So I've tried my second shave and I'm not doing so well. I got rid of cartridge blades over a year ago and use DEs now: a Merkur 33 and Merkur Slant. I have been very good with those and happy with the shaves following all the rules.

But I want to use straights. I love the look and feel of using a blade, even though I'm not getting a shave at all with it--yet.

I have a King Cutter from SRD, so the blade is sharp and shave ready. I have been using Lynn's advice in the video of starting with one area until I feel comfortable (right side, right had blade, left hand stretching).

My first shave had three days growth, and the blade didn't take much off at all. In fact it looked as if I hadn't shaved at all, let alone felt like it. I know my shaves the first month to two are going to be bad, but this didn't seem like a shave at all. A second pass didn't make it much better.

I am not using any pressure, as that's the advice I have been seeing. It seems to pull less if I put on a little pressure, but I don't want to go to far, based on the advice presented here. The shave gets better with less pulling the flatter the blade goes.

Any advice for this beginner?

Also, a question about stropping. I am keeping the blade flat (mostly), and have not nicked by leather. I am going slow to improve my technique. When I roll the blade (spine only, I have not used the edge yet--yea!), I hear a light "ping" sound when I roll the razor and have the blade in full contact with the strop. It sounds like it is picking the strop, but it is not being moved backwards on the edge at all (like honing). I stop the blade then roll on the spine. Is this right?

Thanks so much for your help!

Matt
Still working to become qualified enough to call myself a beginner...