I wasn't sure if I should post this here or in begginer section, I got my first straight from whipped dog yesterday and shaved with it today. In the almost five years I have been with my girlfriend a straight razor was the only thing she ever told me I could not buy and that included some pretty expensive guns. I have not actually shaved in over a year, I have just been using the beard trimmer on an electric shaver and that was it. I used the trimmer and then tried the str8, i think it still might have been a bit to long because I could feel it pulling a bit. I had some trouble getting a good lather, I was using the little sample piece of soap that came with my razor and I think it was just sticking in my brush and not really lathering.

I shaved my right side first without any nicks, once I got going it was not nearly as scary as I thought it would be. I had trouble on my chin and got a small nick but it was not bad, I went to the left side and nicked myself twice. The hardest part was my throat right at the adams apple, I am really skinny and my adams apple area sticks out and was hard to shave. The hair on my throat grows in all different directions so that caused me some trouble. It took me about 45 minutes to do the complete shave, I hope it doesn't take that long everytime but it was an enjoyable experience and the closest shave I ever had without razor burn.

I do have a question: The directions that came with the strop said to strop if befor and after each shave. Why do you have to strop it after and then again befor you shave?