Thread: Top Lip

Originally Posted by brianm

Ok, didn't think of that! Are you lathering up with cold water?

Cold water shavers use cold water to wet their face then apply creams or soap. I tried it once and had the absolute harshest shave ever. Don't let my opinion sway you though and give it a try. I just think that if the rest of your shave is OK, then it might be technique.
I found that inflating my upper lip and pulling my nose up towards my eyes really help. That way you can maintain a good angle. If I was going to bleed it would be around my nose. Knock on wood; as long as I am pulling my nose up and inflating my lip it has been good.

I would get a Single Edge (SE) razor first. I know a few guys in your area who would part with one for something like GBP 10 including a fistful of blades. If, and that may be a big if, you manage to get comfortable shaves out of an SE, you can do it with a cut-throat. SE blades are quite stiff, and in my experience the closest to a cut-throat shave, but are guaranteed to be sharp out of the box.

Unrelated, but maybe of interest to you, Scottish Fine Soaps have an outlet in Dunfermline. When I was there, they sold unpackaged, unstamped shaving soaps for 20p. Might be worth a visit.

So, this weekend I tried a few a new soap and a shallower angle and it worked (kinda). I can't remember the soap name (i'll check when i get home and post the name), but I managed to shave my top lip, using a shallower angle and small strokes. It still stung a bit but not as much so, i'm happy i'm now getting somewhere. Thanks for all the help. Tomorrow I'll try cold water!

I think you'll find this helpful: http://straightrazorpalace.com/srpwi...Shaving_passes

Just checked the cream and it's lemon and tea tree by Suezbana.

Yeah, my upper lip is painful to shave too and always has been whether it's with a straight or DE, or a disposable. Using a half-WTG-half-XTG stroke eases the unpleasantness somewhat.

And, as always, resist the urge to "overwork" a troublesome area, attacking it multiple times in a single pass. Once you've shaved the lather off, that pass is done!

This may mean finishing with a cartridge or whatever. No shame! Better than trying to learn SR-shaving the difficult area when it's chronically irritated.

I was watching Geo and he shaves with a diagonal stroke. I find it offers a close shave with less irritation.