Thread: 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 !



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.