Thread: 90 degree angle?

I greatly prefer toe-leading rather than heel-leading as those diagrams show when shaving at angles like this

This way, if the razor catches, the blade will come to perpendicular against the motion of the razor because of the pivot

If I lead with the heel and the razor catches, the angle of the edge will come closer to parallel against the skin, greatly increasing the risk of a slice or cut

Originally Posted by hoglahoo

I greatly prefer toe-leading rather than heel-leading as those diagrams show when shaving at angles like this

This way, if the razor catches, the blade will come to perpendicular against the motion of the razor because of the pivot

If I lead with the heel and the razor catches, the angle of the edge will come closer to parallel against the skin, greatly increasing the risk of a slice or cut

Now THAT makes a lot of sense!

Originally Posted by hoglahoo

This way, if the razor catches, the blade will come to perpendicular against the motion of the razor because of the pivot

This sounds good.

Well it's time.. my skin is recovered. Cover me, I'm going in....

I myself use both types of scything motions depending on the portion of my face that I'm shaving. Something that you also have to realize is your own experience. When I first started straight shaving, I could get a shave equally as close with an electric as I could with a WTG pass. However, after a little while my technique developed, and now I can get a very close shave WTG. In fact, on my cheeks I don't even go XTG or ATG on a daily basis, unless there is some occasion for it.

Also, keep in mind that scything is an easier way to cut yourself. When I first started trying this, on more than one occasion I had more across movement than downward, and if you do that you are pretty much effectively slicing your face like a piece of meat. My advice would be try it, carefully, and you will find what works best for you. After all, straight shaving requires different strokes for different folks.

Whoo, survived it without nicking... Hold off the 911-calls

heh, I remember thinking the same thing. One reason for the confusion on the issue is that the recommended angle for both the cutting angle and the shaving angle is the same for both, 30º. I, like many, also use a scything stroke and sometimes heel leading.


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For me, the closer I got to the 90 degree mark, the more it felt like the hair was being pulled out of my face.