Thread: Stiff Upper Lip....literally!

So, I am follwoing the morning routine, enjoying the blade cruising nicely around the face, jaw, neck...but then there is the upper lip "coup de main"...some days - no problem; other days - it's like I shaving while driving over train tracks. I'm using my TI Eagle 5/8. Any tips on getting a consistent result? I usually do 2 passes, 1 downward nose-to-lip, and then corner of mouth to center, from each side which lets the tip of the blade get right up to the nostril where the annoying little whiskers are .

I keep the lip taught and try not to rush. I am wondering if I am holding the blade at too acute and angle and "scraping" the lip.

All tips are appreciated....

Greg

Wirebeard,

I wish I could offer more than, "I feel your pain." I'm there on a daily basis. My challenge is close to yours: at the corners of my mouth. The whiskers there are tougher than my lips and I prove that on a daily basis. I'm able to turn the corner from bottom of nose to upper lip generally without incident and can get that quite smooth. The chin works fine too, but the in-betweens are a son-of-a-gun.

Maybe we should do what Lynn does and grow a mustache and save all the heartache and lipache.

Bruce

The upper lip and the cemtral neck area under the chin appear to be the most commonly difficult areas for people. X-man has a blog on this site (In at the Deep End) which has an entry all about shaving the top lip. I recommend it highly! (Having trouble locating a link, so maybe X can jump in and paste -- I know he never loses an opportunity! )

I started using the coup de maitre when I first read about it. It works as a starting move, but to be honest I have since dropped it and instead use an XTG move from corner of mouth to nose, making sure I stretch the skin plenty (towards my ear). I then finish with a second pass going upwards and inwards. That takes care of the whole upper lip apart from right in the centre. For that, I do a final upwards pass either with the heel of the blade or the toe (depending on which blade in my rotation I'm using).

Interestingly, my Dovo Bismarck is great for this and the alum block never stings on the upper lip following a shave on this razor. My vintage American Barber blade is pretty good too. But my 4/8 TI has always been somewhat rough on the top lip, and my custom Livi is so damned sharp I get smooth results but always a small nick or blood spot. Oh, and the Wapi is smooth too.

The top lip is a tricky area, and I'm starting to understand that you not only need to know your skin/tache/top lip area very well, you also need to know each of your razors well!

Thanks! I hope Xman can post the link. Thanks for correcting the term too. I had Coup de main (cut of the hand - which makes no sense) versus coup de maitre (Master's cut).....interesting about the blades as well...I get the same with my TI...sharp as hell, but there I always get a nick. Sharp vs. smooth...always a dilemma.

Greg

Originally Posted by WireBeard

Sharp vs. smooth...always a dilemma.

Greg

They're not mutually exclusive. The Livi I have is sharp and smooth, and I honed my Dovo yesterday so it's also sharp and smooth. It's just that sometimes if you're not focused enough the sharp ones tend to remind you to pay attention!

A TI stays sharp longer, Focus I think is the key, And I believe that razors are different, and the grinds. the more Hollow, the more flexible, the sooner it needs to be honed. Just my opinion.

Phil

So glad I have a fuzzy lip

Here's a link to xman's In The Deep End upper-lip article, entitled "Damn The Torpedoes!"

http://straightrazorpalace.com/inthedeepend/?p=31

Thanks for the link Matt. I have done some ATG on the upper lip and find that X's advice sounds pretty reasonable . An oblique angle - not straight ATG is helpful, as is a keen edge and a light touch. Good luck!