A new straight shaver here for about the past month or more. So I, of course, have several questions.

I have been rotating two new TI's and a DOVO, all full hollow ground and carbon steel. They were honed by Lynn (I haven't used the fourth yet, waiting for my baptism in the honing arena with this one as a standard) and have done wonderfully.

I understand the importance of stropping before a shave, but what about after? Is it better to wait 48 or so hrs. after a shave with such a delicate edge before stropping again due to the metal's "memory" causing the deformed microserrations to realign? I've read where these serrations would be like a burr right after a shave and break off into the strop (Arthur Boon paper, I believe.)

Also, how is witch hazel effective after a shave? Is it worth it? I should put in a big plug here for the "Sue" soap. Actually both "Sues" it turns out. Both have been giving me rich thick lathers that smell good!

My only problem now in terms of close shaves consists of my upper lip area (no wonder moustaches are popular). Generally I'm finding that the 7/8 is my size of blade over the 5/8 for all other areas. I'm thinking that I should try to now find a small (3/8) and possibly 1/4 hollow ground blade for this area. My goal is to be able to feel no stubble after my shave anywhere, and this is the one area that I'm failing. Any experience on this from others?