Dear Sirs,

Yesterday I did my first shave with a straight razor!
I didn't get to use the alum, so this is encouraging, however I wouldn't call the shave very easy or close either. The razor was pulling in the shiskers quite a bit before before
it was cutting them. Lowering the angle made it better, but I unfortunately I believe I probably have dulled the razor while stropping.

This razor came shave ready, but I didn't try it w/o stropping, which in retrospect I think I should have. I tried to cut a hanging hair and it didn't work, but as far as I understand that's not always indicative of the razor sharpness. It was honed by JoshEarl so I know it was shave ready.

I think it's my stropping technique. I tried to keep the razor just by its weight on the strop. The strop is quite wide and doing an x-patern is a bit weird. I noticed that esp when I move the razor slowly and carefully it's hard to keep it flat on the leather. Anyways I can give more specific details later.

My question is do you think I dulled the razor?

Thank you