I started this adventure just before vacation so I took my equipment with me to spend some quality time with my blade n' hide. That first week was a little scary and shaving seemed interminable, but I got only a couple of mild cuts and did have lots of fun.

Since I've been back I have had a couple of really happy shaves: closer in some ways to my previous DE work, and less close in others, with only mild irritation.

It's clear I'm still a newbie, however, because my shaves this last week have felt worse. More tugging, less slicing. I came to the forum tonight to ask questions, but the Newbie forum had all the same questions with almost all the answers I needed, all on the first page!

I'm going to try more stropping. I have a TM latigo/horsehide strop. I do 30 passes on the latigo side followed by 20 on the horsehide side. I'm going to up that and see if it helps. I've heard of the "draw" on a strop. What does that feel like? My stropping doesn't feel different from beginning to end.

After that, I may investigate a strop with paste. I have a fast growing, coarse beard and maybe my razor could use a touch up. I'm taking it slow, however, trying not to change too much at once.

Thanks to you other newbies for asking the same questions I was having, and thanks most of all to those who answer the questions!

Cheers,
Ray