gsurko,

I am going to echo many of the others here and say only you can decide on if straight shaving is for you.

But, I am going to throw a few things out there for you that helped me. I too have a very angleur face, granted with onlyfew wrinkles, but I do have corse hair and a sentive face that gets irriated and can be easliy cut. I also purchased a Filly strop and GD from rupprazor, which I am still very happy with.

Now some things I learned about my face/shaving.

I need a smaller razor than the GD, It is the only way I can get around my nose, chin, and have better control. I am currently using a 4/8 vintage BJ eyre Barbers notch and am looking to get a 5/8 soon. I picked up the razor for $33 honed and ready to shave.

Preshave face beard prep helped a lot. I do not preshave creams, oils ect. As they tend to irriate my skin and makes the shave hell. I take a hot shower, wash my face with either a mild face wash (my girl has something from the salon) or use a glycern soap. I also will lather my face let it sit, while I strop then rinse it off and relather. Seems to give my face the needed prep.

The lather, I am doing a kinda similar thing to the uber lather, I am mixing shave soap and a shave cream. I am currently using Taylor of old bond street. Which I am loving.

Stropping, as I continue to learn how to strop...the shaves are better. Watch the video's practace a lot on this.

And just plain practace and take it slow, start with your cheaks, and finish up with your old shaving method. then next time do a little more. This also helps you practace and enjoy shaving rather than thinking it is a chore.

When I shave with a straight now it can take me an hour or more from start to finish, and I really enjoy the alone time doing something that is just for me. I live with 2 women...things get crazy.

PM me and I would be happy to talk to you more, share where I purchased things, my mishaps as I am a new shaver as well.

And I hope you find what works for you, no matter what it is, and you take shaving as something to enjoy for yourself and not something you have to do.

-Jeremy