The last hold-out.. the bottom lip

I've managed to crack the many riddles that exist in shaving the various parts of my face and neck, but the one spot I can't master is the very thin, tender sliver that is right where my lower lip ends and whisker begin to grow. Not sure if there is a forensic name for this location.. it's the start of whisker growth on the very top of the lower lip. If you purse your lips like you're angry, it's the part that you can feel with your upper lip.

Over the past weeks I've come to realize I don't need to go ATG to get a BBS.. I scything stroke does it. However, I can't do a scything stroke here. About the only thing I can do is an XTG. WTG & ATG just stall because I can't get any momentum. Since this is the a spot I can feel with my upper lip, and I don't need to use my hands, it's one that I REALLY want to get close.

The XTG stroke is hit or miss. If the edge and stroke are absolutely perfect I can clear it, but anything less than perfection and the stubble bothers me all day.

I usual press my tongue against the back side of my lower lip and then use various frowns and smiles to get a decent stretch. The area is too small to get my other hand in there to stretch.

Any suggestions?

MikeiM:

I think I am exactly where you are regarding this difficult spot. ATG is always possible with a nice and sharp edge. Still, whenever I am trying to be OCD about a BBS in this area, I end up getting a few weepers. I usually perform a very careful WTG touch up with clear water at the end and that seems to be satisfactory most of the time.

On the upper lip I go wtg and atg . I kind of bite the upper lip with my teeth and use short slow strokes. on the lower lip it is about the same. The razor lies flat against the skin, I bite the lower lip and like you stick my tongue behind it to stretch the skin. Works pretty well. Takes a lot of practive. Good luck.

That is one spot for me that is very hard to get BBS. My whiskers there lay very flat and are very tough, and is one spot that absolutely requires ATG to get smooth.

I start with the basic WTG pass, relather and then it's ATG. I stretch the skin over my teeth or "puff" it out with my tongue. I generally use the heel of the blade (the most inflexible part of the blade) and will scythe ATG as well. This works extremely well.

BTW, in lieu of a technical term for this area you could say the "soul patch area" and I'm sure most of us would know what you're talking about :)

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Originally Posted by MikekiM

I've managed to crack the many riddles that exist in shaving the various parts of my face and neck, but the one spot I can't master is the very thin, tender sliver that is right where my lower lip ends and whisker begin to grow. Not sure if there is a forensic name for this location.. it's the start of whisker growth on the very top of the lower lip. If you purse your lips like you're angry, it's the part that you can feel with your upper lip.

Over the past weeks I've come to realize I don't need to go ATG to get a BBS.. I scything stroke does it. However, I can't do a scything stroke here. About the only thing I can do is an XTG. WTG & ATG just stall because I can't get any momentum. Since this is the a spot I can feel with my upper lip, and I don't need to use my hands, it's one that I REALLY want to get close.

The XTG stroke is hit or miss. If the edge and stroke are absolutely perfect I can clear it, but anything less than perfection and the stubble bothers me all day.

I usual press my tongue against the back side of my lower lip and then use various frowns and smiles to get a decent stretch. The area is too small to get my other hand in there to stretch.

Any suggestions?

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Try doing the final touch up without lather, just splash on plenty of water. I do all my touchups with just water and it really works well, with no irritation. If you think not being able to stretch the skin is an issue, try using a 50 cent size piece of terry cloth in your stretching hand. It will provide a lot more traction than just your naked fingers.

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Originally Posted by Wayne1963

Try doing the final touch up ... using a 50 cent size piece of terry cloth in your stretching hand. It will provide a lot more traction than just your naked fingers.

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This.

Not sure why it took me so long to get that little bit of face smooth but a washcloth corner (pulling down) and a lower lip curling up + a little bit of upward scything action or a short, straight upward stoke did the trick for me. (Still working on the mystery of the lower neck pockets.)

Thanks all.. the no lather touch-up is working.. I'll see how it goes..

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Originally Posted by MisterMoo

This.

Not sure why it took me so long to get that little bit of face smooth but a washcloth corner (pulling down) and a lower lip curling up + a little bit of upward scything action or a short, straight upward stoke did the trick for me. (Still working on the mystery of the lower neck pockets.)

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I had challenges with the lower neck pockets as well.. Easy answer for me..I moved them up to my jaw bone. This is one of those cases where, if you can't get to the spot, move the spot to another spot with a good stretch.

was this the section where chimenche used both hands to guide the blade?? you might try that. looks like an angle of attack problem. but you're lightyears ahead of me, i'm still struggling with neck and jaw line!