I've been shaving for more than 30 years now. I started with a DE like my Dad, quickly went to electric for a bit but settled in to cartridge razors for most of that time. Recently an Art Of Shaving store opened nearby and flipped a little switch in my brain making me obsess over straight razor shaving. I've been hanging around forums and watching YouTube videos on shaving, stropping, honing, etc for a couple of weeks. During my research I picked up a Van der Hagen badger/bowl/soap set and used that with my Fusion. My Illinois 827 Strop came yesterday and my Dovo Special w/ tortoise finally arrived today. It came from Vintage Blades and was honed by Lynn. I had my first go tonight. Shaved both sides with left and right hands and no cuts or irritation! I have a goatee so I didn't have to deal with the chin and mouth area but I still count it as a victory.