Thread: Blade angle or grip for chin and upper lip

I don't think I am alone as a beginner in experiencing difficulty shaving the chin and upper lip. It seems like most of my cuts occur in these area too, mostly because I carelessly try to change my angle of attack and when I replace the razor to my skin...ouch.

Anyway, does anyone have good suggestions for how to hold the razor or angle the blade when shaving the chin and upper lip?

A couple of no specific but related points. Loose skin will roll up in front of the blade causing a nick. In the case of the mustache face making is essential. Some I have heard talk of pushing up on the nose. I can't make that work so I resort to face making. Head tilting when combined with dropping your shoulder is also very helpful. The use of pressure is going to cause issues, either with nicks or burns. It is essential for me to limit all pressure. To do this try thinking of removing just the lather. The whisker will come too, but the effort is just the lather, while trying not to touch the skin. Keeping the blade angle low is near impossible while starting in on the mustache, but slip it down as flat as possible. Rolling around the corner of the jaw is also tricky because as you come around the corner the blade has to roll out and back in, making it look like a really steep angle at time, but it isn't really. There are a couple of videos out there that demonstrate it well. Lyn and Geofatboy have some decent ones.

That is helpful. Thanks

Originally Posted by RezDog

There are a couple of videos out there that demonstrate it well. Lyn and Geofatboy have some decent ones.

You are not alone indeed. These videos helped me out a ton. I have issues with those same spots as well but seeing someone else with way more experience traverse these spots helped. Im a big fan of making faces but I will also move my nose out of the way when it comes to the upper lip. I'll just push it over to the opposite side that I am trying to shave if that makes sense. That initial angle is very tricky but be confident with that stroke. I've got a few nicks just under my nose by being hesitant. For me the chin is just a lot of skin stretching mostly achieved by pointing my chin up and really focusing on keeping that angle close. Being so new I haven't messed with my grip, just trying to stay consistent especially with the blade angle. Hope this helps.

Phil

It does. Thanks Phil

Probably the most important lesson that I have learned is NEVER change the angle of the blade while it is in contact with your face.
Every time I do this I get cut - you'd think I'd learn by now .....

Also when doing the upper lip a small razor makes it easier, something like a 4/8s or smaller.

I have a 2/8s which would be great for that but I have a full mustache-har har.

You are not alone. The chin/upper lip is challenging; angles and the hairs are tougher. If your edge is marginal, your chin will tell you.
Some things that helped me were to always have fresh lather for your chin and upper lip: I always get to them last and early on the lather would always be drying out. Its easy to apply too much pressure trying to cut through that thick stubble; especially if your edge is not right (often the case with newbs) and that will give you razor burn, nicks, cuts, weepers. Don't worry about getting all the stubble on your first pass, like said before, shave off the lather. On your second pass do an across the grain pass shaving from middle chin to ear. Same direction for upper lip. Puffing out your checks really helps for around the corners of your mouth and upper lip. Grimacing helps too (think those Maori warriors without sticking your tongue out). You can stop with two passes with a little touch up or do a third pass WTG and with the lightest of touches.
Once you get the muscle memory thing going you'll start controlling your razor with a very light hand; let the razor give you feed back through your fingers and you won't plow through those angles.
A shave-ready razor is key, if its pulling on the chin your gonna get nicked or worse.
From a fellow newb.
Paul

I find that for my chin, pushing out my lower jaw and stretching my lip over my teeth, along with a bit of pulling out (along jawline towards ears) works. That coupled with a guillotine stroke at the edges of my mouth does the trick. Though with all that being said I do still catch the odd nick (today for example).
For my mustache I stretch the skin as tight as possible with my muscles and give it an extra pull outwards with my fingers. Directly under my nose I pretty much scoop the razor downwards the rest is pretty self explanatory.

I find shaving the chin diagonally makes it much easier. Also stretch the skin down on the chin. I've had surgery on the chin and that's the only way I can do it. As for the lip I find east to west and west to east makes it easier. I always check my angle before I put the razor down on my lip. If I go north to south I also get bitten when I put the razor under my nose.