How long to get comfortable/proficient?

Ok so I have my first two shaves under my belt and I have to say maybe my expectations were to high. I kind of thought that I would be getting great shaves right from the start and I realize that is NOT the case! My first two shaves were less than comfortable and I nicked myself a few times.
How long of say shaving two times per week with the straight before I will feel comfortable and getting decent shaves?
should I stick to only shaving with my dominant hand until I am getting good shaves or practice with both hands?
I am really looking forward to learning this art and would like to know what to expect as far as a learing curve with a straight?
thank you in advance to those who answer these questions.

One way to accelerate that learning curve is to try doing a bit every day with your STR8 and then finish with whatever you have been using. That will get you proficient faster than using a STR8 twice a week. Also be sure and review: First straight razor shave, in the wiki. Everybody's progress is going to be different. Just hang in there and enjoy yourself.

You'll be pretty comfortable after about the second week (or about ten shaves if you don't do it every day)

You should pick up your first BBS at about the 2-month mark.

You'll be able to do just about anything you want after the sixth month.

I started getting good shaves after my hand stopped shaking!!

I've got around 10 shaves with a straight now. I have BBS tonight in all but one little spot I didn't notice. I still get small nicks sometimes and am working on my stretching but overall I don't have a problem doing 3 full passes. Getting around my goatee without taking some of it off has been the hardest part to get good and smooth, although I about have it now.

Pretty much though, it just gets better and better.

If you shave with the straight every day you will see improvement daily for several weeks. I suppose it is different for everyone. If you already have nicks, you have too much blood invested to stop now. You are just starting. You may get to a point when you ask yourself, "exactly why am I doing this?". Keep on trying and you will master a skill that will give you great pleasure and gratification.

A few random thoughts... It will take months rather than weeks, unless you are a natural. Learning to use both hands adds an extra challenge, but will probably pay off eventually. Forget the BBS shave. Many beginners go to extremes to actively achieve it, but it will come automatically. Concentrate on preparation and stropping, as well as getting the angles right.

Regards,
Robin

+1 ti what Robin said. Reminds me of the guy who asks the traffic cop how to get to Carnegie Hall. "Practice", the cop says. The more you do it the quicker you'll gain proficiency. I've been at it a couple of years plus on a daily basis and I still see improvement. Took me two to three weeks to completely give up the DE so I was not a quick study. I have shaved ambidextrously but returned to being a dominant hand shaver. Different strokes for different folks. :)

Njstr8edge,

Just enjoy your shaves - you will find your skills will increase quickly enough. Soon you will wonder what all the anxiety was about :)

It took me a couple of weeks to get the basics under control, then a couple more to get fully ambidextrous. In addition stropping skills had to be acquired etc. The most important thing was that I was really, really enjoying my shaves !

:gl:

Best regards

Russ

It is like asking how long it takes to learn to play a Beethoven Sonata.
No one can tell you how long it will take you to learn.

There is a learning curve - and we are talking months of shaving every day.

If it was easy everyone would do it.

I am new as well, 3 shaves under me. My 1st one was not bad, I did nick my self. 2nd one went very well 2 full passes then clean up with my M3. The 3rd went even better, 2 passes, very little clean up.

I am also one who is not doing it every day, mostly becouse I am not a morning person at all...can shave with my M3 half asleep and not think about it anymore. But, I now do the same prep as I would if I was using a Str8 along with no longer using the goo in a can. So every morning I go though the enjoyable ritual of shaving, to keep working on my pre-shave prep, lather, and post shave.

Things I have learned about str8 shaving: As I get more confident, the shaves are easier...sound strange but the less I think about getting cut the less I will nick myself. And keeping up the routine of shaving.....so when I get time to set aside to devote to Str8 the other things like prep, making good lather, razor burn recovery ect...are already ingrained in my mind so I am not trying to learn every thing all at once. I can focus solely on the shave.

I look forward to hear your progress, as we are both enjoying/learning the same obsession.

-Jeremy

I would say it depends on your overall level of coordination and manual skill. I'm about average and it took me about 5 shaves to get it down pat.

Thanks for all the feedback! I think I will stick with trying to shave with the stra8 for awhile...LOL!!!

Next question, Right out of the bax my straight didn't feel like it was shaving as smoothly as I thought it should. Mind you I have no experience with a straight shave except once many years ago which was a positive experience so I have no base of reference to compare.
My stra8 was bought brand new from SRD and 1st shave I stroped and shaved, same with 2nd. It just doesn't feel like it is cutting the hair very smoothly. I am sure my technique is responsible for my poor results but maybe my balde needs to be sharper. Any suggestions or comments? Should I just grin and bear it and just keep shaving and figure it out over time?

