Thread: First shave didn't go so well

I got my shave ready straight razor in the mail today and decided to grab a shower and try it out. I soaked my brush and soap in hot water while I showered, got out and commenced to shaving. Ouch!! It pulled the hairs out and scraped the hell outta my face. I noticed that the edge was slick and only felt sticky at the toe, but since I've never even held a straight razor I figured I might not know what a sharp one felt like. I should have trusted my gut and stropped first, even though word on another forum was not to strop the sellers razor so that I can feel what a proper sharp razor feels like for reference. I managed to shave my whole face after 3 passes mostly guillotine strokes WTG (the only way it would cut most of the time). I didn't have much trouble with technique, felt natural enough (I take a "Damn the torpedoes full steam ahead" approach to most things). Though I had a little trouble deciding which hand/angle to use in the chin to neck transition everything else went as well as can be expected with a dull razor. cut my self twice Once on the left ear and once on my right cheek, nothing too bad and it didn't even bleed much, I blame it on the amount of pressure I had to use to make it cut(first sign that I should stop and strop). I did however, have problems working up a lather, I felt like my shoulder was gonna fall of by the time I had something doable in my mug. Maybe the soap needs a little mor hydration? it was pretty hard and didn't seem to wanna transfer to the brush very well. I figure that'll work itself out though. Any way at the end of it all I have a crumby shave and a freshly stropped razor that is ready to shave(feels sticky along the entire length of the edge now) next time.