Hi, I'm new to straights, about two weeks along. I have a little over a year's experience as a DE shaver, and can pretty consistently get BBS shaves with a DE. I decided to take up straights because they seemed more of everything I like about DE shaving - the relaxation, the tradition, a new old skill, a superior shave. My first razor is a pre-honed 6/8 Dovo Special from Straight Razor Designs (along with Lynn's DVD and a good strop).

I've pretty much committed to learning how to shave with a straight, and stopped using anything else the happy day the Dovo arrived. My first straight shave was actually my best - two pass, near BBS, no nicks, minimal burn. I was shocked, and instantly hooked. But each day since, I seem to be getting a little worse results. I've been shaving at night so I'm not rushed and have time to learn. The past few shaves, the razor burn has been still present the next morning. Despite two or even three passes, my neck is almost like I haven't shaved at all, but with plenty of burn and pulling.

I was hoping my technique would improve slowly since my first shave, I was really nervous. But I seem to be going backwards. Maybe my stropping is really flawed, or something in my shaving technique is dulling my razor, not sure what. Maybe I was lucky the first shave and just need to back off, adjust my expectations, and settle in for bad shaves until I get the hang of this.

Is my experience common for new straight shavers, where it goes downhill for a while before it starts to improve? How long did it take you to start getting even decent shaves, without burn? Should I just stick with one WTG pass for now?

Thanks!