Thread: Making Progress

I've also had problem with my neck - for a long time, I just couldn't get it as smooth as the rest of my face.

I've found that not only do I have to pull the skin really tight, but also that a slightly heavier stroke is sometimes needed on the neck. The skin there being a bit more used to irritation, it doesn't give razor burn or anything like that, but it does take off the hair much more efficiently.

Now if I could only get right under my lip and my moustache....

Originally Posted by JerseyLawyer

Now if I could only get right under my lip and my moustache....

That is a tough one you can't easily go against the grain. Try across the grain.

Originally Posted by JerseyLawyer

Now if I could only get right under my lip and my moustache....

I DO go against the grain on my upper lip by resting the spine upside down on my fingertips and carefully guiding it up with the "off" hand while the dominant hand actually holds the blade down on the fingers so it can't accidentally run away into some nasal injury.

For my neck, I turn the scales down projecting past the edge and come at my adam's apple from as sidelong a direction as possible. It takes quite some work to get a perfectly smooth shave there.

X

Originally Posted by xman

I DO go against the grain on my upper lip by resting the spine upside down on my fingertips and carefully guiding it up with the "off" hand while the dominant hand actually holds the blade down on the fingers so it can't accidentally run away into some nasal injury.


X

X,

You are one brave mofu. I wouldn't do that for all the tea in China. Wow I could just see me breathing through this hole in my face after I cut my nose off. lol

Originally Posted by RichZ

X,

You are one brave mofu. I wouldn't do that for all the tea in China. Wow I could just see me breathing through this hole in my face after I cut my nose off. lol

Brave indeed. Yikes! I'll stick to just down the lip and across. Good-nuff.

Yeah, very good point. This falls into the don't try this at home category.

I should say that I shaved for months before trying an upward pass on my upper lip. You see, I just couldn't get a smooth upper lip. I have hairs which grow straight down flat against my lip. The razor would skip over them while going across even. My first upward passes were done only on an upward angle using the heel or tip and moving upward diagonally past the nose on either side. This always left the 'Chaplin' spot scruffy until the day I took my wellfare into my hands and had my first perfect finish.

Needless to say I make sure the area is very well prepared and I take my time and it still only takes seconds to do. I then move on to the trouble spot over my jugular.

X

X,

I tried it this AM since it is Saturday and can take more time. It worked, I now have a completely naked upper lip. It is like when the barber shaved me. I also found it helped if you grab your upper lip with your teeth makes it streched tight. I am very happy you brought this up. Wow. I was a bit nervous when I started though, but I went slow and it didn't take very long to do it.

As I said before and would like to reiterate for everyone; please continue to be very mindful and avoid injuries. That goes for anyone who might toy with the idea themselves. Always use care.

X

X

I am now after 4 days a full fledged member of the NLC (Naked LIp Club).

There are some really good tips on here. I found I had the same troubles when I first started. I wouldn't get this spot or that. To get a good shave I'd sometimes get a good razor burn. I started out by waiting a few days between shaves. then I'd follow a simple routine.
1) shower as hot as I could stand it with my face lathered 2) relather with my face still dripping wet 3) strop the razor 4) relather 5) shave cross and down on the grain, using the tip and heel on tough spots like under my nose or next to my lip 6) relather 7) strop the razor 8) relather 9) shave against the grain.

that all came about from reading other ppls tips on this forum. what I found was several things. 1) the beard responds better to the new str8 shaver (me) after having a few says of growth 2) the against the grain pass went smoother when there was a few days between shaves 3) the repeated heat and lather softened the beard to the point that my mistakes were easily correctable. 5) the more I shaved, the better my razor to face angle ratio improved (20 to 30 degrees is key).

It helped that I had a razor from Lynn, sharpened quite well.

I have one spot on each side of my face, the "jowel" right below and infront of the rear curve of my jaw line, that is a real pain to shave. I've found that the first pass cross grain and the 2nd pass against the grain, both using the same technique that Lynn uses in his video (short repeated strokes) works best for me. A single smooth pass won't get my whiskers properly.

I shave against the grain both on my chin and under my nose. I do basically what everyone here said. I make sure to use the tip or the heel, depending on where I'm shaving and which hand I'm using.

I've just recently gotten to where I can shave daily if needed without too much irritation. It's gradually getting better (I have sensitive skin I guess) but I've only been shaving with a straight since about last sept.

Sorry for being so long winded. I felt the need to make up for such a long absence .

FUD