The correct angle

**Necator** · 09-23-2006, 02:15 PM

I have been DE shaving for 2 weeks, and loving every minute of it. However, I am not sure that I am using the right shaving angle. Usually when I shave, I can hear a sort of scratching noise when the beard is being cut. Does that mean that I have the correct angle. or am I using a too agressive angle?

**With The Grain** · 09-23-2006, 02:27 PM

...

**Duggo** · 09-23-2006, 05:59 PM

Originally Posted by Necator

I have been DE shaving for 2 weeks, and loving every minute of it. However, I am not sure that I am using the right shaving angle. Usually when I shave, I can hear a sort of scratching noise when the beard is being cut. Does that mean that I have the correct angle. or am I using a too agressive angle?

Hiya Nector,

I've been shaving with a DE Razor for six days now and loving it.

I work with civil engineers and was able to find a cutout (for lack of a better word) that was cut at 30 degrees. I remember hearing or reading that, that's the optimal, angle at which the razor should be held at.

*About the Attachment*

Save the attachment to your computer and print it out. Turn the paper so that the so that:

1) the vertical intersecting line (not intentional) is on the right hand side

2) and the horizontal line should be facing the bottom of the page.

Now that we're reading from the same page, the uppermost diagonal line is drawn at a 30 degree angle. I don't know if you are able to scotch tape this diagram to the surface where you shave, but that's what I'm going to do, so any time I'm in doubt of my angle, I can just hold the razor up to the line and get it "calibrated".

Hope this helps you out.

Duggo

**With The Grain** · 09-23-2006, 06:04 PM

....

**TimmyBoston** · 09-24-2006, 03:31 PM

I read on LeisureGuy's blog about where he read, someone had placed a thin piece of cardboard in place of the blade so he could practice over and over without scraping his skin raw. Also when I was working on blade angle. I practiced on my upper leg, so I knew that it was shaving and I could actually see it. Many people will use their arm, but I think a blotchy, hairy, and smoothly shaven arm looks a little funny. At least on your thigh, it's still weird but no one will see it.

**Leisureguy** · 09-24-2006, 04:05 PM

So far as hearing the stubble being cut: yes, it is audible. And it does not (necessarily) mean you're scraping. With the Vision, I can quite clearly hear the cutting going on. You can always try making the angle shallower---if the cutting stops, then the angle you were using was right.

**rusirius** · 09-24-2006, 04:09 PM

Originally Posted by With The Grain

the 30 degrees is really just a ballpark, if you use a merkur HD you may find it shaves slightly steeper, if you're using a gillette tech it will shave slightly flatter.

I'd have to respectfully disagree... Well, sort of...

Here's what I mean... When you see all the posts, references, etc.. to a "30 degree" angle, those references are BLADE to FACE references. In other words, you want the blade to be "raised" off your face 30 degrees. This has absolutely NOTHING to do with the angle the razor handle will be at in relation to the floor, your face, etc...

In other words, your statement is absolutely true in that various razors WILL change the angle of face to razor handle, but your ALWAYS going for a 30 degree face to blade angle.

Hope that makes sense, tried to word it best I could.

**Scorpio** · 09-24-2006, 04:24 PM

I go by sound and feel since you can hear the whiskers getting cut. If that is my 30 degrees then it if it is not then it is not. That number is a relative figure and it changes depending on razor and face contour. Again as stated before a ballpark number. I don't pull my protractor to see if I am at 30 deg. but I can tell you when the blade gets to the proper angle to cut.

Rafael