Okay, first let me introduce myself by way of a bit of my shaving history. I used an electric for many years because cartridges were very irritating to my skin. My shaves weren't that close, but I didn't know what worlds awaited me!

About a year ago I found B&B and got all hyped for a DE shave. I learned all about prep, got myself a Merkur HD, bought some TOBS shave cream, and eventually worked up to determining that Feather DE blades were the ones for me. My shaves got much better, the irritation went away, and I really began to enjoy shaving!

Fast forward a year. I was reading forums on B&B and ran across a reference to SRP. Omigosh! Here I go again! I began reading all your helpful posts (thanks to you one and all, BTW - even the newbies here ask the most helpful questions ). I found Lynn's Straight Razor Designs site and started with some Castle Forbes cream (absolute heaven) and his CD. Based on the SRP recommendtations of Lynn and his work, I felt I could trust his products and advice. I ordered my starting gear. Today was the big day!

I got a Dovo Prima Klang carbon steel razor and a Tony Miller strop. I stropped the razor, showered, prepped, and shaved. Well.... I lost very little blood. The shave was lousy, but only one nick (and I almost saw it coming -- when I dropped my concentration). I'm not unhappy with my shave, as it was a first, but I need a little help in improving.

1. I certainly felt more pull than glide. I have course and thick, but not dense, hair, and I'm pretty sure my beard was as soft as it is when I have done a DE shave. Am I left with inadequate stropping technique? I do think that in the beginning that I was too timid with my stroke. About halfway through the shave I used a little more pressure and was able to shave off more with no ill effects. But about this gliding thing; can anyone be more specific? Is stropping the key?

2. On Lynn's video, and one other I think I saw on YouTube, the shaver switched hands for opposite sides of the face. I realize this might be a much opined topic, but feel free to opine in my general direction. Is this something that would be worth my time to practice and learn?

3. My shave today was two pass (I didn't want to push my luck). In spots, it was at least as good as my DE shaves with three or four passes. My WTG is really angled from NE to SW and NW to SE, if you will, like from my nose to the lower corner of my jawbone. The videos I've seen show shavers doing a nice N to S motion for WTG. Tell me there's someone else out there that has a weird beard direction. Better yet, if your direction matches mine, what tips do you have about stretching the skin and shaving in general?

Thanks in advance for your help. It's great to have a place to ask all these things. I can't imagine how many fewer people would even try straight razor shaving without a group like this to support them. I know I never would have started.

Ray