Thread: "the fools pass"

I have never felt in danger using the fools pass , shaving th upper lip against the grain, upwards towards the nose,as i have laid the razor almost flat and used both hands,but as i am getting older and more stupid
and many instruction videos have advised against it i have started finishing my shave off with my straight,drying my face off,putting some olive oil on my upper lip and doing the fools pass with a Dovo shavette,in the belief that should an accident occur the blade guard would stop a deep cut,certainly not as deep,takes no time as the shavette blade is oiled at the same time.Do you think totaly unnessecary? or not a bad idea,i cant get close enough for me shaving downward alone.

A tip for safer fools pass is to keep the razor still and move your head down with respect to the blade. This way you have very little chance of a shaky hand causing a cut.

When I want to get close on my lip I use a DE razor. I might have been airborne, but I am not totally crazy to go against the grain on my lip with a straight razor.

The Fool's Pass is a part of my regular shave. To help keep it safe, I glance at my footing to be sure I'm secure, and reapply lather to be sure of a good glide.

If I'm having a bad lather day, I'll skip the Fool's Pass, because I don't want the blade to jump and skip. But even then, I'm more worried about nicks to the philtrum than removing my nose.

I agree with minimum movement of razor and shave by moving lip or head not entirely,anyhow a de razor would be about as safe as a shavette,,maybe holding the de razor with both hands and not by the handle?

I've been doing it daily for six or so years. Never had an accident or even a small cut. It's probably the only place I've never had a cut or some sort of disaster. I usually do a buffing style with one hand - just gently and light, quite fast strokes. But sometimes use the two hands as X-man so ably demonstrates.
If you're looking for thoughts on making it safer I'd say go get a bread knife, or just use your finger and practice moving the blade with your whole arm. Don't just use the wrist - the arc movement of the wrist is where nicks can start happening, but as you gain confidence with it the wrist can add a little finesse to the arm movement - especially on the sides (and if you follow the moustache line towards the chin).
With respect to the poster who advises moving the head, which is another fine technique, I don't believe it makes anything safer, unless, of course, you suffer a nervous disposition and/or are prone to twitches and shakes.

I do it everyday. I have done the head move way and razor moving way. I am careful. I would not feel fully shaved without it. I think across grain on the upper lip is more dangerous with a straight.

I dont really do this, more from laziness than trepidation But I don't think a second razor should be necessary.

When I first read the term 'fools pass,' I decided there was a warning in the term so decided to disregard it entirely. For the record though I have done a lot of foolish things.
Plus I have a pencil mustache now so I have to shave above the mustache, below (about 1/8") to top lip and I shave out the middle......the FP would for me be unnecessarily complicated.....when and if the mustache goes I will give it a go.

I agree with the above and shave as i always have,as i have never cut myself doing the fools pass.I use the short buffing action an awfull lot elsewhere,as one uses soft hands,i can see this approach being safe for the fools pass.The two handed approach just feels more in controle,but probably isnt.
My whole shaving action could be described as a glorified buffing action in slow motion.