Gentlemen,
I thought I'd introduce myself on the forum before I go about asking any questions. Pretty typical guy, in my opinion at least, residing in Southern California. No complaints really. I don't really enjoy shaving but it's not something that I loathe because quite frankly, I hate having hair on my face. Maybe my apathy to shaving will change sometime... Anyway, I recently got a TI 5/8 as a gift, and just got it professionally honed a few days ago, and unfortunately, it's no less painful than when I first tried it - "shave ready" and everything.
So I got the TI 5/8 professionally honed, and it's just an absolute pain right now. Even after I stropped it and got it professionally honed, it tugs, it pulls and it just straight up hurts, to the point where I need to bust out the Gillette Fusion, which I wasn't at all happy about. I believe I'm doing it somewhat right, 30 degree angle, absolutely no pressure, I have a nice brush with a nice lather going and I also have some pre shave oil and aftershave balm, but nonetheless it's just not pleasant to shave with. I tried it with only my sideburns, following Lynn's advice not to shave my whole face with one, and it didn't offer anything even remotely close enough, and in fact the Gillette razor outdid it by a long shot - and I'm not saying that the straight razor left stubble, oh no, it barely sliced anything off. It came shave ready, and so I tried it but quickly came to the realization that it obviously wasn't, got it honed, and now this happened. Initially I was thinking maybe it's because it wasn't shave ready, now I'm thinking it's something to do entirely with me? I haven't had a shave this horrible in a long time, and I want to figure out what's going on so I can utilize the new razor. I've heard straight razors are super good, so this is somewhat upsetting to me.
Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance :)