Thread: Fist shave epic dissapointment

It's your first shave -- you can't get discouraged so easily. It can take months of practice to even get remotely effective at handling a straight razor -- it did in my case at least. These guys will get you through it though, and then you'll love it, so stay calm.

We know the honing was done correctly, so yeah, I'd say your stropping is the culprit. On a properly honed/stropped blade, it doesn't really matter whether I hold the blade at or below a 45-degree angle -- it cuts smooth regardless. I prefer 45 degrees though.

I'd personally try a few passes on the linen/canvas side to freshen up the edge, then keep it to a minimum on the leather -- maybe five or ten round trips and try shaving. Also, when I was new to it, the "x-pattern" technique screwed me up more than helped. I didn't have the necessary feel/control to keep the blade perfectly flat. Since you're new to it, it might be best if you didn't do an x-pattern and just go straight across the strop, but just shifting the blade up-and-down every stroke or two. Check out the "diagonal" method too -- that's what I use almost exclusively now -- kinda works like a more fluid x-pattern.

I usually start with a very small amount of pressure, then lighten towards the end. Pretend you're dragging a baby's face across the leather. Be no less gentle.