Help with one trouble spot on my lower lip...

I seem to have pieced together the riddle of how to attack my face map, with the exception of one spot...

My lower lip, above the chin.

I can't get a good WTG stroke from my bottom lip down because it's precariously close to the tender lip skip. Since I can't get a good WTG, ATG is really tough because the whiskers are thick. I can sort of get a diagonal across my lip, but I think fear gets in the way. XTG is also a challenge because the spots left and right of center, on the lower lip are extremely sensitive skin and I prone to weepers here.

It's particularly important that I figure this part of the riddle out, because if I purse my lips, I can feel the poor results with my upper lip and leaves me feeling like I did half a job.

Any suggestions on how to get a clean pass on the lower lip section?

perhaps you have a good case for shaving oil- at least on this spot. Going XTG and ATG will work ANYWHERE providing your strokes are very short and very light, your skin is stretched and your razor and skin are well conditioned.

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Originally Posted by 1holegrouper

perhaps you have a good case for shaving oil- at least on this spot.

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hmmm... interesting.. didn't consider oil.

I had tried it years ago and found it to be an unnecessary step.

Might be worth a try again.

Stretching and blades are in order. Keeping my angle really shallow for these passes.

I think the main thing is to try to stretch your lip up over the lower teeth leaving just the area to be shaved exposed. Maybe easier said than done. For the areas to the sides, I try to twist my jaw to the left and right with the lip still curled up over the lower teeth. I find that as I get older and heavier, this area of my face becomes more problematic and I have to be more creative with my stretching.

Good luck.

I have trouble here too, mine is really rough, so I keep catching the high spots, but is getting better.

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Originally Posted by MikekiM

I seem to have pieced together the riddle of how to attack my face map, with the exception of one spot...

My lower lip, above the chin.

I can't get a good WTG stroke from my bottom lip down because it's precariously close to the tender lip skip. Since I can't get a good WTG, ATG is really tough because the whiskers are thick. I can sort of get a diagonal across my lip, but I think fear gets in the way. XTG is also a challenge because the spots left and right of center, on the lower lip are extremely sensitive skin and I prone to weepers here.

It's particularly important that I figure this part of the riddle out, because if I purse my lips, I can feel the poor results with my upper lip and leaves me feeling like I did half a job.

Any suggestions on how to get a clean pass on the lower lip section?

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I'm not really sure what you mean...what is a "tender lip skip"? Is your razor sharp not enough? Try holding the blade differently and use the heel so you have more control.

Ya know,anatomicaly we are all differant,Like DNA,nobody is the same.You can discribe stretching tecniques all day,but what works for you may not work for others.
I think the key to shaving the chin,upper lip areas is all about muscle memory and how to use said muscles.
I have a full moustache,when I shave the edges,I never move the blade,I move the muscle into the blade,same with the chin area which is all muscle.This all takes time to learn,but it will come.

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Originally Posted by kwlfca

I'm not really sure what you mean...what is a "tender lip skip"? Is your razor sharp not enough? Try holding the blade differently and use the heel so you have more control.

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Sorry.. that's a typo.. it's tender lip skin.. those small spots left and right of center are just super sensitive.

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Originally Posted by Lynn

I think the main thing is to try to stretch your lip up over the lower teeth leaving just the area to be shaved exposed. Maybe easier said than done. For the areas to the sides, I try to twist my jaw to the left and right with the lip still curled up over the lower teeth. I find that as I get older and heavier, this area of my face becomes more problematic and I have to be more creative with my stretching.

Good luck.

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Lynn, thanks.. The stretch over the teeth helps. I also push from the back with my tongue while trying to flatten the spot. And, now that I think about it, I do the jaw twist too. I also stretch towards the same side ear, but now that I think about, maybe I should stretch the opposite way.. to get the whiskers to stand up a bit.

I think it's in part, fear. And, it's such a short section that I don't get any momentum on the blade.

The whiskers on my lower lip are among the toughest on my face, just like little copper wires. That area can be a challenge, but it will also tell me how sharp an edge is.

Assuming your edge is up to snuff, try using the heel of the blade and try either a diagonal stroke or a scything motion for the WTG pass. This will get me (what we call) directional BBS, meaning that it will feel smooth WTG, but when felt ATG it still feels like sandpaper. So I'll do the same type of stroke again except this time ATG, using a very shallow angle, and that does the job nicely.

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Originally Posted by Ryan82

The whiskers on my lower lip are among the toughest on my face, just like little copper wires. That area can be a challenge, but it will also tell me how sharp an edge is.

Assuming your edge is up to snuff, try using the heel of the blade and try either a diagonal stroke or a scything motion for the WTG pass. This will get me (what we call) directional BBS, meaning that it will feel smooth WTG, but when felt ATG it still feels like sandpaper. So I'll do the same type of stroke again except this time ATG, using a very shallow angle, and that does the job nicely.

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That's the pretty much what I am doing.. Diagonal across all of my chin.

It's not ideal, but it's better than nothing

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Originally Posted by MikekiM

That's the pretty much what I am doing.. Diagonal across all of my chin.

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Actually I should have said guillotine stroke instead of diagonal, my mistake. Hold the blade at an angle, usually heel leading (as opposed to the edge being parallel to the floor) and then pull straight downwards. This creates a slicing motion instead of a cutting motion.

Admittedly, the scything stroke is better and more efficient, but it's considered an advanced technique. Try it only if you feel really comfortable.

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Originally Posted by Ryan82

Actually I should have said guillotine stroke instead of diagonal, my mistake. Hold the blade at an angle, usually heel leading (as opposed to the edge being parallel to the floor) and then pull straight downwards. This creates a slicing motion instead of a cutting motion.

Admittedly, the scything stroke is better and more efficient, but it's considered an advanced technique. Try it only if you feel really comfortable.

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hmmm... the guillotine makes me shiver. There are so many contours to contend with on the chin & lip area, that I can see myself cleanly slicing something off..

Hi
You might want to try a pre shave lotion or oil. I use cold cream with vitamine oil that I add to it.

I use the tip of the razor and lightly do the WTG then XTG. I relather and go ATG with short strokes. You have to be a little careful but it works.

I like to first anchor my straight to the wall in the hall leading to the bathroom with a couple of u shaped nails. Then I cover my head in Vaseline and run past the razor to see how close I can get to it. It is a dangerous technique which probably explains why it is not mentioned often in the forums. If you turn your head at the perfect moment those pesky little whiskers disappear. Don't give up!

I concur as a rookie concerning creative stretching, and the actual term won't be funny to anyone who has not reached the point where they have witnessed their face actually be a victim of gravity....the first time I saw this I was looking in a truck mirror and sort of went sideways to see something and noticed.....sagging.....ugh.

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Originally Posted by Lynn

I think the main thing is to try to stretch your lip up over the lower teeth leaving just the area to be shaved exposed. Maybe easier said than done. For the areas to the sides, I try to twist my jaw to the left and right with the lip still curled up over the lower teeth. I find that as I get older and heavier, this area of my face becomes more problematic and I have to be more creative with my stretching.

Good luck.

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As far as I do
West to East
with strong stretching of the skin step by step or better said finger by finger
I put two finger on left part of jaw and stretch, then move the str8 for the same amount of skin on chin, then replay till I finish at the right part of jaw.
And lower lip must been fixed by the upper jaw teeth.

But YMMV

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Originally Posted by MikekiM

That's the pretty much what I am doing.. Diagonal across all of my chin.

It's not ideal, but it's better than nothing

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For that part, I just go slow and steady XTG on each side going back towards my laugh lines. I tend to stretch the skin by almost "tucking" my lip behind my lower teeth