Quote Originally Posted by Brenngun View Post
You're not unusual but I would recommend not changing a lot of things while you're still learning. Find what works and stick with the same prep & process until it becomes much easier. Then play with changes.
+1 to this. I always tell beginners pick one brush, one soap, one razor and one strop for the first couple months. It allows you to master that combination then you can sub things in one at a time.

Also don't be overly confident about your lather. I see you use a de which probably means you have been making lather for a bit. However I have found that I can make a subpar lather a still get a decent comfortable shave from a de but not so with a straight.