Hello,
I have taken a break from posting to practice and bond with my razors for a few weeks. My shaves are getting better and better, with the exception of 4 areas. Any suggestions?

1. On the left side of my neck below my ear, if I do more than one pass, I am left with a series of red dots that look like little zits. If I don't do more than one pass, it is not smooth at all. This only happens in one area and is a weird area for me to get smooth, even back with my DE. However, I did not get the dots with the DE.

2. Around my Adam's Apple. I know this is a common trouble area, but I can't seem to get the hang of it. My hair grows pretty much sideways and I just can't get the razor at that angle.

3. Just above my jawbone. I have no idea why this area is so troublesome, even with my DE. I pull my skin up, down sideways, etc... but it just won't get BBS against the grain. My sideburns will be super smooth and then I feel this stubble ATG that irritates me all day. Also, when my beard grows back, it is possible to see the difference in growth.

4. My chin. I can shave WTG, but when I try ATG, the razor gets caught up, and I cut myself.

So those are the 4 trouble spots.

Other concerns:

1. I am not getting the hang of the sharp tests. If I lay my razor on it's spine and run a strand of hair over it, sometimes the hair will catch and split with a little noise, other times it won't. Sometimes, the hair will split in two down the length, but will not break. If I try the moistened thumbnail test, no mark is left. Maybe I am not pressing hard enough? If I run the razor across the ball of my moistened thumb, it slides, but again, maybe I am not pressing hard enough? I was kind of expecting these razors to be so sharp that even a slight touch would lead to a cut or a hair gently placed on the edge would simply cut on two, but I guess that is not the case (I dunno). As far as a shave test, if I run the razor up my arm above the skin, the occasional hair will be pulled off. I feel and hear the hair coming off. If I moisten my arm and run the blade directly on skin, most of the hair will be cut off, but again, I feel it happening; certainly not like a knife through butter. Little bits of stubble are left that need pretty much blade buffing to get BBS, sometimes with focus on each and every piece of stubble. I am left with razor burn on some areas.

Now, I worry that all of this is due to poor technique or something, as I got the razor shave ready, but I have no way of being certain if it is me or the razor. I am able to use this razor on my face for WTG, but for ATG I have to switch to my Shavette with a fresh blade. If I use my real straight, it will just keep snagging ATG and cut me if I force it. Like I said, I don't know why this is, as I got it shave ready. I don't think it is due to my lack of stropping skills, as I shaved with it before I even stropped and had the same problems.

Anyway, that is where I stand. My last shave was on Sunday and I will shave tomorrow with a Dovo Tortoise 5/8 I just got from SRD, and see if there is any change.

The razor came with a piece of paper that said basically the razor was sharpened but needs to be stropped before use. Would it be ok if I skip this as I don't want poor technique to ruin the blade? I want to see how this razor compares to my other, without my interference.