It's been a couple of months since I started straight shaving, and I can now go WTG and XTG easily. I've been getting great shaves, and I haven't even reached for my styptic pencil in a long long time.

I figure now is an opportune time to revisit my ATG pass in an attempt to conquer it. I can go ATG easily with my DE, but my straight is a whole different story.

I get lots of tugging, and my razor just refuses to move. I have barely any hair on my face after my XTG pass, so I can't imagine why it would be this difficult. Here's the sad part: even if I manage to get my razor to move, it doesn't even cut any hair.

When I started straight razor shaving, I got pulling WTG, and it was a technique problem. I would like to blame the razor, but I'm sure it's it's a technique problem here.

I'm just stuck. For my cheeks I don't know how to stretch the skin. If I stretch the skin up, then my skin just clumps together when I'm moving the razor. If I stretch the skin down, the skin doesn't move, but the hairs are tougher to cut. I've tried less of an angle, and less pressure, but nothing works.

So, for those of you who have managed to read this far, should I send my razor out to be honed again, or should I just keep trying? Which way should I be stretching my skin, and what other tips do you have?