Technique has to be the problem, with you and with anyone starting out. Why?
Because anyone new to straight shaving can go out and get, or order online,
a shave ready razor, a wonderful strop, the best soaps and creams in the world,
and even a closet full of hones. So he's all set to get on with his first shave
and expects it to be great because of his wonderful equipment. But it isn't great, why?
Because the only thing that he doesn't have, the one thing he cannot buy, is weeks
away----------------technique.
Our newbie will either quit or develop the necessary technique by asking questions on
this forum, practicing, enduring difficult shave after difficult shave, asking more
questions, getting more answers, and generally sticking it out. There are many who don't.
It is understandable that people new to golf think they can walk on to a driving range
and hit a drive like Tiger Woods. But people new to straight shaving aren't just swinging
a golf club, they're dragging a razor across their faces, for crying out loud!
If it weren't for the razor burn, nicks, cuts, weepers, razor rash, alum blocks, styptic and everything else we
have all gone through, none of us on this forum would have any technique at all. So, to expect
a Newbie to just come up with it is quite a stretch. That is why the issue is not usually with this lather or that lather, but what you are doing with the razor, i.e. technique.