Shave by Feel

I have noticed that I do something similar with shaving. I don't focus on what the proper blade angle looks like, how the blade should be positioned visually but on what it should actually feel like at the optimum angle.

Seems to me that doing this has helped me more easily find the appropriate blade angle without much concentration and regardless of individual razors.

I think you are spot on, here!  When I first started traditional wet shaving, I was constantly trying to keep a visual on the blade angle.  This lead to constantly getting rough shaves!  Once I settled down and just felt the blade and the razor, things got much better.

Sounds like we are all sort of using the same approach which will hopefully help some of our newer shavers.

It is a bit odd doing something where most often you are faced with a reflection not using it as a point of reference.

Thanks much Rob!

You're welcome, Kevin!  

Thanks for starting this thread.  I think it will help newer shavers.  I know I struggled "watching" my angle in the beginning before I let the "feel" be more of the feedback.  There really isn't a lot of flat real estate on our faces and that makes it hard to literally watch the angle of the blade.

Weird coincidence that you brought up this topic. I was just reading through my journal and reflecting on what has worked and not worked. I noticed that my technique improved dramatically when I started to pay strict attention to the feel of the razor. I would purposely feel too much blade, make the blade skip, too shallow as to not feel the safety bar, etc. Then, when the shave was super close and comfy I would make mental notes of how that felt. I noticed over time that I mentioned my blade angle or complaints about the razor very little.
I think the auditory feedback can be very helpful as well. When things are just right, some razors like the NEW will just give you that clean cutting sound to let you know you're in the pocket.

This was the best advice when I was a newb. Good post!

I have nothing new to add, but must agree with most of the posts here. Try shaving in the shower with no mirror and a straight, take your time. it's not so bad.

Seems like everyone is on the same page. I think for some people (though I'm not one of them) they need visual cues or examples to follow. However, those should only used as a baseline to understand feedback and feel. There is no real way to shave by the book, but some people start and learn that way. The danger, then, is not relying completely on other visual or technical cues and not switching over to relying on your feedback. I think honing follows a similar path. You can watch videos and get a good idea of pressure, technique, or sound, but you still need to learn what it feels like.

I'm a head shaver, so half of my shave is, by necessity, by feel. Over the last 2 months of daily shaving, it has become second nature to feel how the blade is contacting my scalp, and hear the way the blade is "singing" through the hair. After getting these tactile sensations fairly well engraved in my muscle memory, it has been consistent DFS and BBS with zero irritation, which is always a good thing, in my opinion...

Kevin, it seems like the majority of us do this. So much for science and exact numbers, at times.

I shower shave, so it's all shave by feel for me. I think looks can deceive, but learning by feel, your skin always knows.

"I have noticed that I do something similar with shaving. I don't focus on what the proper blade angle looks like, how the blade should be positioned visually but on what it should actually feel like at the optimum angle."

That is exactly the same way that I shave.
When I first started I did watch the angles but quickly grew accustomed to using the feel.
Sound? Some of my razors sing but most are mute.

Straight razors are different. One of the things I dislike about them is losing sight of the blade particularly when starting at the sideburns.
Now I understand how van Gogh had his accident.
Admittedly I am a flop with cutthroats though and have almost given up on them. I don't have very much blood to spare.

My Rolls Razor blades are part of a straight blade though and I have no problem looking at the scenery when using them.

Mickey