With the razor coming from SRD, chances it won't shave properly are slim. Very, very slim. I can, however, assure you that lack of technique and "wrong" preparation will turn even the sharpest razor into an instrument of torture. Have you read the Wiki articles on stopping and preparation? If not, now is a good moment to do that.

Good luck,
Robin

Keep at it and be patient- watch the videos, several of them after a couple of days of stropping do it again you will see something new. I must have watched 3 dozen and listened closely.
You will get it.
Its like golf without all the cursing-
Somedays its like the razor is on automatic- even starts its own scything motion which to me made me think I was in a barber chair and someone else was doing it.
On another day there is a coward with the shakes holding the blade and won't go near the chin, much less the throat.
4 nicks and a police report.:boohoo:

Lesson learned don't use a str* when hungover!!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by NJStr8edge

Next question, Right out of the bax my straight didn't feel like it was shaving as smoothly as I thought it should.

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It is your technique that is not up to par yet.
Please, read this post by gssixgun.

The most important thing I have learned about straight shaving is there is no short cuts to improvement. Only practicing and using your razor day after day (with sometimes horrible results) can reward you with enough knowledge and experience to achieve good things later on. These questions come up every day in the forums because what I just mentioned is something new guys don't realize to the full capacity.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Disburden

The most important thing I have learned about straight shaving is there is no short cuts to improvement. Only practicing and using your razor day after day (with sometimes horrible results) can reward you with enough knowledge and experience to achieve good things later on. These questions come up every day in the forums because what I just mentioned is something new guys don't realize to the full capacity.

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I am in about 6 weeks, maybe 10 shaves with the Str8 alone. They are getting better. I think everyone on the SRP is saying patience and persistence are required even in the wake of difficult shaves, nicks and cuts.

I guess the last two shaves I did not require clean-up by a multi-blade and I did not bleed. I am starting to enjoy the shaves also.

Its really like learning to play a musical instrument, you need to put the time into it to get the best results.

I gave a few guitar lessons when I was in Australia and something I noticed some guys doing when they were trying to develop their alternate picking was just pick as fast as possible on one string and flap their fingers around. All with the distortion on level 10 as well...! :)

That gets you the effect of it, but its not as good as truly accurate picking. If you listen to the really good alternate pickers, guys like John Petrucci, Al Di Meola, Michael Angelo Batio, Paul Gilbert and Rusty Cooley, they all have their coordination bang on. The plectrum hits the string at the precise moment they fret the note, and they're not drowning the note in gain either. Youtube them to see what I mean..!

So what I used to make the students do was pick up an acoustic guitar, so no gain to hide the mistakes, and play the run on that. And if they didnt get it bang on, they'd just get a load of tuneless plunks. So then they'd learn to slow things right down and get things accurate at a pace they were comfortable with before they upped the metronome to silly tempos. Because fast and uncoordinated sounds awful, but fast and coordinated can blow you away.

Its the same with straight razor shaving. You need to slow things down, take your time and not expect results overnight, but when you get comfortable with what you're doing, when you're happy with how the razor feels in your hand and on your skin, when your lather is just right and your stropping is music to your ears, you'll get the best shaves you ever had. Period.

Thats not to say learning straight razor shaving takes months (though it may take you a few weeks to get comfortable), but do be prepared to put the time into it and not get discouraged if you dont get that fabled BBS shave right off the bat..! :) Just keep at it and you will get there!

Good luck!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Stubear

Its really like learning to play a musical instrument, you need to put the time into it to get the best results.

I gave a few guitar lessons when I was in Australia and something I noticed some guys doing when they were trying to develop their alternate picking was just pick as fast as possible on one string and flap their fingers around. All with the distortion on level 10 as well...! :)

That gets you the effect of it, but its not as good as truly accurate picking. If you listen to the really good alternate pickers, guys like John Petrucci, Al Di Meola, Michael Angelo Batio, Paul Gilbert and Rusty Cooley, they all have their coordination bang on. The plectrum hits the string at the precise moment they fret the note, and they're not drowning the note in gain either. Youtube them to see what I mean..!

So what I used to make the students do was pick up an acoustic guitar, so no gain to hide the mistakes, and play the run on that. And if they didnt get it bang on, they'd just get a load of tuneless plunks. So then they'd learn to slow things right down and get things accurate at a pace they were comfortable with before they upped the metronome to silly tempos. Because fast and uncoordinated sounds awful, but fast and coordinated can blow you away.

