Hi-

I don't have all that many shaves under my belt at the moment, but your description matches my first few... Here's what has helped me:

* Sharp razor - you should be able to pop hair off your arm without any pressure. If it won't catch and pop the hair all along the blade, it's not sharp enough.

* Shave prep - the more the better. Hot shower, shave oil, good cream, the works. You might try applying the lather with your brush, massaging it into your beard with your fingers, and then putting on more lather with the brush. Works for me.

* Blade angle - lay the blade flat on your skin as if you were going to strop the razor on your face. Then, lift the spine ever so slightly until it shaves. In general you want to use the smallest angle possible (closest to flat on your face) - otherwise you're just irritatating your skin.

Also, make sure you're not using too much pressure when you strop. You can dull the blade pretty quickly. Don't ask how I know...

Does any of this help?

--Dan