Divots, cuts, and scratches - oh my

Two straight razor shaves in. Second slightly better than the first, but yikes, I look like I had a fight with a really pissed off cat. Please tell me this will get better. I certainly feel like I am getting a handle on the technique, but I look pretty silly right now. On the upside, although cut, I don't have the normal neck irritation that led me to this in the first place.

Using Castle Forbes pre-shave, cream, and after shave. Am thinking about adding an AOS soap into the process to make the lather more slick in the likely mistaken assumption that it will help my poor technique. Thoughts and advice welcomed.

Of course it gets better. Just remember to take it easy, go ahead and give your face a rest when it needs it. There is certainly the temptation to buy more to solve a problem. Nothing wrong with getting a variety of stuff, but the real issue is getting practice and developing the feel.

For me, focusing on getting the angle of the blade right did more than anything else to save my face. Go almost flush and figure out which places on your face need a different stroke.

It'll come with time, but everyone will still think you're nuts.

It will get better.

Sticking to one soap, one razor and on strop will help you get everything down quicker.

One thing to remember your technique might be improving but your lather may be lacking. So there is nothing saying you can't make lather and not use. So if you have time just wipe up some lather to get some practice.

It'll get better - much better. I'm three months in on my straight razor learning experience, and I've been struggling with the "looks like he's been in a fight with a cat" problems. I'm slowly learning that it's very much a "sum of the parts" type of process - every little thing makes a difference. You gotta have the razor sharp, the prep right, the lather right, every stroke has to be right, etc, etc.
Yesterday I had a brilliant shave - not BBS, but a DFS with no nicks, cuts, burn or any probs. I think the main difference was I decided to not worry about how much beard I was trying to remove on each pass, but to just keep the angle right, let the razor do the work, and keep each stroke light and deliberate. I plan to keep at this technique until my muscle memory has fully kicked in and then I can start doing it with rough familiarity.
Castel33 has given good advice above - eliminate your variables as much as you can so you can concentrate on your technique.

Hope this helps.
Muz

The learning curve is what makes it so satisfying, so don't worry too much about it. You will get the hang of it in time. Also glad the neck irritation is better now you've made the switch, I'm getting mine under control too. Let us know how it goes.

Good luck.

My neck is an area that just isnt going to improve. I think the only way to get my neck BBS would be with a safety razor. I may have to buy one and use it for cleanup. Its getting better but Ive plateaued on how close the neck is gonna get. As for the cat fight effect, perhaps you should go to block one. Just shave your sideburns with the straight. Do that until you get the stroke right, get used to using the opposite hand, and get the angle and pressure right. Then either add in a stroke across your cheek or down past your jawline. Its not a race. I found that learning in one spot saved me a face full of bleeders. I still get the occasional nick and weeper but I havent had a good slicer in a while. Oh, never ever drag the blade laterally. Almost all of my slices have been misguided attempts at a scything sweep. Save that technique for now. Just focus on straight sweeps. Use light pressure and let the razor do its job.

Yes, throughout my SR career I've had all three - divots, cuts and scratches lol. Everyone who uses a straight draws some blood at some point. And yes, you'll eventually reach the point where it's rare to see blood rather than the other way around :)

Here's a great thread you can read in the meantime: http://straightrazorpalace.com/shavi...icks-cuts.html

Don't give up on your neck as whole it will get better. The neck is the worst part for me and I was like you. I got to a point where all I could do is get DFS on my neck and typically I was fine with that. But as of late as I got my prep completely down my neck has been bbs a lot. Your only a couple months in and still got a long ride ahead. I'm about three years in and mine is still at the beginning.