Thread: Coup de Maître

Just happened upon this site in my travels. What is Coup de Maître? Can any of our experts give a better explanation than the one here?

http://www.en.nassrasur.com/razorcentral/coup.html

I find the upper lip just under the nose the most difficult part to shave using a straight, and this sounds like a technique, but damned if I can work out what it is from the description!

"Put the blade flat against the underside of the nose, and while rotating around the back as its axis, push towards the upper lip. Repeat until the complete upperlip is ready. It is important to keep moving forward while rotating the blade, because you then prevent cuts. The blade touches the skin at a frightening 80 degrees during this Coup de Maître."

Yikes! I don't like that rotating on an axis thing... sounds like a recipe for cutting yourself up.

Coup de Maître translates roughly as The Master's Pass. I guess it's a big deal beacause you have to angle the edge straight at your face to get under the nose. I've never had an issue with it. Remember to never leave the blade resting still against your face, always keep it moving.

X

I've never had an issue with it either, and I've had issues with most things.

X-man also blogged somewhere about an against the grain technique for the 'stache area. He added all sorts of warnings and disclaimers, but I found that pretty easy too.

If you promise not to sue him, he might post a link.

Damn The Torpedoes!

Here's a shot of Josh doing the coup de maitre:

http://thecolgans.org/images/shaving...st/shave_3.JPG

(cribbed from the Josh Just Shaved With the 12/8" Christmas Razor thread)

I never thought of the pedagogical uses for that monster before, but it's so big it makes it easy to see how to pull this stroke off.

and doubles as a shaving mirror for those times when one isn't readily available

Of all the areas, i kinda enjoy this one. Haven't had any issues getting smooth on downstroke. This comment remains accurate untill i cut my upper lip clean off.....

I get best results by pulling my nose up, and pushing my top lip down (using the muscles only, not a finger) so you make the skin really taught. Then I find the starting angle is not quite so extreme.

think I'll stick with a hairy lip, with my luck I'd cut my upper lip clean off.

Some of you are clearly certifiable!

Un duffent weawy needh an uffer lif enyhow.