Week 2 and starting to have problems.

Cr 0x pasted on a linen strop would likely help bring it back, if it was originally shave ready. If it was not, then yes, you are going to want to have it professionally honed. Also, I would recommend finding a mentor near you. They can be very helpful, especially with things like stropping technique. One more thing I just thought of, what strop do you have? I just helped a guy I met on here, he sent me a video of his technique, which looked fine, but when we got together, it was the texture of beef jerky!

I'm with 10pups on this! Having a flat stropping surface takes some variables out of the equation: sag in the strop, twisting, missing part of the blade, etc. Also try using a slight X-stroke which will help make sure you keep the blade flat and strop the whole edge.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 10Pups

If your using a hanging strop....lay it down on a table and try stropping that way. You may be stropping with too much slack or to much pressure. This method will eliminate both of those mistakes. And strop till you drop. In other words double, your laps. I won't go into testing for sharpness because it probably won't do you any good at this point but if you follow all the advice above and it doesn't work , I suggest you find a mentor that can touch up your razor and help your stropping technique.

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I have a brand new Illinois #127. Seems very nice and supple. no abrasives added. The razor was professionally honed 5 shaves ago.

Pay close attention to your angles. I thought I was shaving correctly at first, because the beard was coming off, but I my was angle was too steep and I was "scraping" instead of "cutting" the hair. Its a huge difference, comfort wise. A little extra attention on keeping a correct angle through out your shaves could solve your issue.
Just a process of elimination, hang in there.

Good sound advice. I will work on my stropping and angles. also, I used a new soap for the first time last night. Will probably give my battered neck a few days to heal, give the razor a thorough stropping and go back to a soap I know I'm not having a problem with.

My first advice to a person with stropping problems, whether you're using a hanging strop, a paddle strop or a bench strop, think of a feather light touch as you strop. Imagery is key to physical action. You want to hear nothing or the slightest sound as you strop, that helps em-bed the feather light touch in your mind and muscle memory.

Sensitive to soap/cream ingredients are not rare. Soaps/creams are often loaded with ingredients that enhance the product but are also common irritants. The major ones that I know of are menthol, eucalyptus, Shea butter. And for some, the use of the alum block adds to the irritation level after the first sting. Also, alcohol in aftershaves is a problem for some.

Straight and proud. I live in Nampa and I could check out your razor and your stropping technique.
Send me an email address by private message if you are interested.
When I get aPM it is one letter across and a zillion lines long.
That makes a long message impossible for me to read.
Something is wrong with my computer setup?
I can loan you a razor that will shave you very smoothly and with comfort.
Of course your technique can have quite an effect on that but you should do pretty good.

Take Galaxy51 up on his offer. That's what we are here for. I still be struggling in the dark when I started if it wasn't for my Mentor (and now I are one).

Thank you Galaxy51. I will get ahold of you. Funny thing though, as the day progresses my rash has worsened. I think I'm having an allergic reaction to Strop Shop Baker st. Looks like hives now. Shure glad I payed $25. shipped to get a skin disease.

As a sensitive skin sufferer let me suggest Cetaphil skin cleanser or one of the lesser cost generic versions, found in the generally ladies section of creams and things. If it persists definitely see a dermatologist.