Each shave gets better and better

So I started with cheeks for a week then moved to a with the grain only shave. More confidence.... Started shaving across grain and have now ended up with a close shave. Not perfect but a close shave. In fact all was good except the very bottom of my neck. That's the hardest part for me.

This gives a great feeling of accomplishment and I find myself eager to shave. I have had a beard for the last 18 years for the most part due to the fact I did not like to shave. Now I look forward to it. My wife even said something tonight about me shaving so often.

Thanks to to the guys here I have picked up 4 razors in the classifieds and three of them I like for different reasons. The 4th one I never shaved with but gave to my brother whom was interested in straight razor shaving. I now have a strip and wanting to buy an old beater razor and some hones to learn that aspect of the trade.

Thanks guys!

Happy camper here.

Good for you! It'll keep getting better!

One day your face is going to tell you thanks I feel good :<0)

You haven't stropped yet? Better stick with learning to shave and learning the strop, once you got that down then move on to refreshing , then honing, in the beginning your still learning what the edge should feel like, and if you haven't been stropping your not getting the best out of your edge. Tc

I think you are officially hooked now!

And it does only get better.

I am stropping but haven't had to hone yet. I am going to pick up a fixer upper once I buy my stones and learn to hone properly before I touch one of my blades.

My ralf was honed by Lynn so I feel confident it is as good as it gets. Just need to work on my technique now. My Dovo and Bartmann shave about the same as the ralf so I think all three blades are on par.

It's exciting. With three razors I have a weeks worth ready to go as I can't shave every day due to my skin. I can't even use a safety razor every day so every other day I look forward to MY TIME. Haha

My wife said she has never seen me shave so often as now. I told her I wish it was more often.

They DO get better and better. Yeah, you'll revert back to a few lousy ones here and there. But they will continue to get better. You'll monkey around with a thousand different soaps, aftershaves, and balms before settling on what has proven to work for you. You'll pick up honing and play around with a variation of stones. If you're lucky you'll settle one one honing regimen that knocks it out of the park every time and you will have collected a group of razors that you really like. And when all of that happens you'll find it hard to continue to contribute here because Ll of the questions have been answered. So enjoy the ride.

Three years later and I still look forward to every shave, sheesh, wish I could shave more!

Seems technique always improves, you try new things, different razors, brushes, one year I was a dedicated face latherer, now nothing but warm lather in the scuttle. Scoffed at Boar brushes, now I'm really loving them, great hobby that always evolves, reminds you to always keep an open mind for me, just because you may not appreciate something today, doesn't mean you won't next week, next year...glad to hear you're enjoying the journey.

Sounds like you are doing extremely well, and yes it does get better.

One thing I'd add is that properly stropped and cared for an edge can last a long time (6-9 months or longer) and then only need to be refreshed. I suggest you hold off one honing until you've mastered everything else.

Sounds like your having fun. That's great. One caution. Enjoy the process but stay focused. Most of us have found that familiarity breeds too much relaxation breeds blood.