clever title

I couldn't think of one, but I have a question.

Generally speaking I had a pretty good shave today. I'm a little over a month into wetshaving and a little under a month into shaving with a straight. Bit by bit I see (and feel) my technique improving. Shaves are getting closer, irritation is less, nicks are becoming fewer. What more can a person ask? :D

So back to today... everything was going well. Usual pre-shave routine, washed my face, proraso pre followed by hot towel. Mug and brush in the sink with hot water and off to stropping I go. I decided on the wonderful Dubl Duck Satinwedge I got from our very own Blackstangal (so far my favorite blade). I haven't really settled into a stropping routine yet, but somewhere today I read 10 on the linen and 50 on the leather. I decided to go for the tub of SM Novella I picked up today and set to making my lather. A little really goes a long way with this stuff eh?

Ok lather set. Several passes later, I'm feeling pretty good about the over all shave but there's some lingering stubble on the corners of my moustache. I've had problems here before, and have yet to find a way to get consistent results. I've already gone over my upper lip pretty much every way except for true ATG on the corners so I give it one more XTG on my final full face pass just for safe measure. I re-lather my lip and get down to business. Left side is a breeze. Now for the right. OH THE PAIN, OH THE SUFFERING, OH THE BLEEDING. I have no idea what happened but it felt like I scraped all the skin off, many weepers were had.

What could have gone wrong? Is it likely my blade angle was way off? This was a seriously disappointing end to an otherwise great shave. So frustrating.:gaah:

It's history now. Watch your angle and keep on keeping on and learn from the mishap. GOOD LUCK !!

sounds like an angle and pressure situation, but hard to be sure

next time take it a bit slower with the same move really paying attention to angle and pressure and see if it doesn't help

good luck!

I found that area the trickiest when I was learning as well. On my upper lip I go with the grain (nose to chin) first go, and then across the grain (nose to ear) second time.

Another thing that I learned quick was not to be overly cautious around my lips. First few times I shaved I was terrified that the razor would slip once there was no hair and I'd wind up slicing into my lip or something. Now I just kinda pucker them in (really weird and difficult to describe in text) and have at it. Just use very short, confident strokes when starting out and eventually you'll get the hang of it.

Or you can just grow some facial hair. Sometimes I think that goatees and Van Dycks first became popular because of straight razors. :)