Quote Originally Posted by PenSword View Post
... Don't let the growth go for too long. I've found there is a point where if I try a straight on long beards then I'm in for a long and not too pleasant shave...
I think this comment is saying the same thing as the original post, addressing the initial whiskers long shave. Originally, I had the same problem. Now, I lay the blade flat, and with several passes over my whiskers in the WTG direction, the whisker length is about skin level. Very short stubble. Since my blade is moving parallel to the skin, not much danger of razor burn and cuts.

But, here is where I was initially confused. I thought that resistance and pulling indicated something was wrong with the sharpness of the edge. Now, I expect some resistance during the above process of shaving whiskers down to short stubble. (If commercial blades offer resistance and pulling when whiskers are long, and they do, and commercial blades are sharper than straights, then isn't it reasonable to also expect some pulling with straights during this initial phase?)

After reducing the whiskers to skin level as above, relather and shave with about 30 degree angle. The shave from then on should be easy, no pulling, etc.