15 months in to Wet Shaving

And I'm completely hooked on Straight Razor Shaving.

Started with some old DE's and took my time with that. Razor-burned my face the first time (never again), on my B-day 2012--that's how i remember.

NOW I have four straights and two open-combs DE's. The DE's are only used for "quickies" and "light work" now. They, effective as they are, and scary as they were in the beginning-have lost their "appeal".

I hone now with (thanks Glen for the vids) all the Norton stones (and more). Even honing others' blades. Haven't used paste yet. Fought a pitted blade at first. Bought a few more blades, retired the pitted one until i got the 4k/8k. NOW it's my favorite-it's a not quite a full-hollow and 11/16 and i like the extra heft-plows right on through.

One can read and learn a tremendous amount about the process, but the development/refining of the motor skills to be truly comfortable and effective with the SR takes some TIME (less time if you have a heavy fast growing beard i suppose, i'm more of the Irish bearded). I don't think you can put a clock on it. For me, it was a year.

I learned wet shaving concepts (proper) with the DE's and then started learning the SR a few strokes at a time, when focus and time was available. Eventually I'd do the full first pass with the SR then clean up with the DE. Then two passes and a DE cleanup, until I learned the strokes and touch it takes to get my face fully shaved with a single razor-sharp blade.

Only then, does one truly know what "razor-sharp" actually means.

thanks for the guidance and discussions.

(I use my own tallow soap too.)