Its the same with straight razor shaving. You need to slow things down, take your time and not expect results overnight, but when you get comfortable with what you're doing, when you're happy with how the razor feels in your hand and on your skin, when your lather is just right and your stropping is music to your ears, you'll get the best shaves you ever had. Period.

Thats not to say learning straight razor shaving takes months (though it may take you a few weeks to get comfortable), but do be prepared to put the time into it and not get discouraged if you dont get that fabled BBS shave right off the bat..! :) Just keep at it and you will get there!

Good luck!

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Hahaha. You beat me to that analogy Stubear.

Here's how it is. Everyone sucks at whatever they try in the beginning. Adults don't like to suck at anything and so they give up the really new really hard stuff easy. Kids stick with new stuff because they really don't know they suck at it and nore do they care.

This is one that is worth sucking for as long as it takes. But do you want to wathch TV or do you want to practice 100 strokes on your strop? Do you want to play video games, or do you want to prepare a couple of batches of lather? See where I'm going with this?

Invest the time, make good choices and you will see that improvement rapidly. Hey wait, am I still talking about str8 shaving?:D

David

Good points all with the analogies. I am going to take my time and see how it goes. I was feeling a little disappointed with my progress so I took a couple of days off and shaved with the twin. Right now I am heading to the shower, then going to strop, then lather up and have a great shave! L8r.

six months to a year.

BBS at around 20 - 25 shaves. Found the best strokes and method for my face at about 40 - 50 shaves. Learned how to keep my straight razors finely tuned to be very sharp for each shave at about 15 shaves.

I really wanted to learn straight shaving and I didn't let any excuses get in the way of my success so I moved up the curve quickly.

Taking up straight shaving and sunsetting my Mach 3 was one of my best decisions I made in 2009 and I never looked back.

Pabster

What does BBS mean?

I tried searching, but BBS is too short for search.
In the Beginner forum, may I recommend not using acronyms without full form.

Thanks,
Jake

Quote:

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Originally Posted by snakyjake

What does BBS mean?

I tried searching, but BBS is too short for search.
In the Beginner forum, may I recommend not using acronyms without full form.

Thanks,
Jake

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Baby Butt Smooooooth!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by snakyjake

In the Beginner forum, may I recommend not using acronyms without full form.

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May I recommend your reading the FAQ? Frequently Asked Questions - Straight Razor Place Wiki

Thanks,
Robin

I have been at it going on 3+ months, usually on max 3x a week as its not needed as often as a Mach 3.
Unless I have tons of time i will still finish up with w Mach 3/5 around the chin and some of the neck. As I improve on prep and lathering I am sure I will overcome these cowardly acts.

How long? Don’t know. But it will take longer if you rely on a safety razor to touch up. Vow only to use the straight and wear the consequences proudly.

Be prepared for multiple epiphanies. Just when you think you’ve mastered the razor, you will be humbled by the sight of a piece of your chin in the sink. Be prepared to fall back and relearn the basics. And learn them again.

Library-

With this big Dovo 55 Lynn honed I just acquired I did the chin without a scratch-
This blade is wide but a tiny bit shorter (appears) than my other blade so I am getting used to making an extra passe by the mustache instead of my normal one from mouth to sideburns (with a little wrist action).

My prep is better now that I have a scuttle-
Castle or Art of Shaving creams let me have some nice warm white stuff.

Only thing I am missing is a paddle strop-

Alright, have had my str8 about three weeks and probably have 10-12 shaves under my belt. Consider this a status report. I am getting better! Shaves are much nicer now that I am easier on my grip on the blade. The pulling I felt in the earlier shaves is quickly giving way to much nicer shaves.
I am still hesitant to do my neck and since I wear a stache and goatee don't have to worry about the chin yet.
I see steady almost natural improvement. Natural in the sense I don't have to think so hard about my technique its just kinda coming to me as I shave more and more. Sorta like learning to drive a stick shift for the first time.
In any case, I will keep the noobs informed on how I am doing from time to time.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Library Guy

How long? Don’t know. But it will take longer if you rely on a safety razor to touch up. Vow only to use the straight and wear the consequences proudly.

Be prepared for multiple epiphanies. Just when you think you’ve mastered the razor, you will be humbled by the sight of a piece of your chin in the sink. Be prepared to fall back and relearn the basics. And learn them again.

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+1 on that, is that a 45/70 sharps in the pic?

Nessmuck,

Yup, it's a Pedersoli Sharps in .45-70. I Load 70 grains Goex 2fg into W-W unsized brass (over powder wads made from unicorn hair and verses from the Book of Revelations optional) and top it off with a 535 grain Postell style bullet.

But lately I've been seeing an M1903 behind her back.

regards &c
Lg Roy

Really great rifles- good choice-