Shaving the Upper Lip

[sanders4617]

Ok. I have been shaving constantly for about 2 years (I am 18). Most of you will probably chuckle about this, but I have problems shaving my upper lip. I can shave everywhere else without problems. My sideburns, chin, and everywhere else, but the upper lip (I don't know the proper name for that area other than maybe the mustache area) is a pain to shave. I have tried just going straight down, but that technique won't remove all the hair. Sure, it won't hurt after I do it, but its also not effective.

So this is why I come to you guys. I need the professional help on how to shave this area. If I shave sideways, it doesn't remove hardly any more hair than if I shave down, and if I shave up (Oh god).. It will remove more hair, but I get razor burns like crazy, and most of the time, I still have hair left over.

I have tried lathering my face with shaving gel, and just lather for 5 minutes straight, trying to get the whiskers soft and agile, but no luck.

I give my problem to you guys. =D

Help.

[Queen of Blades]

Welcome to B&B!

[zachster]

What sort or razor are you using?

[sanders4617]

I am using Gillette Fusion. :-/ The commericials said that the 5 blades would mean less pressure against my face, and I havn't seen any improvement with this razor. It works great for everything but my upper lip. Maybe I should just grow a mustache and be done with it. :(

[zachster]

Dude, how the heck does that fusion even fit over the upper lip? back when I used a Mach 3, I could never get rid of stubble on my upper lip, or the areas off to the side -- with a DE, I am able to do it with small (tiny) downward strokes. I haven't used one of those fusion monsters, but my guess would be your best bet is to use the single-edged side, and use small strokes. Pressure is not the trick, here, it's angle and technique. Now, with a fusion, you probably don't have much choice but to use the angle they provide you, but be patient and use lots of small strokes.

Also, when you say you're using gel, do you mean gel-in-a-can? If so, stop using it and get yourself a decent shaving cream in a tube! There are a handful of inexpensive ones available at drugstores, including Palmolive (brushless or regualr), King of Shaves, and now it looks like Gillette is also back in the tube biz as well. Best of luck - please report back with your progress!

[Pilfer]

I have a secret... I use a Fusion Power when I am in a real hurry and don't want to risk cutting myself up rushing with a Futur. OK, I've said it, I dabble on the dark side.

I have exactly the same problem with the Fusion, an upward pass on the upper lip tugs and pulls, not very nice really. The DE is MUCH kinder in that area, closer, much less irritation. But if you do want to get a close shave up there with the Fusion this is what I have found works to some degree. Not sure if you have the power model or not... with the power fusion I do the downward pass with the main blade(s) in a pretty standard fashion. When it's time for the upward pass I got SLOW, it little short strokes, no pressure. The vibration seems to help the cutting if you go slow and when it catches the hairs sort of saw through them if you know what I mean. To tidy up (the main blade(s) won't go right to the nose) I use the trimmer blade on the back. Be careful with that, it's not as forgiving as the main blade(s).

[TimmyBoston]

Sanders
Welcome to B&B
Your question is actuallly quite common. I haven't been shaving that long either, I'm not much older than you are. Recently I switched from my Mach 3 power to an old fashioned safety razor, of called a Double Edged or shortened to DE around these parts. It's one of the old fashioned razors our grandfathers used that uses a single flat double edged razor blade. I know it sounds like 5 blades will kick one blades a$$ but it won't. I didn't believe it at first, but its so much better. You really may want to look to check out the site, www.classicshaving.com they sell traditional wetshaving products, safety and straight razors, English style shaving creams and soaps and shaving brushes (the best ones are made with badger hair, but boar bristle is good to start with and a heck of lot cheaper). I'd hit that site and look at the Merkur safety razors. I have an Merkur Hefty Classic, which is referred to as the Heavy Duty or HD. It's 30 bucks and will last a lifetime. It's a great razor and also double edged razor blades are dirt cheap, I bought a pack of 100 for 16 bucks. 100 Fusion cartridges is around $300.
Also if you have a Target in your area go look in the Spa area, which is next to cosmetics they have Proraso Shaving Cream. It's 6 bucks and a hundred times better than the gel in the can, like Edge or it's other competitors. I used Edge for years and now I can't believe how much better shaving creams like Proraso are and Proraso's the same price. Also in that same section there is a shaving brush it has a metallic handle and boar bristles, it's around $13 and it's a great brush, it will also last for years. Get a cereal bowl or one of the oversized wide mouthed coffee/latte mugs or use an extra one you have at home. Get the brush wet and mix up about a 1/2 inch of cream from the Proraso tube in the bowl with the wet brush, it takes about a minute then spread it on your face. Then shave. Even with your Fusion, your shave will be much much better.
I know right off the bat, I'm telling you to go out and spend money, but it really is worth it. I've been DE shaving for a month and it really is worth the initial investment, and in the long run you'll shave some serious money.
If you're looking just for immediate results with the razor you have, first if you have an old Mach 3 or Sensor Excel lying around use that one. Actually 5 blades is harder on your face despite what the marketing people say. It's much harder, what you want is fewer blades. Also the fusion is so big that it takes up a lot of space, it's fine on your cheek, but your lip is a lot thinnner. When I'm shaving I do a downward pass from forehead to jaw direction. You're right it doesn't remove much, but the real key to shaving is to actually do multiple passes, when you shave once in a particular direction, then relather and do it again. This downward pass will remove some hair. Then I relather and do an upward pass, South to North, then I do a diagonal pass, roughly from the corner of my jawbone, directly below my ear to the top of my opposite ear. My moustache hair grows basically downward with an angle, southeast for one side and southwest for the other,if it were geographical. So I do a third and final pass against the grain wihich will get you that smoothness you desire.
Also check out some videos a forum member here posted, these will give you a lots of shaving tips to help you learn and be a more proficient shaver.
Here's the link:
http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=mantic59

