BTW this is especially critical if you head shave, as I do. Ideal angles really do not exist, but when your hands are behind your head, it becomes more of a tactical sensation situation rather than a mathematical equation.
What I've really noticed this week is that I get much more tugging & pulling as my razor angle gets shallower (handle closer to my face). It really does seem to be more of a feel thing rather than just scientifically finding the perfect angle. This actually makes a lot of sense because I doubt that from day to day my stubble has the exact same coarseness or thickness so the best angle very well could change each shave while using the same razor.
Yup.. Not only will the feel will change as you change the angle; but the sound will as well. Once you learn how to read the signals you simply adjust on the fly.
This has my experience for over forty years of wet shaving. I adjust by feel only, using everything from "mild" - - Aristocrat, Feather and Ikon - - to a Fatboy set high. I always and only shave ATG, just as I did in the Army long ago. The razor and lather seem to make no difference. The blade absolutely does. Feather, Kai, Lord, Bic and Asco work for me. Merkur and Walmart Wilkinsons do not. Otherwise, for all types of razors, etc., the pattern of movement over the face, the number of passes and the final closeness of the shave are the same.
I've had much more success pointing the handle to the wall and then adjusting down until I feel the blade cutting the hair, than if I point the handle at the floor and adjust the handle upwards.
Feel and sound will change with the same razor and different angles. Different razor, an entire new set of parameters that are really only reached by feel. The art portion of shaving hand feel and perception versus the razor, blades which are the science portion of the same equation.
I really do need to get some sharper DE blades. However, after having my first SE shave this morning I think my DEs may be riding the pine for awhile. What a completely different shaving experience you get from an SE. Lovin' it! :love008
I don't worry much about blade angle. I prefer to use a razor until I am proficient with it. You're hands and face will learn the proper technique with time.
Many people come entering the world of non cartridge shaving want to know the technical details, however, the reality is that with all the science, the usage of razors still boils down to art and technique.
Actually, because of the cap on the head of the razor and the comb, there is only a small window in which the angle is right for the razor can do any cutting. Of course there are razors so aggressive that the window is huge. Like an AutoStrop. It has a comb, but no cap, so it's like a straight almost. But for most DE razors, the angle you need is built in and deviating much from that you can wind up scraping lather with the comb and not cutting or tobogganing with the cap of the razor. Heck, that's the whole idea of a safety razor. Did I misunderstand the question?
No, you understood the question. The original poster was inquiring about the optimal blade angle that works best for cutting hair. The general consensus seems to be that this angle does exist, and differs according to the razor and blade being used, and is learned by feel and developing one's shaving technique. From my own experience, the question is a good one and the answers here correct. Shaving with a safety razor can be reduced to a cookbook formula, but only to a point. After that, it is a matter of practice makes perfect.
When I started this thread I was a bit disappointed at the quality of my shaves. Even though they were much better than any other shave I had prior to learning the art of TWS, they just weren't enjoyable AND effective. I then stumbled upon an SE at a local antique shop, cleaned it up, started using it & was promptly initiated into just what I had been missing through TWS. You mention a singing blade & the audible feedback. This is amazing with SEs & definitely helped me. So I completely stopped worrying about hitting an exact angle and just listened to the razor & blade "speak" to me. For some reason I couldn't speak the DE language, but the SE language must be my native tongue.
Each type DE / SE / Injector classes of razors all have a different "feel" to them. That is why the three systems coexisted from the late 1920s until the early 1970s because each user developed a preference and the users tended to remain loyal to the type of razor class they preferred regardless of blade brand because all the patents had long expired and every manufacturer could make blades for each razor class. The Trac II / Atra cartridges systems of the 1970s and 1980s began the fundamental shift from type of class of razor to more company razor loyalty again (primarily Gillette vs Schick/WS cartridge systems). It was now which companies cartridge you preferred. As patents expired, the two big companies shifted the customer to the next generation of cartridge to hold the user base captive. Since I head shave, the DE and the Trac II / Atra classes are my go to razors since I can do all my shaving with them. For my face, I prefer the Injector the most, but the reversed angles in head shaving caused too many cuts with the Injector class. SE is my least favorite since the Injectors, DEs and Trac II / Atra classes work better on the face for me. SE seems to give me the most problems around the ears and the reversed angles of the head shave again cause as many cuts as the Injectors. When I do use my Injectors for the face, I head shave with the Trac II / Atra razors. So you have found the razor you can communicate with. Let the ADs begin! Enjoy!
Well I've tried 2 of the 3 classes. I definitely prefer SE over DE, but have yet to try my injector due to lack of blades. I really am going to have to find some injector blades. My I1 type is just sitting pretty in a drawer. :'(
A friend on another site told me about this forum, and I'm glad I joined. This has been a most interesting read. I wish there would have been something like this 50-years ago when I started shaving. It would have saved me a lot of toilet paper.
Welcome to The Shave Den Johnny! A great community of guys and gals that enjoy wet shaving, I hope you enjoy your stay! While its not required, how about you hop over to the Newbies Section and give yourself a proper introduction thread, I'm sure you'll receive many warm welcomes from the friendly folks of this community.
Sharp spine, that's one of the really neat things about SE razors, the auditory feedback. Get a lather catcher and it's almost like a sound board! I used an Eveready 1914 today for the first time and it has to be the loudest razor I've ever used to date. I love SE razors, but I also use DE and like them with my right blades. They just don't give the auditory feedback even though they give as good a shave. That makes them a little harder to use IMO. When I have a lesser blade in my DEs the auditory feedback is there, the shave is still great, but the experience suffers.
To answer the the original question in this thread, this magazine article claims that the ideal angle is 20-25 degrees. I'll take their word for it.
