hay people.
i just got my razor back a day ago made shave ready by the awsome gentleman known as Bill Watkins. He is a supercool dude and an excellent honer - the kinda guy that you wished lived in your neighborhood.

so last night i tried to shave....

i cut myself a couple times with the tip end of the razor and just gave up when it came to the chin and jawbone area. it did not take long to concur that there is indeed a learning curve to this practice. i think i held the razor at too high of an angle and was pressing too hard. but anyway i was thinking how the heck do these people manage to shave from side to side without cutting themselves so i thought i'd post and see what kind of recommendations i could muster. so i guess my questions are...

what is it that you guys do to avoid cutting yourselves when it comes to shaving side to side under the neck and at the jawbone area and the chin area? up and down on the cheek is going ok . but from side to side it seems that my skin folds and that caused a cut - when i approached my chin.

does that sound like i need to figure out how to stretch or possibly i use too much pressure or a combo of the two?

or maybe i just need to read more and watch more youtube shaves.

disclaimer: i'm an idiot! i think.