Can't get close above lip and on chin

[brad1201]

Hey fellas,

I need some advice on how to get close, first above my lip. I usually do a WTG and then XTG from west-east, then I'll usually go back WTG one more time, the problem is that I'm not getting close at all, and the last time I went ATG, I nicked myself pretty bad. any advice, solutions? I usually clean it up with my proglide and I'm sure it has to do with my technique, but these are my only 2 problem spots. Chin is the same way, I'm scared to go ATG because of the curvature, should I just man up and try it or what? I can get decently close, but theres still a small amount of stubble. any advice is greatly appreciated. also This was DE shave #3 for me. so any and all tips are welcome.

Thanks,
Brad

 

[sychodelix]

I have a really hard time going ATG in those areas, and it's probably a good idea to totally avoid it at only your 3rd shave. It takes lots of practice and actually, your angle may be to blame. I find carefully going in diagonals can help in tough areas too. What razor and blade are you using?

 

[brad1201]

I'm using a Gillette SS with an astra blade, I bought it from prsman and he told me I should give the astras a go first, and go from there, he also threw in some feathers, darcos(sp?), merkurs, gillette 7 o clock, and probably more, I just cant remember them all.

 

[jamesspo]

That's a tough area, to be sure. What I usually do there is XTG (West to East / East to West), but add a little South to North. So, on left side you'll be doing SW to NE, and right side SE to NW. It's a little tricky, and easier with a razor that has a small head, but it helps me get pretty darn close...nearly as good as straight S to N (ATG). It helps to contort your face a bit by stretching your upper lip down (just using your facial muscles) to give more room for the razor head.

 

[brad1201]

O wow, I never even thought about going XTG in an upward diagonal. just never crossed my mind. I'll definitely try that one out next time. It's almost ATG which I think Might help alot, all my diagonals are always down strokes. so i'll give it a shot. Thanks a lot James.

 

[prsman23]

Man I've been shaving DE for months and still have problems with my upper lip. Just practice and patience. It took me way more than three shaves to get blade angle and pressure right. Eventually muscle memory will take over, just make sure to go slow and maintain no pressure. Doubt this early blades are the issue.
Very glad you are liking it so far. Keep it going and in a few months you'll wonder what seemed so hard!

 

[ateace]

I'm sure this is why men began to grow Van Dykes and Goatess.

Use caution, patience, good technique, experimentation, careful mapping of whisker growth, etc.

Even with all of these, some can't get a BBS in these areas.

 

[gus1942]

Hey fellas,

I need some advice on how to get close, first above my lip. I usually do a WTG and then XTG from west-east, then I'll usually go back WTG one more time, the problem is that I'm not getting close at all, and the last time I went ATG, I nicked myself pretty bad. any advice, solutions? I usually clean it up with my proglide and I'm sure it has to do with my technique, but these are my only 2 problem spots. Chin is the same way, I'm scared to go ATG because of the curvature, should I just man up and try it or what? I can get decently close, but theres still a small amount of stubble. any advice is greatly appreciated. also This was DE shave #3 for me. so any and all tips are welcome.

Thanks,
Brad

Hi Brad. I'm in Athens Al. Try this with the upper lip area, After you do the WTG and XTG passes, do the 3rd pass like this. Do inverted V's. In other words do diagonal light buffing strokes as a combo of ATG/XTG. Then without a rinse, milk lather off your brush and apply with fingers. Divide your upper lip into a north zone and a south zone. Then buff each zone ATG with light short buffing strokes. I prefer an Astra SP blade for this. You can finish the corners with some J hooking.


Gus/BOTOC

 

[JaggerDragger]

I would say that you are still learning and you need to keep working on it. I would avoid the ATG pass right now for sure.

Also I can suggest that you map your hair growth pattern as well. I was having problems getting close on my upper lip when I first started and then I noticed that my hair grows from the center of my lip toward the corners of my mouth, therefore my WTG pass is from under my nose to the corner of my mouth. Also I got much better at holding the right blade angle (it takes some getting used to).

