I cannot go ATG from lip to nose!

**FL shaver** · 09-18-2010, 11:47 AM

The whiskers here grow downhill. I wind up with irritation and later, pimples. It gives me a super close shave, but while my jawline has gotten less sensitive with ATG passes, the space above my upper lip just doesn't want to take it. It seems as if the blade lifts up the skin above the whisker after cutting it. I don't cut myself at all, but it just doesn't look or feel good afterward. I held out hope that continuing to try it would have positive results, but I pay for a close shave with irritation and a pustule here and there afterward.

Anybody else skip ATG above the lip?

**Brandon** · 09-18-2010, 11:49 AM

I only go across the grain on the upper lip. .

**Gryphes** · 09-18-2010, 11:52 AM

I never do a ATG on my mustache area, a wtg and xtg is usually enough to get a close to BBS shave. Irritation just isn't worth it.

**M80** · 09-18-2010, 11:53 AM

I have the same issues on the upper lip. Its the spot where I have the most trouble. I , very carefully, do a cross between an XTG and an ATG on my upper lip. Its all about finding the correct direction.

**Barbarian** · 09-18-2010, 12:01 PM

I typically avoid ATG everywhere due to similar issues.

DFS is exactly that. It is not worth BBS if you have irritated skin or nasty side effects. Sometimes I am surprised with some who have an obsession with BBS even though in their personal case it causes problems.

**Go West Young Man** · 09-18-2010, 12:06 PM

Yup, I shave at different angles on different parts of my face based on finding out through trial and error how far I can push it before getting irritation.

**FL shaver** · 09-18-2010, 12:10 PM

Well....

I'm feeling much beter about it, then...

I guess I have never done it, going back to my cartridge days...

**Luc** · 09-18-2010, 03:38 PM

That's one thing I can't do with a straight... I was doing it with my DE but at one stage, I realised that I was not getting any closer. So on the upper lip I do WTG-XTG-XTG.

**Legion** · 09-18-2010, 03:52 PM

eah, I just go WTG and XTG in that spot. Seems to be all I need and it stops me accidentally sneezing and cutting my nose off.

**gixxer** · 09-18-2010, 04:49 PM

I am like the others WTG. I do not really strive for even a DFS on the upper lip, I only shave it once every few days to knock the fuzz down. As long as my upper lip grooming is within regs I am fine with that.

**Brownbear** · 09-18-2010, 06:00 PM

That's the hardest place for me as well. Whiskers grow down and are very, very tough. I can only go against the grain after a WTG and two XTG passes. And then only with certain razors and blades. Short comb NEW with red personnas and Ever Ready 1912 SE so far are the only ones that make it easy. This is the one place where the combination of blade exposure and gap dimension seem to really matter. It is as if, when going ATG, the whiskers catch and pull the skin up into greater contact with the blade and the result is some irritation.

One thing that helps is a XTG pass with a diagonal motion to it to shear those buggers off.

**SiBurning** · 09-18-2010, 06:53 PM

No trouble at all, but some razors are harder than others. Going in at an angle or curve or doing the Gillette Slide might help. I even do this with some of my straight razors when I'm feeling lucky, punk, though that's the one thing that really scares me about shaving.

**Ru4scuba?** · 09-18-2010, 07:08 PM

I can go ATG on the upper lip for the first part of the week. The latter part of the week I have to go XTG to avoid irritation.

**Blaser0217** · 09-18-2010, 07:10 PM

Originally Posted by M80

I have the same issues on the upper lip. Its the spot where I have the most trouble. I , very carefully, do a cross between an XTG and an ATG on my upper lip. Its all about finding the correct direction.

FWIW, this is the same thing I do. I hold the razor upside down, but don't go directly ATG. I generally follow the angle from the corner of my mouth to my nose. Gets a nice close shave there without any irritation. I found that WTG, XTG, XTG was leaving significant and bothersome stubble but ATG was a nightmare.

Good luck finding your sweet spot.

**jmg** · 09-18-2010, 07:17 PM

Originally Posted by brandon

i only go across the grain on the upper lip. .

+1

**Hex** · 09-19-2010, 04:22 AM

Originally Posted by M80

I have the same issues on the upper lip. Its the spot where I have the most trouble. I , very carefully, do a cross between an XTG and an ATG on my upper lip. Its all about finding the correct direction.

+1 and I might add, very slowly compared to the rest of my face.

**BladeRunner001** · 09-19-2010, 04:29 AM

It took me awhile to go ATG on my upper lip, but it'll come. I usually go XTG, which leaves me BBS in that area. Don't force it.

Are you using DE or straight razors?

**DE Shaver** · 09-19-2010, 04:51 AM

I remember that was an ATG problem area for me when I first was wet shaving. However, I did manage to find the right combination of pressure, stroke and angle to make it an irritation free routine.

**ackvil** · 09-19-2010, 05:19 AM

Originally Posted by m80

i have the same issues on the upper lip. Its the spot where i have the most trouble. I , very carefully, do a cross between an xtg and an atg on my upper lip. Its all about finding the correct direction.

+1.

**FL shaver** · 09-19-2010, 05:30 AM

Originally Posted by BladeRunner001

It took me awhile to go ATG on my upper lip, but it'll come. I usually go XTG, which leaves me BBS in that area. Don't force it.

Are you using DE or straight razors?

HD with an Astra SP, for the most part. I watched a video of a straight shaver going ATG in the mustache area recently and began trying it again. I will try a diagonal ATG slide as suggested above and see how I make out. It just looks stupid to walk around with a red area just inside and above the corner of my mouth with a white dot in the middle! The razor, despite light pressure, will drag to a halt sometimes here.