So I have been Wet Shaving for a while now and have everything down pack except for my upper lip. No matter what I do I get irritation and cuts and a shave that is comparable to that of a butter knife. I do 3 passes WTG, XTG, and ATG. I am not sure what I am doing wrong or if it is the fact that around the corner of the lip the grain goes from straight down to straight out sideways. I think my prep is good (if anyone needs me elaborate on my prep just say so and I will include it) so not really sure what is going on but I am starting to thing about just growing the mustache out to combat having to deal with this everyday. Help please!
I never go ATG on my upper lip, as it gives me a lot of irritation. I do buff my upper lip to get close, but that is where I stop.
Are you re-lathering, or are you doing, "missed a spot, I'll just run the razor over that patch of fur." Also the lip area seems to be more sensitive than the rest of the face. It's easy to end up using a tad bit more pressure than you were planning on. Try doing 3 WTG passes on your lip, instead of the WTG/ATG/XTG you were doing before.
I always re-lather. I will try the 3 WTG passes in the a.m. and see how it works. Thanks for the suggestions everyone. I figured it was time to ask for help when the wife asked why I didn't shave my upper lip this morning....
+1. I would consider a 2 pass shave on your most sensitives areas. I am not sure how long you have been using a DE, but the most sensitive areas demand the most secure and advanced technique. No pressure, keep the angle, prep the skin. Good Luck.
I consistently had trouble shaving my upper lip from when I started shaving as a teen...so I grew a moustache.
Go east west and pull your cheek toward your ear with the off hand. This makes the upper lip taut and easier to shave.
Some people recommend only going against the grain but surely that means you cant get anywhere near as close a shave? When I've tried this method it just doesnt cut it - literally, but maybe im not doing it correctly. Going against the grain makes sense because you get right under the hairs whereas with the grain you push them flat which makes it difficult, if not impossible to get a shave as close. Albeit at the expense of irritation (for some). I do start with the grain but its effect is limited it seems. Thoughts?
I go WTH and then XTG from L to R and then XTG R to L. For me not worth the discomfort to do ATG and I still achieve DFS - BBS. As with all things shaving everyone's techinque to their own face is key, not what others do for the most part...my .02....
Also I'll add to make sure u map ur growth. I do a 3 pass shave daily wth/xtg/atg. But my hair grows downish in the middle starting to work its way out and down if that makes sense. So my razor path had to change to accommodate. Also no pressure whatsoever. Hope this helps.
Okay I'm confused, I thought against the grain was opposite the direction of growth, Razorrookie is implying it's with the direction of growth? Which is correct? I just want to know that I'm reading advice correctly.
Never go ATG on my upper lip. I would probably be getting irritation if i do. I go mostly ATG and XTG, from outside of the lip to the inside, if that makes sense, so you will be diagonal somehow, a little ATG, but mostly WTG, but never from south to north. I never had problems this away, always getting BBS in that area.