for the majority of your face. A steeper angle is bound to lead to digging in and cutting you.
 
A flatter angle is the lesser of the two evils. The worst that can happen is it won't cut hair.

Although a steep angle makes it easier for the blade to dig in (to flesh as well as hairs!) I think it also creates a real risk of rolling the blade edge.
 
Assuming one is unable to maintain the optimal blade angle of 30 degrees, in order to avoid cuts and nicks - which is better - a flatter angle - or a steeper angle? :blink:

Freehand

It's always better to have a smaller angle. The wider angle, the more likely you are to cut yourself by having the blade dig into your skin. If you have to resort to a wider angle to get the blade to cut, then you need to refresh the edge.
 
A few places do require a steeper angle for me: behind my jaw/under the ear, under the nose (no, wait - I have a moustache...), certain areas on my neck with a weird growth pattern. Actually, I rarely even think about it. The blade just kind of finds its own way.
 
Assuming one is unable to maintain the optimal blade angle of 30 degrees, in order to avoid cuts and nicks - which is better - a flatter angle - or a steeper angle? :blink:

A 30 degree angle is not always the optimal angle. Look at this ...
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And those are just general guidelines.

That is showing a straight razor's blade but the general idea holds for any razor. Safety razors just do not have near as much leeway to use any arbitrary angle so limit your options. With safety razors, the only working angles (that is, angles that actually get the blade to the whiskers) are often in a very narrow range. The geometry of your particular razor will determine that range.

In any case, a shallow angle is less likely to cause cuts/nicks. So, start shallow and increase as needed. It is best to experiment with angles as oppose to simply pressing harder.
 
Flatter is safer... you wan't to err on that side. The couple times I have given myself nice weepers was because I started a stroke too steep.
 
Yeah, I think I've been keeping the angle too high on my neck. It really starts getting uncomfortable on the third pass.

Ken
 
The 30 degree angle is just a starting point. In practice, the optimal angle will depend on a number of factors including the point being shaved and the direction of the stroke relative to the direction of hair growth. Personally, I don't think about this too much and just let the angle set itself based on what feels best to me (i.e. what comes natural).
 

Slash McCoy

I freehand dog rockets
I was advised to start with the spine against the face, and work out from there until decent cutting action is achieved. I give that same advice to others now, who are just starting out with straights. I doubt that I have ever used as much as 30 degrees. Probably averages around half of that.
 
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