shaves seem to be getting better...

Soooo, I've noticed after I bought a new Dovo innox (and honed and stropped it up myself from the factory hone that came on it) that little by little my shaves seem to be getting better, the razor seems to be dragging a lot less than ever it did, it seems to be a cleaner shave and I'm noticing a lot fewer of those pesky little nicks and razor rash.
I'm wondering why this is, the main reasons I suspect are that the razor has, if you like, settled in, ie it's been honed but has taken a while of fairly consistent stropping to get the nice edge required for consistently smooth shaves.
Secondly my stropping technique seems to have improved so I'm using a lot less weight on the blade, am able to consistently get the proper "x" pattern across the strop and therefore cover the whole blade and do it quickly enough that I can get a decent number of passes done in a fairly reasonable time in order to make it possible to maintain the blade properly, and thirdly, I wonder if my technique as far as shaving and overall confidence might be a contributing factor.
Possibly it's a combination of all three, but whatever it is I seem to have hit a fairly steep learning curve and the results are a much more pleasurable experience that is certainly leaving my face a lot less raw than ever it was previously.
I get the impression this is a fairly typical experience with new straight shavers but I just thought I'd share my experiences to say that this has been my experience also.

As you suggest, there are many variables involved in successfully using a straight razor, and it does take quite a bit of time for it all to come together as it seems to have for you. The good news is that it gets even better, the learning curve easing up with every shave.

Yeah, you have a lot of variables at play here: newb honing technique, newb stropping technique and of course newb shaving technique. It's hard to say which one has improved (possibly all of them) that has contributed to your new success. Rest assurred, this is all very normal.

As well, it is very normal for a freshly honed blade to "settle in" over the course of a few shaves. The preshave stropping does indeed give the edge the smoothness that we desire.

Cheers,

Ryan

Greetings Slicey,

Yep, you're probably getting better at everything. I'd put most of the credit with your shaving technique; if you were a perfect honer and stropper right out of the gates you'd still get better shaves as your technique improved. Consciously or unconsciously, you're mapping your face and approaching different spots from different directions, working out solutions to the little difficult spots, etc. As the years go on your shaves get better and your improvements get smaller, but there will always be improvements.

Glad to hear you've caught the wave. Happy shaving to you.

Slicey,

Yes, and over time they will get better yet too! I say this as I run my fingers over my smooth face and smile. I still find it funny how still so few men have "re-discovered" the art of straight razor shaving.