Hi everyone!

I am wating for my Pearl Handled Dovo from Lynn -- so in the meantime I have been practicing my skin prep. AND for my last 2 shaves .. I been using my Grandpa's WWII Double Edge Razor (looks exactly like the HEFTY on Classic Shaving) -- with a new blade....as a practice for the straight edge. On a side note -- I was in a wedding party this Sunday.

I have a very tough and course beard (sometimes I swear it looks like 4 heirs in one root). So Friday I shaved for work with Mach 3. (After Shower, pre-have oil, Badger brush, shaving cream, 1st with grain, then re-later, against grain, wash and balm).

So for the wedding on Sunday, I did not shave Saturday...and on sunday I had a 10 o'clock shadow. I get out of the shower and:
- apply a hot towel (hot water squeezed out)
- pre-shave oil
- lather up
- Hot towl again
- re-lather
- START with the Double Edge -- worked great on the cheacks, sideburns, chin.....then I got to the neck. Went with the grain.
- applied more lather
- with the grain
- apllied more lather
- against the grain
- Used Hot towel to soak up Blood.
- wet neck profusely

Then i realized i was to walk down the alter in 2 hours for my friends wedding -- So I got out the septic pencil -- and wet it. Next i used it like a rolling pin up and down the neck. I think I created some new profanity words. The bleeding stoped. But I looked like someone put powder all over my neck. Then i applied the Balm -- WOWOWOWOW.

Finally I used cover up (from my girlfriend) to seal some of the gashes.

I rested my neck on Monday and again tried it this morning. Again -- same result (and I tried to be genteler on the neck).

So -- while I am recovering from blood loss -- can anyone offer any suggestions? (I was going up first on my neck -- then down--against) Beard prep methods -- etc?

I am afraid that when i get my straight edge I will be going to work with a Sicilian neck tie. lol

Everyone in this forum has been very helpful! Thanks in advance.