Real newb-needs advice!(long post!)
Ok so I bought myself a nice lil Dovo (though I don't know the size and the knife seller didn't either)- 100% sure it's authentic though and paid about 100 for it. Bought a nice strop to go with it- canvas and leather- a german brand for about 60 bucks. Today was the day that I was going to try out straight razoring for the first time. I used the hot towel for a few minutes, put on some pre shave oil from AOS and then- unfortunately as it was all I had- used some cheapo gillette cream with my nice little badger brush. Then shock and awe! Though I didn't cut myself I have some nasty razor burns- prolly from shaving ten times over the same spot. It was pulling real hard so I stropped it in the middle of shaving a few times- another uneasy task for a newb- which seemed to make it a bit better. All I wanna know is will it get better!? It took me like an hour to shave my face complete but I'm still not all that smooth- though no less than with a safety razor- but like I said horribly burned up! Could the pulling have come from the oil? Could the blade be too big for me-which it seems like it is? What's my next step? I just bought another Bokor from the classifieds on this site and I'm waiting for it to come so I can compare razors. BTW- I stropped after shaving as well. So what did I do right and what did I do wrong? How can I make my next shaving experience better or do I give up bc I'm not so hot at it to begin with? Whats my next step?I love the shaving technique but am a bit frustrated! Let me know and thanks to all who respond!