Thread: Learning Curve – How Long?

I have come too realize (for me anyway) it is the honing. I used to be a old school, reecently i bought a sharpton 16000 and a uriochigomori jbat and i am get aas good or better than de shaves... Thats just my humble opinion though.. I am noy a shave miester..just a guy who shaves.

You know, being an engineer, I tend to like to quantify everything - a number is a number until you put engineering units behind it and then it means something.

So I have been trying to get this answer to put some realistic expectations to learning - which by the way is as elusive as the variety of people who try anything.

As I am writing this, I can tell you that yesterday I had one of the very finest shaves I've ever had. Today - not so much. Why?

1. Water softener was regenning while I was taking my shower and mixing my lather this morning
2. I used a different cream
3. I used a different razor
4. I may have eaten some greasy food and my skin was a little more oily yesterday than today
5. Blah, blah, blah

So I don't have as good of a shave, but on both days, the experience was great. I took my time, was alone in my thoughts, the shaves were comfortable, no weepers and both days were everything I started doing this for.

And, I have to agree with my colleagues on this. It's the journey - not the destination, but so much the better when the destination is great as well.

Also, I agree on the learning being stepped and not linear.

It took me one month to get good shaves over most of my face. After a month, the shaves looked good. But, for the next few months, I frequently cut myself superficially - a nick here or there, or didn't quite get close enough somewhere else, or had a small spot of razor burn. Nothing big. But, not perfect.

To be honest, it took six months before I approached consistency.

Take your time and focus on the journey, not the destination. There are days when I can achieve an almost perfect shave and then there are others when I resort to my DE to finish the area around my chin and those misdirected hairs on my neck. Stick with it. No doubt you will appreciate and learn how to properly shave.

I've been shaving straights for a few months, and consistently get BBS. My problem is prep. I still cannot for the life of me begin to soak the brush BEFORE I shower.

THANKS for all the well thought out replies all!

I have calmed down and thanks to you – reminded myself it is about the journey.

Today I decided to curtail my pursuit of the BBS shave and just did a WTG pass and quit. The shave went quickly and well, and I found the result perfectly acceptable. BBS is a goal but there are others, and one of them is enjoyment. It's your shave, do with it what you want.

I've gone through what I consider several plateaus of accomplishment. I'd say my shaves were passable within the first 6 months easily, then came speed, less blood, and just recently I've hit a point where the BBS is a far more common achievement. I've been at this 2 years now, but I consider this a lifetime learning curve.

Me, I am a bit over a month in and I am nowhere near there. But I like it . I am getting more and more good shaves and fewer days with irritation. For me it is more about shaving in a way that is enjoyable. As long as I look presentable I am not worried about it... nobody but my wife should be touching my face anyway. Will I enjoy it even more when I am getting a great shave every day? Yep. But if I just wanted a fantastic shave I would have stayed with DE...they do a pretty good job!