Finally! My new Aust razor came in today from SRD. Much better and certainly much sharper than my other blade had been. It took me a while to get used to using an authentically sharp razor and I realized there are so many factors that make first shaves so difficult. I was having a difficult time stretching the skin right, then my lather was drying up super fast, it seemed like I had to angle my blade to closer to 45 degrees to get it to cut closer, and my left hand did not want to cooperate. I know were supposed to make a thick rich lather but I felt it was working much better with just a wet-thin lather that almost dripped. Even like that it dried fast but I could at least complete one section without it drying. I did at least realize why it is called "wet shaving". It was nice though, to make a few passes on my neck without tearing up the skin! I didn't get BBS; ending up at 5 o'clock shadow instead, but I did at least start to get a feel for what the shave should feel like. I also made sure to strop on linen and leather after the shave and not before. I also made sure the blade edge had the same feel as before the shave to make sure I didn't roll my edge. That was a success at least! I started with WTG with mild success. Couldn't seem to get the right angle and with sticky soap it was getting confusing. Eventually I got the slick feel from the lather but by that point I was trying ATG. I was even successful at going ATG on my lip without a nick! My head was a different story. Couldn't seem to get even a close cut anywhere except where it is nearly devoid of hair on top.
Protips are encouraged! I'm using VDH soap and AoS pre oil. I put a few drops of that in the soap for my second pass as well since the VDH stripped a lot of my natural oils. I finished my cheeks and head with M3 to get clean but left my neck alone.
(If it seems jumpy, I apologize. Writing this from my phone while wife is on the computer!)