Stropping::: Very very very Important !!!!
Something I realized at the NC meet up this past weekend....
STROPPING is by far the weakest skill that new guys have that is SOOOooooooo important to a good shave.....
You really need to work on stropping skills, even if you use a dull butter-knife to practice with (I heard AFDavis /Alan use that line)
This is the one thing that really stood out to me, as the newer guys there stepped up to the strops, I am not only talking about brand new guys either....
This is probably the most important skill to acquire when starting out, honestly, we as honemiester's, can send you a shave-ready razor, and you can do all the proper prep, and shaving technique you can muster, but a few bad laps on the strop and it is all for naught....
Practice practice practice.... I swear your shaves will get much better and your edges will last much longer.....