Just a slight rant here - to make me feel a little better and hopefulyl to get some advice.

I've been shaving with a straight razor (5/8 Dovo Bismarck Spike) for almost 2 weeks now. I'm definately starting to get the hang of it, and usually do 3 passes with, across, and against the grain.

Most days I can get a reasonable looking shave, certainly good enough for work. I usually get a little razor burn but that's starting to disappear. What's starting to frustrate me is the little (and not so little) nicks and cuts I'm getting.

I usually get 1 nick per shave, it tends to be on the left side of my face when I'm using my right hand for against the grain or across the grain strokes. I'm right handed and virtually never nick myself when I'm using my left hand, I guess because I use less pressure with that hand.

Each time I nick myself I generally know why, for example I wasn't watching where the spike was, wrong blade angle, skin not stretched tight, forgot where my ear was, and so on. I have pulled off the occasional flawless shave so I'm sure it will all come together at some point.

It's just very frustrating, I have 14 nicks on the left side and 5 on the right side - my face looks like I went through a car windshield.

I am starting to get odd looks from people in the street too!

Did everyone go through this stage while they're learning, even gurus like Lynn?

I'm not sure if I should temporarily switch back to my DE razor to let the existing nicks/cuts heal up, or just continue carefully with the straight to hopefully improve my technique?

Also I'm a little worried that some of the larger/deeper cuts will leave scars, 2 or 3 are over 1cm long and maybe 2mm deep, any suggestions of treatments to reduce the likelihood of scarring? Currently I use a styptic pencil on the cuts, alum block after the shave, then Proraso post-shave balm which contains witch hazel and vitamin E.

Cheers,

Iwan

PS By the way I'm not planning to give up!