Well, your face certainly shouldn't HURT, but after shaving with a straight razor for the first few times it will feel raw. Full hollow razors are very vocal about cutting hairs; with my Burrell Top Flight I can almost hear each hair being cut; the sound has been likened to buttering hot toast. This is normal (and some would say it's a desirable attribute) for some razors. I actually like the audio feedback myself.

No-one has yet mentioned the test many of us do to determine if a razor is shave ready when we are honing it; which is the shaving arm hair or leg hair test. I shave my leg hair, and if it cuts cleanly I then shave my face. However, it CAN still feel harsh, esp if I've honed only on a low grit (8k) rather than finishing on a higher grit (16k) and stropping the edge.

I suspect two problems; a razor that is not truly shave ready and too much pressure. I dull razor will CAUSE the user to use too much pressure.

The advice about cream is also good. Eliminate the lather as being an issue by using a top quality cream (not soap). I've lately found Taylor of Old Bond street rose cream to be extremely easy to lather; but there are others that are just as good, Trufitt and Hill, Tabac, The Body Shop.

You NEED to start straight razor shaving with a truly shave ready razor, otherwise all sorts or errors will occur from an early stage, and, quite frankly, shaving with a dull razor can result in injury.

I feel you have two options, depending on funds:

1. Send the razor out to be honed by a professional. You can find them on this forum. Do not strop the razor before shaving when you get it back. Compare the edge on the honed razor with what it was before.

2. Buy another professionally honed razor. Again, do not strop it before you shave with it. Now you have two razors. You can compare the edges easier. Buy a finishing hone (16k) or both a finishing hone and a Norton 4/8. Learn to use the hones and bring the old razor up to the standard of the new razor. It MAY only need a few laps on a hone such as a Shapton 16k, but may need more work (4/8). Learning to hone one's own razors is, in my opinion, something we should all do.

You can get a lot of help with honing from here. Hook up with one mentor via PMs (to save getting TOO much information and possibly contracting opinions (there's more than one right method). I'd say, with dedication, you can be honing your own razor within a month (assuming a good razor to start with).

Hope this helps.

Carl