I'm still somewhat of a beginner, but I've been playing with different methods nonstop for a few months now. Absolutely nothing I do will give me a good shave. I've got a very, very heavy, thick beard (it's just obscenely thick around my chin as well) and very sensitive skin. I got a shave in vegas once last year, and it was absolutely fantastic, even though the barber isn't allowed to use a regular razor (have to use disposable cartridges) I wanted to learn how to do this.

I've used my granddad's old razor (had it honed professionally first,) a razor I got at an antique store with some life left in it (also had it honed) and then got myself a solingen razor from excalibur cutlery. None of them have ever given me a good shave. I've honed them myself on a stone, and had them professionally done from different shops as well. I have a bismark strop, and do 15 on the canvas, 60 on the leather before each shave (have also tried not stropping for a few shaves)

I have a good badger brush, I use conk soap, art of shaving pre-shave oil and lotion. I've tried every day, every other day, 3 days, 4, 5, 6, and 7. every day is just way, way too uncomfortable for my skin. fresh out of the shower, soaking with towels, conditioner on the face, etc.

I've tried all different angles, and I hold my skin as tight as I can (I can't seem to hold it tight with my hand, so I just contort my face in absurd ways) but it always feels like the razor is just ripping hair out and not even trying to cut it. My skin always feels horrible afterwards, even with lotions. on the finer areas, like where my beard starts to creep up my cheeks with a few stray strands, it works fabulously. But on my actual beard, it's horrible. What I am forced to do is shave with a regular razor and then follow suit with the grain in one pass on my straight razor to neaten it up (which it can do without discomfort) but trying to go against or side to the grain, it's right back to absolutely horrible pain. short 1/2 inch strokes are the best that I've noticed, but I can't actually cut much hair doing that.

I also don't nick myself often.

Has anyone else with a stupid thick beard had these issues, and managed to correct them? It's supposed to just "come with time" but I feel just as bad after a shave now as I did on day one.