These videos were made by Mark known around here as Mantic. They're all a few minutes long and really, really helpful. I hope you check them out.
I also hope you look into some real shaving cream and a brush also at least do some more reading on DE razors they are the best way to shave.
Hopefully I've answered a few questions for you. Good luck and ask any more questions you have, this is a very friendly place and you'll get lots of feedback from some true experts.
Lastly a good aftershave, Nivea for sensitive skin is good and as is Proraso available at Target. And a styptic pencil, because if you do get a nick on the upper lip area, especially when you're learning a new shaving technique this is common, the high concentration of capilaries in the region will make even a painless tiny nick bleed fairly well.
Good luck and keep us posted on how things turn out.

[MasonM]

Welcome to B&B!

I've had a moustache most of my adult life but can recall the few times I didn't. That area is tricky to shave and those multiple blade cartridges make it harder.

[TraderJoe]

Ok. I have been shaving constantly for about 2 years (I am 18). Most of you will probably chuckle about this, but I have problems shaving my upper lip. I can shave everywhere else without problems. My sideburns, chin, and everywhere else, but the upper lip (I don't know the proper name for that area other than maybe the mustache area) is a pain to shave. I have tried just going straight down, but that technique won't remove all the hair. Sure, it won't hurt after I do it, but its also not effective.

So this is why I come to you guys. I need the professional help on how to shave this area. If I shave sideways, it doesn't remove hardly any more hair than if I shave down, and if I shave up (Oh god).. It will remove more hair, but I get razor burns like crazy, and most of the time, I still have hair left over.

I have tried lathering my face with shaving gel, and just lather for 5 minutes straight, trying to get the whiskers soft and agile, but no luck.

I give my problem to you guys. =D

Help.

You can take care of this problem by stretching this skin, which can be effected by wrapping your upper lip around top teeth.

Also, welcome to B&B

[sanders4617]

I have tried to do that.. just doesn't seem to work. I will probably have to wait another day or two before I shave again so that I don't just keep my upper lip raw.

I went to that website someone listed earlier but the shaver I was interested in wasn't in stock.

Is it really worth me buying all that stuff if the only problem I have is the upper lip?

[TimmyBoston]

I have tried to do that.. just doesn't seem to work. I will probably have to wait another day or two before I shave again so that I don't just keep my upper lip raw.

I went to that website someone listed earlier but the shaver I was interested in wasn't in stock.

Is it really worth me buying all that stuff if the only problem I have is the upper lip?

I think it is, because my shave all over my whole got much better. Also other things, like my face used to break out whenever I shaved with my Mach 3, which is why I often had a beard, now with my DE, it doesn't do that, because the irritation is lessened.

You can also look in the selling and trading part of this forum, you may be able to get a razor there a lot cheaper than places like classicshaving. Also their is also a selling and trading thread at www.shavemyface.com, which may be useful as well.

[crispy]

This is a very valid and quite common question Sanders. I used to have troubles with my upper lip as well. I found that it works best if I make the old orangutan face with the upper lip over the lower lip pulled down. If that doesn't work, maybe you just need to adjust the direction you are shaving your upper lip. People's hairs grow in all different directions on the face, and if I tried to map mine out, it would look like one of those football coaches diagrams. So you might want to let it grow out for a couple of days to get a good idea of how it grows. Good luck to you!

[Leisureguy]

The upper lip is difficult for us all. If I'm going to get a nick, I almost always get it in the upper lip. Here's something from my blog:

The upper lip is a tricky bit, because of the unremovable nature of the nose. Fortunately, though, the nose is flexible, so with your free hand, you can push or pull the nose to one side and even upward to give your razor more room to work.

