Hey all!

I´ve just joined the ranks of the newbies here and hope that some people can help... I recently purchased a Dovo Berschiger Lowe Straight Razor and all of the parifanalia that's needed (i.e strop, though mine has a handle and two different sides...etc)

The guy in the shop (which sells razors here in Spain) told me that it had been sharpened for me and was included in the price... I´ve gotten the razor home today and tried to shave... but I have to be honest.. I couldn´t find an angle that didn´t hurt as it cut the hair... So I´m a little confused now as to whether the blade has really been sharpened...

I´m also confused as to the strop, it´s got a bar down the inside and one side is red and the other is light tan.. the guy didn´t explain to me why i needed this specific one but it´s the one he said was best....

So, any ideas as to whether the razor is really sharpened and whether I am just a terrible shaver or whether you really think I need to have it sharpened again (and where on earth I could get that done here in Spain (costa blanca)). Also what the difference in the sides of the strop is?

Thanks!!

- Ricky