I'm at a loss and I just can't seem to find out what I'm doing wrong

[bplaia]

So, I must have gotten complacent and developed a bad habit or two, because I absolutely cannot shave lately without getting bad razor burn at the right corner of my upper lip and at the left corner of my lower lip. No matter what I do, I cannot seem to grip the razor correctly to be able to go XTG on the upper lip (so I avoid the Fool's Pass) and ATG on my chin area. The way my grain grows is such that I would have to go diagonally on the right side so that I start from the outside of my jaw and come across to my lower lip in order to get AGT in that area. I've been trying to keep the pressure as minimal as possible, and I think I've been doing a good job, but obviously not good enough. That and my blade angle could be the problems, but I'm just not sure. I think I need to be shown all the correct way to do it. It's very frustrating because I love shaving with a straight but I get discouraged with some pretty bad results (nicks, razor burn and visible stubble no matter how smooth to the touch it feels that I shaved)

[ace]

You can't use too little pressure. You just can't. Eliminate pressure and see what happens. If your blade is shave ready, it needs no help at all to cut whiskers.

[bplaia]

I'm giving it a try, but I just don't know what "no pressure" even feels like so I can't be sure if I'm succeeding at eliminating pressure

[Havachat45]

If your razor is shave ready all you need is to keep your angle low for the ATG pass and use just enough pressure to take the lather off - no more - and don't worry too much 'cause most of us have been where you are.
Let us know how you go.
Hang on and enjoy the ride

[ace]

No pressure is allowing the weight of the blade to do the work. Using too little pressure is possible but unlikely. If you use too little pressure, you may have meager results, but you'll get no razor burn, and that is a good thing.

[TURNMASTER]

Where I sometimes get razor burn is on the outside of my neck and it seems to be an angle thing for me.

Jeff

[Ryan82]

Were you able to get a good shave before this slump? (if yes it rules out shaving technique....)

[pmburk]

I'm giving it a try, but I just don't know what "no pressure" even feels like so I can't be sure if I'm succeeding at eliminating pressure

What Ace is trying to say, do not press on your razor when shaving. All you need is the razor's natural gravity on your face as your pressure. The shaving and does not apply presssure, it only guides the razor during the shaving process. This takes time and many shaves to get the feel for zero pressure.

[niftyshaving]

You can't use too little pressure. You just can't. Eliminate pressure and see what happens. If your blade is shave ready, it needs no help at all to cut whiskers.

+1 on the pressure. For me I also find that a lower angle
helps.

Also you can get out of the shower and apply some
antibiotic cream to the problem area and then shave
the bad spot without lather. Then apply a smear of
antibiotic ointment again.

Also find a bag of six yellow handled BiC razors for
sensitive skin. These tossables are just ordinary razors
but are smooth and sharp enough to shave the problem
areas. Use a single pass with the grain.

For that light feeling hold the BiC with two fingers at the
last little bit of the handle. Do not hold it with a white
knuckle fist. Transfer that light touch and light feel to
your str8 shaving.

The key is that these tossables can get you a single pass shave that is
not too close i.e. lets your skin heal. The wide throat lets hot
water wash off the antibiotic cream in hot even scalding hot water....

Minimize the number of products... avoid alcohol.
After shaving pat dry with a clean towel and wait
a full 20 min for your skin to air dry before applying
any product...

[mcgyver74]

I'll take a whack at this...

Are you holding the razor in a "death grip" For me I found that once I loosened my grip and just held the razor gently but enough to control my shaves got way better...(I was putting too much pressure as a result of holding it too tightly..)