So I've been lurking around here, reading up on razors, stropping, honing, and shaving. I've been a wet shaver for about twelve years, and have been pretty satisfied with the results that I get with my mach 3 razor.

So, for father's day, I asked for a gift certificate to a barber shop in San Antonio that advertises straight razor shaves. Well, today I had my shave. The treatment I got was really nice... Hot towels, beard conditioner, lather up, hot towel on top of the lather, second lather, then the shave followed by another skin conditioner and a cold towel. The whole process took about 45 minutes, I'd guess. All in all a very enjoyable experience, until I walked out and felt of my face. My $27 shave didn't feel as good as my mach 3 shave at home. Then it hit me. The barber never shaved against the grain. Is this normal? I mean, I've been reading on here where folks typically get shaves that are better than they can get with a cartridge.

I really like the idea of shaving with a straight, and I figure that since I've been wet shaving for so long I'm at least part of the way there already. But man, if what I experienced today is what you guys are going on about, then I don't see what the big deal is. What am I missing here.