Hi all,

I am new to the world of straight shaving. After months of thinking about it, I purchased one from whipped dog. The razor and the strop came. I read the pdf, the docs that came with the razor as well as browsed this site.

I've been shaving for about a month now. And I am so frustrated. I know it will take time. I know it takes patience. I admit I see and feel moments of progress.

Right now it takes me 3 or 4 passes and an hour of shaving to get ... somewhere. Razor burns. Minor cuts. A towel full of shaving cream and hair. A terrible shave. My face burns when I put on an after shave cream. Not a momentary burn- but one that lasts. And my face looks sort of shaven- but definitely not clean shaven. Nothing looks or feels smooth.

I am shaving at about a 30 degree angle. I am shaving in patches. I am shaving with the grain. I am not good at pulling my face. I have gotten steadily better with using both hands and actually feel as strong on my weak side as on my strong side. I am seeing more hair being removed, but my face remains ... terrible. My upper lip and chin look almost as furry as when I started - and I felt the shave and see hair on the blade and towel when done. I don't know what I am doing (I do shower or soak my face in a hot towel before starting each time).

I am glad that so many who are new to this get it right off the bat. I wish I were one of these.

I welcome any advice and words of wisdom. Please tell me I am not the only one who has struggled to learn this- and that it gets better.