Stretching the skin, by pulling your lip down over your upper teeth or, as one guy does, pushing under the skin with his tongue, also helps.

I have no problem using a Futur or a Vision on the upper lip, BTW: you just come in at a slight angle.

[TraderJoe]

Is it really worth me buying all that stuff if the only problem I have is the upper lip?

IMVHO: yes.

shaving with a sharp, single blade will make a HUGE difference.

[BroJohn]

Sanders --

First, the guys have got you off to a good start. To cheer you up somewhat, a little practice with a Double Edge and you'll be nice and smooth at the upper lip, and without any irritation either. Quit suffering with multi-blade cartidges and goo.

The only cartridge worth a damn is the two bladed Gillette sensor, and since you don't have that, just move into a DE. You can buy new German razors or the trade/sale forum here at B&B generally has guys selling fine old Gillette DE's for a modest cost. Look for the various adjustables and SuperSpeeds.

First of all, make sure that you see Mantics' videos. They will save you time and frustration and will dramatically accelerate your learning.

Second, I'd skip the Proraso boar bristle brush at Target if you can afford a little more. I recommend the Crabtree & Evelyn best badger for $35. If there's a C&E at your local mall, pick one up. Or order directly from C&E. I mention this as I bought the Bristle and then spent the money for the badger within a month anyhow. I wish that I'd just gone ahead with the badger. It IS worth it.

Welcome aboard.

-- John Gehman

[sanders4617]

I wonder if the reason I have acne and can't get rid of it is because of this. I don't have to shave my face much, because I don't have a lot of hair that grows there yet, but I have acne. People say that my hair which goes down to my eyes doesn't help the acne, but my forehead is usually acne free. My neck also has a little bit of acne.

I am gonna try to find some good deals on this stuff and go for it. Is it ok to get the cheaper brush for now? THe boar?

[TraderJoe]

I wonder if the reason I have acne and can't get rid of it is because of this. I don't have to shave my face much, because I don't have a lot of hair that grows there yet, but I have acne. People say that my hair which goes down to my eyes doesn't help the acne, but my forehead is usually acne free. My neck also has a little bit of acne.

I am gonna try to find some good deals on this stuff and go for it. Is it ok to get the cheaper brush for now? THe boar?

That cheap boar brush is one of my favorite brushes! And I have a couple worth >$100

I should add that I didn't like it at first, but after I came back to it a couple months later it has quickly become my go-to brush.

[BroJohn]

Yes, the boar is fine as a starter brush; in fact, there are some who never migrate to badger. I mentioned the C&E as it is a good value, and recognized generally as a good 'first step' with badger. There are many others, also.

I only recommended the badger cuz I bought cheap, then spent the money for badger soon after, anyway. Spend some time in the shaving brush forum. Many of those guys are maniacs and have dozens of brushes. If you need to learn about brushes and get valid recommendations, thats the place to be.

-- John Gehman

[sanders4617]

Went and bought a Gillette Sensor (much cheaper than the fusion).. and it is MUCH better. For the first time in a couple of weeks.. I was able to almost have a complete clean shave on my upper lip.. I was just afraid to push it too far for right now, still waiting to completely heal from the last razor.

[doctorsimon]

I admit that I used a sensor today with goo out of a can (it is useful to remind oneself of the dark side of the force.) Actually I am tired, working nights and was afraid of having an accident with an old blade or even a new blade.

It was utterly easy, no nicks, cuts, amputations of ears. Quick, easy. Any fule can do it.

BUT

My face is sticky (what does the goo leave behind?) and feels like sand-paper. I used my standard three pass technique (down, across, and across in the other direction.) I don't shave against the grain as it gives me a horrible rash, ingrown hairs, etc.

You've made a good move in regressing to the sensor from the monster-fusion. Now we need to convince you to invest some money in some good ol-fashioned kit.

Firstly, don't be afraid by my sarcasm above. Using a good DE blade is really comfortable. They are so cheap that you can discard them sooner, so you'll have a sharper razor and cleaner razor. Less infection, less cuts, etc.

Browse the internet and read about the merkur razors, for example. Don't forget a nice brush. There is a difference between a silver-tip badger brush and everything else (it's beautifully crafted, soft, evenly shaped, and smells really nice too.) But get something cheap to start with to try it all out (I went to my local drugstore and bought a shave-cream/brush package and simple DE razor -- it cost £15 for the whole lot so you should be able to get something similar in the US for $20.)

The best thing you have done is to ditch the fusion. Welcome to the revolution dude.

S.

P.S. The acne isn't due to your mop of hair.