Thread: The Upper Lip: Against

Please read this and comment. I'm VERY interested in what you guys all think.

X

Interesting. I still don't think I'll be trying it anytime soon. I'm lucky. I've been able to get a good shave in that area without all the acrobatics.

I've gone against the grain lately on the edges of my upper lip but I too typically can get close enough (for me) just going down. I'm not much of an against the grain kinda guy, mostly I shave with a straight to limit irritation, not to get a close shave. Thats sort of a benefit.

I'm having trouble picturing what exactly he is doing with his left hand.

For me, advice like that, is pointless. I am either shaving myself or I'm providing my opinion for the advice of others on here. I find that advice (shaving against the grain on the upper lip) useless for both of those purposes.

I'm thinking what he is doing is craddeling his nose with his fingers which would be better spent stretching his skin when he shaved down. But again I can't really understand the whole French chef reference. I would rather stretch the skin like a French barber might.

To get a close shave on my mustache I must go against the grain, with one caveat, I must lay the razor flat agaist my face instead of the normal 30 degrees. If I do not I get a terrible razor burn... And of course, I always watch out for my nose. I do not want to look like Michael Jackson anytime soon!

Hmmm, sounds like something new to try. This is a very tricky area, I think that's why many straight shavers have mustaches!
-Fred

I have a heavy beard, including the 'stache area, and maybe that is actually a benefit. I can get absolutely smooth with a couple of with the grain passes and one across. I mean TOTALLY smooth. No stubble anywhere, not even with against the grain faceturbation. As for the upper lip, I don't even have to stretch it with my off hand, other than making faces and stretching that way. Here's another interesting point I'll throw out there.....right below my jawline, all the way around, I can strech and shave until there is seemingly no stubble left, but then I can touch up WITHOUT stretching and I find stubble that wasn't there before. I don't understand this, but am finding that a combination of stretched passes and freehand passes (unstretched) are giving me the best results. Naturally, if you try this, be careful as a fold of skin could get caught. It hasn't happened to me yet, but then again I'm only 40 years old and don't have wrinkles, loose skin, or a turkey neck.....yet

Jeff

I could not imagine NOT shaving against the grain on my upper lip. I cant tell you how pissed off I would be if my whole face was baby smoother except for my upper lip! Right now I still shave with my DE, and I will attempt this with the straight. If I dont feel comfortable doing anything with the straight in the beginning I have no problem with using the DE as a supplimental shaving device

I regularly shave against the grain on my upper lip. I treat it much like my chin in that I break it into different areas or zones. I have found the razor must be absolutely sharp or it tends to pull. I have also found the scything motion to be very useful here.

Originally Posted by sensei_kyle

I have also found the scything motion to be very useful here.

Can you explain this a little more, Kyle?

It's a slicing action. I enjoy cooking, and the closest analogy I have is the way a skilled chef slices vegetables. The blade is progresssing forward and down at the same time. Down only is chopping, and we can do this for a big portion of our shave. Forward only is slicing, and you'll do exactly that to your face. The cutting motion is a slicing motion, and I find that it does make a difference especially with trouble areas. I don't recommend the scything action for newer folks. You really need a feel for your blade, how it handles, how it cuts, to be able to use this method. And when you use it, be aware, attentive and cautious, or you could have a nice scar as a reminder.