What was your learning curve?

Wet shaving is like a moving ship, whenever you add a new variable i.e. blade, soap, razor, brush you'll need to readjust your heading.

 

I am also two years back into DE shaving. After about a year, I could achieve a BBS with any razor I picked up.

 

So true! Early on, pretty much every time I added a new safety razor to the rotation, there was a learning period where I had to reset to the beginning with my technique until I became familiar and comfortable. After years of cartridge shaving, safety razors took me dozens of shaves (weeks) to reach a level of confident competence until the process became almost second nature.

With straight razors, the learning curve was much steeper. It took me nearly six months to feel completely comfortable wielding a straight razor and achieve regular BBS-level shaves.

 

I have 900 ish shaves in. 820 or there abouts have been with
a straight razor. That took 150 to 200 shaves to get really good.

I have still to figure the DE out. Should be simple but my shaves are very inconsistent. I am always able to get properly shaved but weepers and irritation plague me with any DE at anytime.

 

Razor is one aspect. Comfortable with the razor but now tweaking brush lather techniques. As @RaZorBurn123 put it, the tangible variables (blades,soaps etc.) call for technique and procedure changes. Keeps it exciting.

 

Just a couple of shaves. I started back in the mid-70s with a fixed head cart, no pivoting head to get the angle right. Had to learn on my own.
Once I got the DE back in '08, it was simple, just remember what I learned back then.

 

No shame in using your previous razor to do clean up. The cartridge razors are "safe" and you have experience using them. My DE skills are improving to the point I use a Gillette Fatboy to touch up after a straight razor shave. I haven't felt the need to bring out the MachIII in months.

Someone should beat me about the head and shoulders with a thick stick to insist I do 30 challenges...

 

I felt like an expert after my first week! Now 6 months in I know how little I know, still learning, still learning.

 

I started out DE shaving back in the 60's with Dads guidance. Took about a week or so before i didn't need patches of toilet paper on my face. The one habit I've kept through the years is to keep it simple, except for the last 2 or 3 years it's been 1 razor, brush, soap, mug and aftershave. Thanks to on line Shave Den etc. I now have graduated to 2 soaps 7 brushes 6 bowls and mugs and of coarse 24 razors. but 1 at a time home made aftershave. Shave time is a mans "Me Time".
The best thing I can say is, take your time, shave with one setup, get your technique down pat, find your own great shave.

 

It took me a couple of months to get fairly good at it. I shave every second day so roughly 30-40 shaves before I was getting consistent decent results.
My neck, well I had to come to a realization: I wasn't willing to do what was required to get a baby-smooth neck. Too many passes at odd, oblique angles was so unpleasant for me. I do straight up, straight down and diagonal. If I press hard I can feel whiskers but only I could notice.

 

I love this analogy!

 

Thanks for all of your replies and sharing your experiences here, you guys. I really appreciate everyone's input.

 

I'm a little over 3 1/2 years into wet shaving and I'm still learning, that's the fun part of this hobby.

 

I'm only three shave into it with my safety razor, but I've been lathering up with a brush and soap since mid November. Even though I've had my struggles learning how to use the razor, I've been having a blast learning how to wet shave.

 

Something I found helpful was looking at old posts in the forums. Go to the top of the page, click on "forums", then click on "Shave School". Pick any page and just scroll through looking at the thread titles. You'll see some of you own questions and questions you haven't thought of yet. There's plenty of good information in the old threads.

 

That's what it's all about. I'm very happy for you! I had a Clint Eastwood avi prior to my current one.

 

Do yourself a favor and buy some TOBS, GOEF or RazoRock. They really help.

 

Thanks for the suggestion, Mike. I know what TOBS and RazorRock are, but even after doing a Google search, I still couldn't figure out what GOEF is. Is that another shaving soap (or cream)?

 

GOEF- Good Ol English Fudge.....it's delicious! j/k

Learning curves for me were as follows:
DE- Probably about 10-15 shaves. It took me that long to learn not to press in like I did with a cartridge!
Injector- Maybe 5-6 shaves once I became proficient with a DE.
SE- I haven't had a blood free non irritating shave yet!
Straight Razor- Probably 25-30 before I felt comfortable and got really decent shaves. I am still hit and miss with my neck, but I no longer freak out when that hunk o steel approaches my mush.

In regards to your chin and neck. I struggle with those areas as well even today. Cheeks and lip areas are "no brainers" but the chin and jawline just require to pay attention and "work" at maintaining proper angles and approaches. Just remember......it's a journey, not an event. Enjoy the trip

 

It took me a month when I first started to feel comfortable but I really did not start to really learn until I bought an ikon slant and only used that razor for 6 months it was the best thing I did (not buy an ikon but to pick one razor and just focus on it)