Thread: Under the nose - does size make a difference?

3/8 or 4/8 are a lot better option then 8/8

I do fine with my 5/8 and 6/8 blades.

I have a full mustache so I don't have that problem however if I did I would use my 2/8s. I agree though it's technique more than the size that's important.

I realize now that I probably asked the wrong question. I've been trying to shave under the nose with a downward stroke. Of course, that left hairs just under the nose untouched. I'm guessing that if people are using wide razors there, they're shaving across as they go under the nose. I tried that today and promptly applied the styptic after a nice cut.
Any suggestions about the under the nose technique?

I learned about shaving under the nose with a downstroke when I tried it with a Dove Shavette. The blade went down and promptly into my skin. I do use a downstroke WTG pass still, but I no longer make the mistake of starting right under the nose. I then go XTG from the middle of the mustache area to the right and to the left.

I've also re-started going ATG there to get closer. I've learned, though, that I can do a light ATG stroke there which works well, not really going all the way down to skin level. That has seemed to work fairly well. My whiskers in that area grow downward, and going too close to the skin allows the whiskers to guide the blade downward into the skin, a thing to certainly avoid.

There are whiskers right under the nose, right up against it, that I just cannot get with a straight. I use a DE every three days or so to get those.

All this takes practice and it's a matter of finding strategies that work by eliminating those that don't. You'll know when you have the wrong strategy, trust me!
Good luck!

Under the nose has never been a real problem area for me. Going WTG is easy, ATG a bit tricky, but totally doable with both 5/8 and 6/8 (don't have a 7/8, that might be harder).

I would say to start with use a 4/8 . As you become more proficient with the stroke, you could use a larger size such as a 6/8. I have used 5/8 and 6/8 for this area.

Size of blade makes no difference for me...what I tend to do though is to push my nose to the left and shave the right side (under nose) and do the opposite. Works great and it's one way to make sure skin is taught and pulled.

Well it really depends how close the whiskers get to the nose, it varies from person to person. For most people it's impossible to cut them all with a downward stroke and the razor at the recommended 30 degree angle even with 3/8" razor (that still requires 5/16" clearance). So the solution is to use really steep angle, or cut them from the sides or with an upwards stroke.
All of these are tricky, really sharp razor helps a lot.

What you're doing with a DE razor is you're using a really steep angle as well, but it's probably easier for you to avoid cuts because of the guard on the razor.

i used to have alot of trouble with this area. i start right under my nose with the blade coming in at a 90 degree angle then kind of roll it down, it seems like such an easy task now but then i remember all the blood the first few times i tried it. try the video here

http://straightrazorpalace.com/video...de-maitre.html

hope it helps