How to shave lip?

[Mahler]

I've been shaving for a little over a week, and overall feel like I'm getting the hang of it. I've been able to shave across and even against the grain on my jaw/chin. However, I don't feel at all comfortable shaving my lip except with the grain. Even across the grain I feel like I'm chopping/dragging and that if I'm not EXTREMELY careful, I'm going to seriously cut myself, which I've already done once. Any suggestions?

[NavyHopeful]

I know the feeling if I go directly across the grain, so I'll go very lightly in a diagonal direction, but YMMV

[Psicko]

With my lip I do one pass straight down, and then I do a pass where I go from the middle of the lip to the outside of the mouth at a diagnal angle. That works good for me.

[americanarmsdealer]

with my lip i do one pass straight down, and then i do a pass where i go from the middle of the lip to the outside of the mouth at a diagnal angle. That works good for me.

+1

[mattbikes1]

Just start with some slight angle aproaches with the lightest pressure and you will soon find the magic approach. I never go ATG on my upper lip. WTG (first pass) and XTG (second and third pass from opposite sides) is what works best for me. Keep at it and you will get there.

[djh]

Try opening your mouth into a wide "O" as this will stretch your upper lip and give you more space to get the razor in there. Depending on how your face is shaped, you may need to pull your nose to one side while shaving your lip. Just take your time and be careful and you will find a good technique soon enough.

[SRock]

Just take your time and be careful and you will find a good technique soon enough.

That truly sums it up! :thumbup1:

[BRuhling]

As a relative newbie myself, I'm struggling with the same issue. So far, I've found that one N-S and then short, slow XTG strokes seems to be the best for me. I still have some difficulty reaching immediately below the nose and even at the corners of the nose, but occasionally manage to get a DFS shave there. I just have to get consistent with it...

Good luck:thumbup1:

[Optometrist]

I followed the excellent video by Robert on The Gentleman's shop website and now have no trouble with the lip area. I make one more pass ATG with a S/N pass and get really good results. Hope this may be of assistance.
Happy shaving.

David

[SiBurning]

Lose the Merkur HD and get a Gillette. Or even a Merkur slant. Going ATG above the lip with the HD is just really difficult.

[Royall Lyme]

I agree!

Go with the "o".

[dpmtherrien]

I think the best way for now is just to settle for a comfortable, presentable shave in that area. As has been mentioned, with time you'll find your own best technique for taking care of problem area's. Just lay off the pressure and try different angle's. :biggrin1:

[mbrossar]

Are we talking straights or DEs? Straights I don't go ATG on my upper lip. The best I get is 45 degrees (i.e. half XTG - half ATG). I'll go most of the way ATG with a DE. In both cases, it's a very light touch. You have to work your way into it (i.e. a little steeper ATG each week) as you discover just how light a touch you need. Blade angle is key too. You want that blade as flat as possible to your skin otherwise it grabs your whiskers and digs in. Ouch! Funny, the angle's easier (at least for me) to find with a straight than a DE. Probably because you have to judge the amount of bend the DE head puts on the blade and then of course, the handle is sticking out versus parallell to the blade.

Bottom line, light touch, take your time and pay attention.

[drifwood]

I'm a straight razor noob. My upper lip seems to have the most densely pack whiskers on my face. The best advice I've gotten for WTG shaving came from a youtube video by some guy named Jockies (IIRC). He recommends the "O", and then placing the razor flat against the bottom of the nose and using a scooping action to get the whiskers real close to the nose, and rolling into a good angle for the rest of the lip. I get a much better first pass using this method, and what remains gets picked up by going XTG from the middle, following the line of the lip.

I haven't tried this with a DE razor, but I think the idea of beginning tight against the nose and using a scooping stroke would apply equally well.

Cheers,
Ian