Thread: Lip Trouble

Hey guys, another newb question. i'm having some trouble with my lip area. all other places on my face aren't too bad, and even with a WTG pass on my lip isn't too bad, however when i go up my lip the razor just gets stopped in its tracks. ya'll think its the blade or technique, probably hard to tell since ya'll see neither, but maybe ya'll can give me some pointers. thanks in advance.

Originally Posted by encore

Hey guys, another newb question. i'm having some trouble with my lip area. all other places on my face aren't too bad, and even with a WTG pass on my lip isn't too bad, however when i go up my lip the razor just gets stopped in its tracks. ya'll think its the blade or technique, probably hard to tell since ya'll see neither, but maybe ya'll can give me some pointers. thanks in advance.

Going ATG on your upper lip is always difficult. It requires a very sharp razor, a very steady hand and really good control/technique. I would recommend that you take it very slow, stretch as much as possible and, if necessary use two hands to hold the razor. You want to go slow, with good control, because if the razor suddently jumps up, you'll cut yourself good.

You may try slowly working your way up to moving against the grain. I sometimes do two passes somewhere between with the grain and against it before shaving against it

That sounds like blade angle, you're traying to "scrape" with a higher angle. It could also be blade sharpness

I go across and with. I haven't done against and I get a good enough result without it. I too would find it difficult if not impossible at this stage of my development. Maybe down the road but speaking for myself I am okay without it.

I'm the same with Jimmy. ATG on the upper lip is not something I do. I've tried and it makes for irritation. WTG and then I do an XTG using the opposite hand (right hand going XTG toward the middle of my upper lip on the left half of my upper lip). I relather for each pass to increase the glide, cushion and minimization of irritation. I never get a true BBS on my upper lip, but I'm probably the only one that knows it.

Chris L

WTG and a stretched XTG here too. Plenty smooth.

thanks guys, helps alot.

The upper lip's a small area with lots of "roll" so skin tightening is of the utmost importance there.
I "suck" in my lips and use a finger to stretch the skin just above and to the side and also mind the slight toe leading stroke.
Actually good enough stretching of the skin may negate the need to go xtg, it does for me about 50% of the time.

This area really helped me gauge just how well I was stropping.

Your blade not being sharp enough could be a cause...

You may also try to shave your mustache with the middle/back of your blade instead of the point... One can have that way a bit more strength....