With the two things above I can now get very close on my upper lip with two passes one WTG and XTG. I never go ATG on my lip as the blade seems to jump and skip alot causing irritation.

Right now you just need to focus on getting a proper lather and shaving enough to be respectable and irritation free. If you cant get your upper lip and chin good so be it grab that fusion to clean it up and move on. You will get the hang of it soon!

 

[barsuk]

When you get hang of it, try a little light buffing in those areas. I was very frustrated at first, don't push it, it will come.

 

[musicman1951]

I really can't do ATG on my upper lip - I can, but it is followed by pain (which I generally avoid at all costs). I've been pretty successful with two WTG passes there followed by light buffing ATG on pass three. If your pressure is light I think you can probably handle that chin. I can't do ATG on the small, flat space between my chin and lip, but that's not a problem for me. The chin is a heavy beard area and I usually do light buffing after the third pass (always relather).

 

[brad1201]

woah, I leave for 10 minutes and get bombarded with awesome info. Thank you guys for the help, invaluable advice here. I think ill mix the advice here and try some upward diagonals XTG first and follow with some light buffing tomorrow and see if that helps. I'll report back here with the results.

Thanks again
Brad

 

[rxonmymind]

Also, if I may add, have good lather at hand. I always apply a finger worth on every pass on the upper lip as the glide helps immensely. Once the major portion of whiskers are cut it's only then I blade buff with a re application of lather.

 

[Doppelgaenger]

ATG shaving on the upper lip, to me, has become a matter of confidence. In my experience, if you hesitate and shave without definite, confident strokes, then you are more likely to cut yourself than if you just go for it the way it should be done. Fear will make your hand waver, and the wavering will make you bleed. I still get weepers here and there but I get better results no less.

The only way I have been able to get really good results on my upper lip is to place the cap of the razor against my lips and rotate the razor handle upwards until I feel the blade touch, then you need to do a definite stroke upwards like you do on the rest of your face. I stretch my upper lip slightly when doing it. Blade buffing was my first way of getting decent results, but what I do nowadays is a gillette slide. razor facing straight up and move at about a 30 degree angle across my upper lip. this avoids a true ATG stroke and causes less irritation, but still provides the same cutting action on the hairs.

just my 2 cents

 

[Doppelgaenger]

Also, if I may add, have good lather at hand. I always apply a finger worth on every pass on the upper lip as the glide helps immensely. Once the major portion of whiskers are cut it's only then I blade buff with a re application of lather.

+7

 

[Useless shaver]

I have a really hard time going ATG in those areas, and it's probably a good idea to totally avoid it at only your 3rd shave. It takes lots of practice and actually, your angle may be to blame. I find carefully going in diagonals can help in tough areas too.

This.

 

[kosby]

I go XTG in two directions shaving both above the upper lip as well as the area below the bottom lip at the same time. In other words, East to West, West to East across the mouth being careful not allowing the blade to contact the lips. Any stray stubble near the nares is handled using a combo of pulling the skin and hitting it with the corner of the razor.

 

[T-Dog]

Niether can I. I can go ATG on any other part of my face, but not my upper lip or my chin--not without consequences anyway.

 

[brad1201]

alright, so i told you guys I'd report back on how it went, all in all pretty well, my chin is especially smooth, still a little bit of stubble on jaw line, but much better than yesterday. i did some spot buffing on the chin a few times and it really helped alot. I got a little nick above my upper lip or else it would be just as smooth(I was scared to shave it any more after the blood started) thanks for all the tips. the diagonals helped alot. got much closer in areas where im scared to go ATG. thanks again!

 

[DMT]

When I ditched my goatee at the start of the year I found that pulling an Oh face and moving my nose out of the way with my finger worked well for my upper lip. For just under my bottom lip, pushing that area out with my tongue to flatten it did the trick. For my chin, jutting it out while curling my lip over my teeth like I was going to bite down worked very well too.