Where do I begin…
Been a member since mid January and learned so much. I absolutely love wet shaving and using a brush with the varied soaps and creams, aftershaves, etc. It has truly made my shaving experience better and much more enjoyable. I look forward to shaving. From the time I started here, I was using the wet shaving techniques with my cartridge razor and was getting the best shaves of my life…absolutely wonderful.

However…

I started about 2 or 3 weeks ago actually using a straight razor. I bought it from Josh Earl who was really excellent to work with and put a nice edge on it for me. I went with the Tony Miller strop (although still using a practice strop - thank God) and even have the C&E Best Badger to have a better experience than my first Burma/Surrey. Anyway, I obviously have a bit of a learning curve to get over when using the straight and was very excited to start. The first few shaves were a bit rough…a few nicks and cuts here and there (nothing like Kentriv/Matt's Catscratch though - sorry) but nothing horrible. Nothing to shy me away.

But I have noticed now, on my 8th or so shave with a straight that I am not getting the results I want. I don't know if it is the blade is no longer sharp or if my stropping technique is poor…I just don't know but I am not really enjoying the shave. What is happening is that I am not removing as much hair as I did on the first or second pass - not even close. The blade is dragging on the skin and sometimes feels as if going over speed bumps. What is worse, is that I have noticed this and would have thought I would have cut myself or so but no nick!

What is really bad, is that I want to just go back to the cartridge and use the wet shaving techniques I learned and continue getting the nice shaves I was…but I really don't want that.

I was getting frustrated even before my last two shaves when all this started to happen because I am not getting a good shave on the upper lip. THIS AREA IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SHAVE. I really have not found any good technique to get this area or even come close. I am scared to go against the grain there but going with does not seem to leave a nice shave.

Overall, I am guess I probably ruined the edge or something while stropping. At one point my cheeks and neck were feeling great - as close as I ever got with my cartridge razor. I was loving it. Disappointed with the upper lip area and chin (notorious tough spots) but enjoying the straight.

Does it seem right that after about 8 or so shaves the razor is no longer "shave ready?"

I really do like the idea of straight razor shaving and want to continue but am just discouraged and disappointed now.

Thoughts, feelings, rants and raves, verbal abuse…all are welcome

ps-sorry for the long post