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Gents, I need some advice. I just completely destroyed my upper lip by going ATG (down to up). My blade just catches on the hair and I don't want to put alot of force into it for fear of slipping and slicing my nose off. So I do these short, quick up and down motions to get the blade to cut the hair. It was very effective and got my upper lip very smooth but there was blood all over! Do y'all have any tips on how to get a quality ATG pass on the upper lip with out the carnage?
Thanks,
LD
There are two things that works for me to get that pass done.
Firstly, I always keep an extremely low angle on the blade.
My whiskers on my upper lip grows at a very steep angle downwards, so that is essential to be able to cut effortlessly and avoid the razor to cut into the skin.
Secondly, beard reduction.
I always do a pass downwards first, then I do one outwards pass from the center of my upper lip.
This second pass is slighty pointing upwards toward my ear.
After that I find the fools pass, as some call it, to be quite manageable.
Good luck with it:)
Can you shave ATG on the upper lip with other shaving tools? (DE, etc.) I ask because I've heard it said that some folks just can't ever do it comfortably. As for me, practice was a big factor in learning to do it with a straight, but there's no neglecting sharpness. I can't do a fool's pass well unless the blade's edge is damn near perfect.
Ah, the fool's pass :p I have attempted it, but found I just do not have the nerve to perform it. So, I just use WTG and XTG and call it good. Likewise, for some reason I have trouble with ATG passes on the face above the jaw-line, although I can do ATG on the neck with no problem. In the end, I think we all develop a routine we're comfortable with and one that gives good shave.
Haha the fools pass is aptly named. I guess I am a fool to have tried it. But I am still determined to master it. I like the tip about using a low angle and doing a XTG towards the ears in the second pass. I guess 3 passes is necessary to truly master the fools pass.
Was it blood or ATF? (Sorry it was too good a typo to pass up :w )
Now - serious answer: +1 on Birnando's response. My upper lip hair is the thickest on my face. I need multiple passes to get it smooth. I start off nose to lip. Next pass is middle to corners of mouth. Final pass is buffing up with very light pressure and spine nearly touching my skin If its not ATF and you are really bleeding ;), try just the first two passes until your skin gets used to it.
Good luck and shave on.
I have found that the 'fools pass' is a true test of the razors edge - if it not 'just right' it will not work well.
Don't get tempted to use more pressure to get it done 'cause that is a recipe for disaster - less is more in this case.
I have found that a very low angle and fresh, slick lather and very light pressure is the key.
I often use both hands to hold the blade still and 'rock' my head up and down with my tongue under the top lip to keep it stretched tight.
Some youtube vidoes show this method.
I hope it works out for you and your nose remains intact.
Hang on and enjoy the ride
Even when I puff out the upper lip I get catches and weepers. I do a couple of XTG and the final ATG catches less.
You have to out think the whiskers on the ATG pass on the upper lip. In this area, the growth direction is very downward toward the lip. On the ATG pass, the whiskers deflect the blade down into the skin. Knowing this will happen, you have to fool the whiskers into cooperating with you to get a close shave. That is not easy because that means they have to commit suicide for you to achieve their goal. They don't want to do that so they have to be tricked. Two tips:
1. If your blade isn't sharp, don't bother with the Fool's Pass.
2. Keep the blade parallel to the skin, slightly above skin level. The whiskers, not knowing what you are up to, will drag the edge down toward the skin, and you'll get a very close shave. You can get close with no cuts this way. I don't like to use the BBS word, but, well, whatever!
What works for me when I do an ATG on my upper lip is ZERO pressure (same advice as ace -- just different wording), with very short, very slight, guillotine strokes, except for the philtrum which requires a straight buffing stroke. Also, I adjust the low angle of the blade to match the point of skin where my edge is in contact. That came to me when reading someone's advice to practice with a golf ball and butter knife to visualize proper technique for shaving a chin. I found it necessary because my upper lip is not as flat as a hone. The above, plus the confidence that "this is something I can do" gets me successfully through this final step of a satisfying shave.
Namaste,
Morty -_-
Besides the edge being really sharp and the very low angle and pressure, (and this might be hard to picture) I hold the razor with both hands stationary and move my face, that way I don't lose control of the blade and won't lose my nose in the process! lol!
I never go ATG anywhere but my neck . I only need to go WTG , and XTG , anywhere else . And I don't have a mustache or gotee , either . :p
I have to agree with the others , this is definatly a two handed manuver. Good luck.
IMO a XTG pass or two on the upper lip (one in each direction) is sufficient for a great shave, but I digress....
.... But since no one has posted a link to xman's Fool's Pass vid from a few years ago, here it is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nUGvGNlVeg
BTW - if I'm not mistaken, wasn't it X who first coined the term "Fool's Pass"?
I don't really have the stomach/nerves yet for ATG on my upper lip. I typically leave it at good enough with WTG-XTG passes. If I am feeling really adventurous, I will do a A/XTG pass, where I shave 45 degrees to the grain (southeast to northwest type direction).
For me the fools pass is the only way to ge ta smooth upper lip. As well as almost zero pressure and blade angle, I find that the blade must be truely sharp. I can shave with a blade that is almost perfect, but not quite. But for the fools pass the blade must be truely sharp. The fools pass is the ultimate test of blade sharpness.
I tried going ATG this morning on my upper lip, and quickly decided to switch to XTG. My two passes XTG were great. Just had the little bit of trouble right by my nostril where I can't seem to get to the hair, but hey... Practice will get me there. I am just really nervous about pointing that edge at my nose. I think that's why I had a little line of hair right underneath my ear as well... Or I just missed it. Lots of good info here though, thanks all.
Moustache. Solves the problem, I have had mine for many years. ATG is hard enough in easy areas.
Will N.
Attachment 94639I always wondered why there seemed to be so many mustached men here...I just figured there are lots of Tom Selleck fans...Quote:
Originally Posted by WillN
I shaved my head sixteen years ago to show support for a good friend when he had his last surgery for brain cancer. I have big moles on the back of my head, opposite my crown. No matter how careful I was with my Gillette cartridge razor, I'd cut them bad and the blood would run down the back of my neck until I got my styptic pencil out. Were it not for those moles, I'd still be shaving my head today. So while I've gotten really good with an ATG on my upper lip and made it a permanent part of my daily shave den ritual, I can understand other guys choosing to keep a mustache. Different terrain -- same accommodation.Quote:
Originally Posted by WillN
I too had a big problem on the upper lip. The only method that worked for me is to go across the grain of the beard in small strokes while pulling the skin as tight as possible with the free hand. No success with the bubble lip or tongue pushing method; light pressure and tight skin helped me through this patch. Subsequent shaves became easier and cleaner. Good luck.
I agree with others about the two hands, move the head, and lay the blade completely flat on the first ATG pass. I may then buff at no more than 10 degrees. As others have said, it is the ultimate test of sharpness, but the straight razor is the only tool I have ever been able to get a BBS shave on my upper lip with no burn or irritation.
hmm...first time i've seen that vid...impressively steep angle...Quote:
Originally Posted by Ryan82
It scares me just to watch that. Lol.:eek:
I'm still a DE guy.
ladavis89,
Here is another tidbit that may help. Really work your brush as vigorously on your upper lip as you do the rest of your face. Not wanting to get soap in our nose or mouth, sometimes we really do not give the upper lip the attention it needs with the brush. As such, we may not be working the beard effectively, minimizing the softening process, and not getting the beard to stand up for better shaving. This is my latest discovery as I continue my walk down Straight Razor Lane. Hope it helps.
Andy
Yes, not Tommy but the mustache was my solution to the problem.Quote:
Originally Posted by ryanjewell
If you must try for a ATG, you may want to use the double handed pass. Holding it as normal and then grasp the back of the point with the other hand and slowly ATG as if it were a scraper using both hands.
I noticed a few errant nose hairs yesterday while I was doing the 'fools pass' and was very concerned that I had the almost irresistable urge to use the razor on them.
Thank goodness that good sense prevailed and I used scissors...mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Very good point Andypic. Just been workin on that issue myself. Now getting better shaves after extra brush work on upper lip.Quote:
Originally Posted by AndyPic
Can you imagine if he sneezed while doing that, Yikes. As for the nose hairs ,just stick it up your nostril and give it a twirl,but don't forget to post the pictures,lol
That's why I usually have a goat-teeQuote:
Originally Posted by WillN
The fools pass success comes through time. It's part of my daily, but was once was a never for me. Keep those upper lip whiskers saturated, your blade sharp and primed off the strop, and most importantly, zero pressure. Micro buffering strokes while watching the results are my technique. Therefore don't lather up that area, so you can see the action instead of atg'ing the upper lip blind due to thick lather. Fools pass- always my last step. You'll get it.
Magnum P.I.? I thought we had a lot of Poirot fans! Magnum P.I. couldn't even fathom being as intelligent or sophisticated as Poirot! And I am sure Poirot was a straight razor connoisseur, and I am sure caught many people applying :chop: it improperly.
Attachment 95287
