Recently I went on vacation and did not want to bring my straight razor because I did not want to risk jarring it and I had no idea what kind of an environment I might be shaving in. So for about a week I went back to the disposable . . and it was one of the biggest reliefs of my life.

Trouble is, no matter how good I get, my face always hurts. Always. And the shave is, well, really bad. My Quattro, at this point, gives a vastly superior shave. I figured that I'd been doing things wrong and my irritation was just my own lack of skill, but I've been doing this for a while now.

For my aniversiarry my wife got me a Straight Razor. I was very excited because I've wanted one for a long time. She went to "The Art of Shaving" and got me a razor with a stainless steel handle. It's got their logo on it and everything, but the blade is by Thiers Issard, so it's not junk or anything right?

Anyway I take my time learning how to shave, starting slowly and I've worked myself up to the point that I can shave myself completely without getting any nicks or anything. I use a nice hot brush and oil my face beforehand, and I even shave immediately after my shower so I've got a steamy environment to work in.

Another thing: even with a disposible, I'm not able to shave against the grain ever. ATG=horrible irritatoin and red bumps always and everytime. I can't even imagine what ATG with the straight razor would do. Does this indicate a certain type of facial hair that needs to be treated a special way with regards to the straight razor?

Also, I've been searching around this forum, and I think my razor is not shrp enough: it does not pass the HHT. Only if I grab the other side of the hair and pull it against the razor does the hair split, and I hear it do so. Where in NYC can I get a decent sharpening?

And overall, is there hope? I'm breaking my wife's heart by using the disposible, as the razor was an aniversiarry gift.

Thanks in advance.