Thread: First post looking for some help?

I had my first Straight shave four months ago at a barber shop. Best Shave ever!! While in SFO I was at the ART of Shaving store and bought everything. Pre shave lube, shaving cream, brush and a nice Razor. I tried it out that day and OMG what a shave. I strop before every use but noticed after four months the blade is not as sharp as it was when I bought it?

I have taken it to a shop for honing since my stones haven't come yet. The cutlery shop should me how to hone.

So now my question are: How to strop, how many times on the leather and when do I use the linen. But most of all what is the paste for? Does it work on the strop to polish the blade or to sharpen it better than just stropping alone without the paste? How much paste to use. Do I use two strops one with one without? They sold me a Small Dovo strop should I buy a thicker one? Sorry to ask so many questions, but Straight razor shaving is the best thing ever.

Is the Art of Shaving product any good or is there better stuff out there for my face?

Thanks for your feed back, I wish I found this site long ago!