Getting at the very top of the Mo area?

JayDee

JayDee

Member
Joined
Dec 28, 2012
Location
Sydney
Now I'm the first to admit that I have a head like a beaten favourite... but everything is roughly in proportion. Since I've started DE shaving I'm having trouble getting at the very top of the moustache area, just under the nostrils. It seems like that bit of cartilage between the nostrils just gets in the way far enough to stop the blade completely getting at the top couple of millimetres properly.

FYI, I'm using a Slim set on 5. Should I ramp it up to 7+ to get at that area? When I was using a Mach 3 it wasn't an issue as it had a smaller head. I'd love to get a Fatboy one day but using one would probably be even harder to get at that area. Is there any modern razors that would do the job?
 
JayDee said:
Now I'm the first to admit that I have a head like a beaten favourite... but everything is roughly in proportion. Since I've started DE shaving I'm having trouble getting at the very top of the moustache area, just under the nostrils. It seems like that bit of cartilage between the nostrils just gets in the way far enough to stop the blade completely getting at the top couple of millimetres properly.

FYI, I'm using a Slim set on 5. Should I ramp it up to 7+ to get at that area? When I was using a Mach 3 it wasn't an issue as it had a smaller head. I'd love to get a Fatboy one day but using one would probably be even harder to get at that area. Is there any modern razors that would do the job?
Click to expand...

My experience (for what its worth) the Slim is the greatest razor ever made. I have a fatboy and found it a bit clunky. For that bit under the nose, just stretch your top lip down and gently position the razor. I use the Slim at 7 so that might be worth a try. Of course a good SE balde gets in there no problem then the Slim tidies up the rest.
 
JayDee said:
Now I'm the first to admit that I have a head like a beaten favourite... but everything is roughly in proportion. Since I've started DE shaving I'm having trouble getting at the very top of the moustache area, just under the nostrils. It seems like that bit of cartilage between the nostrils just gets in the way far enough to stop the blade completely getting at the top couple of millimetres properly.

FYI, I'm using a Slim set on 5. Should I ramp it up to 7+ to get at that area? When I was using a Mach 3 it wasn't an issue as it had a smaller head. I'd love to get a Fatboy one day but using one would probably be even harder to get at that area. Is there any modern razors that would do the job?
Click to expand...

I use a different razor for exactly that little job. It's an ABC which is basically a Gillette old type head (I believe). I've had success with other open combs too but that one's the best. I wouldn't use it for general shaving 'cause it's quite aggressive but it does the wee little area on top of the mo very nicely. In short, for me it's an open comb preferably with a nice thin head like the Gillette old type.
 
GT's tip about stretching the lip is something I do too, and the other thing you can try is pushing your nose sideways to give you a different angle and more space. That helps me get right up under my nostrils to finish off that slightly pesky patch.
 
Mong. said:
GT's tip about stretching the lip is something I do too, and the other thing you can try is pushing your nose sideways to give you a different angle and more space. That helps me get right up under my nostrils to finish off that slightly pesky patch.
Click to expand...

And, as long as you dont have an audience you can use your other thumb to push the tip of your nose towards your eyes - gives a nice stretch of the skin that does.
 
You are all missing the obvious answer:

Wear a goatee (or mustache, your choice). Works for me :laugh:
 
mr626 said:
You are all missing the obvious answer:

Wear a goatee (or mustache, your choice). Works for me :laugh:
Click to expand...

Well I wear (grow?) a mo. Unless you want it joining up with the insides of your nostrils you need to shave the top couple of millimetres.
 
Pjotr said:
Well I wear (grow?) a mo. Unless you want it joining up with the insides of your nostrils you need to shave the top couple of millimetres.
Click to expand...

May have just the solution for you PJ (if those pesky nose hairs are causing problems). Where I work we do a lot of repackaging and the latest delivery include 2500 boxes of Nose Wax! Having a fairly vivid imagination I tried to imagine how one would go about collecting that amount of politely described Nose Wax until I saw it was from the Nads company and was an aid for removing nose hairs. So PJ no need to go around looking lie a 30s pornstar with a fringe of hair adorning your upper lip, just apply the nose wax as suggested and then sneeze like hell and blow them nose hairs away!
 
Pjotr said:
Well I wear (grow?) a mo. Unless you want it joining up with the insides of your nostrils you need to shave the top couple of millimetres.
Click to expand...

Hmm, I don't actually need to do that personally. I do know of men that do however, so obviously a YMMV thing.
 
Pjotr said:
I use a different razor for exactly that little job. It's an ABC which is basically a Gillette old type head (I believe). I've had success with other open combs too but that one's the best. I wouldn't use it for general shaving 'cause it's quite aggressive but it does the wee little area on top of the mo very nicely. In short, for me it's an open comb preferably with a nice thin head like the Gillette old type.
Click to expand...

PJ, I've got no idea what an ABC is :embarrest: Can you point me in the direction of any links that can educate me!
 
JayDee said:
PJ, I've got no idea what an ABC is :embarrest: Can you point me in the direction of any links that can educate me!
Click to expand...

Sorry jaydee. ABC stands for American Button Company who were contracted by Gillette to make a certain type of razor and case. We're talking early 1900s here. I think they're by far the best looking three piece razors ever made and they've got what's known as the old type head design which is very thin and elegant and gets to the top of the mo area just nicely I think. I bought a user grade one off Mark and use it for every shave. Here's a link to the old type collection of the official mr razor but our antipodean mr razor can rival it I'm sure.

mr-razor Old Type His ABC pocket editions are in at 1909 and 1910.

I think most old type head designs (designed to take the very first carbon steel DE blades which had slightly different dimensions to the current ones) are similar. I don't think user grade old types are that expensive to get hold of. Mark obviously knows a lot more than I do. I've tried a NEW type open comb (don't ask why this has to be in capitals, it just is!) and it's not as good for the job and my only other one is an obscure English open comb called a Souplex which does a very good job of it too.

Here's a link to the NEW types (again our German mate).

mr-razor The NEW

If you look at any side on shot of the NEW head you'll see the difference compared to an old type and why the latter will work better in a confined space.

Alternatively you could do the thumb up the nose, three finger down the nostril "Quasimodo" trick that Glen uses but he's pretty shameless and unsophisticated.
 
Last edited:
There are two great threads on the ABCs over at B&B. The first is on the razors and the second on the cases.

Don't look though - it could be bad for your wallet !
 
For a long time now I've feel that the very early Gillette razors were the best that they made. The ABC's were the fancy handled 1904's that gillette made into the every early '20's. the razor that I feel was the best out of those years were the ones that gillette made for the Military in the Great War. The 1918 Gillettes are fantastic. Gillette made I've 3 Million of them for the military in '18 alone.
This razor(and poison gas) is what started the world shaving every day.
The abc has the same head but a fancy bottom.
 
Yeah it's strange to realise that Gillette basically made a fortune and became a household name as a result of the emergence of chemical warfare.
 
Pjotr said:
Yeah it's strange to realise that Gillette basically made a fortune and became a household name as a result of the emergence of chemical warfare.
Click to expand...

Apologies to Edwin Starr et al...

War...HUH-yeah..What is it good for? Makin' lots o' money. Say it again y'all!
 
Took my own advice and cranked the Slim up to 8 to get to that tricky bit. Worked a treat. Problem solved :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top