As I have mentioned in other posts, my face eats razors. it was, in fact, a motivator to switch to straights. A gillette cartridge last me 3 weeks, at most, and I would rather use duct tape than shave with a bic disposable.

The last few months have been wonderful. I have been using a beautiful gold dollar from Ken Rup, and I've spent a great deal of time taking care of it, and learning as much as a could. It's survived just over three months now, and its starting to do some wierd things.

-When I shave with the grain it has begun "hopping" where it will catch and pull up and pop off my face, usually leaving a nick where it lands.

-when I shave against the grain its doing the opposite, catching on a hair and trying to rip it out.

-Its not gliding anymore, and I can hear and feel the blade cracking the hairs in half more than slicing them. The feedback in the tang is kinda popcorn-ish

now I haven't changed my angles at all, I have been using a matchbook for comparison (a standard soft pack of matches is +/- 20 degrees). and I THINK I have been stropping correctly.

Being that I am used to my face eating razors, I assume this means time to send it off to a honemeister. Or have I been doing something horrible to my edge?

Other info:
only shave after showering. I use an exfoliating facial scrub by Aveeno. and use the same conditioner on my facial hair that I use on my head.
Boar Brush
Shave Soap is NOMAD by crabtree & evelyn. I'm getting a good creamy lather.
Haven't dropped it, kicked it, used it as a cheese knife, anything like that.
all of this has remained as constants for the life of the edge so far.

thoughts?