I'm probably just going with the one side burn for the first day. How long did it take you?
I'm probably just going with the one side burn for the first day. How long did it take you?
I'm an idiot - I went all the way on day 1! Had to clean up with my DE, but wasn't stopping until I had a full pass.
Well, I'm glad I have internet access. I wouldn't be interested in straight shaving without it. Until very recently, I never considered it. But there's so much information online, I actually feel comfortable learning.
It took me a few weeks, IIRC, of daily shaving to begin to get some coordination, and to go from 45 minutes to complete a shave at the first, to maybe 15 or so after a month. I put the DE away after the few weeks. Used it to 'mop up' what I wasn't capable of getting with the straight in the beginning.
Depends on your definition of what a full shave is. To do a complete single pass about a week. To do a complete shave, 3 to 4 passes, a couple of months to get things sorted. In the beginning it was agonizingly slow going even for a single pass. Even now it tends to be slow as I enjoy shaving and tend to drag it out to 4 passes. One of the guilty pleasures of being retired.
Bob
I did everything but my chin on the first shave, I can clearly remember my fear of that blade edge :) anyways, I finished my chin with a mach4 and went on my way. I tried the chin and failed, again due to fear, on the second shave, by the third shave I had it figured all out.... now pressure... that took me another couple of months to figure out
I pushed forward as fast as I could. I was probably less than a week in and I had started full shaves. I was still nervous while shaving until I was about a month in, and started picking up a little time at about the month mark. I was probably three months into it before I started to get really consistent shaves with a reasonable time. I am an evening shaver and lounged and shaved for around an hour for that first month. It is likely around twenty minutes currently. I can shave faster but then the fun factor goes down, likely because I have too many other things on my mind.
For me it was 25 shaves to get from 45 min+ / lots of nicks and needing clean up to under 30min, minimal nicks and being able to do the chin.
Part of the breakout was getting a new to me razor from the classifieds about then. With a fantastic edge and 25 shaves of experience it started to come together.
I still remember that shave - being able to effortlessly shave my chin...realizing this was doable.
When you are starting out edge maintenice is one of the many skills that you are developing at the same time you are learning everything else.
25-100 shaves and the times goes to well under 15 minutes the shaves go from Meh to DFS.
Before you know it you go from "there is no way I will be able to ATG my neck" to "I can't believe how great that shave was"
Smooth shaving...
I'm a glutton for punishment, so I did a full shave from day 1. I did not cut myself, but my face was so raw afterwards!!!!
I tried to go for the full shave on day one. I wasn't doing too bad until the second pass when I decided to drag the blade across my face. This slowed progress a bit and made shaving a little more challenging for the next few days
It took a while for me. Turns out I really suck at using a strop. So I was wrecking edges fast, and not being great at honing didn't help. A encounter with a lapping film honed square point had me off my game for a while. 2 weeks with a CJB kamisori taught me a lot. That little beast tolerates no bs. Now a nice coti edge is a walk in the park. Working on learning my new jnat I'd like a little sharper edge but I find the film edge harsh. Total shaves about 70, total time 7 months, I wasn't counting.
Jim
about a month,,,,,,,,,,,,
I guess the real question is not "how long until you did a full shave", but "how long until you did a full shave WELL". I lost a lot of hemoglobin because of my impatience! I also almost gave up on straights because I didn't take the time to focus on stropping vs shaving technique. The greatest technique does not work with a dull razor.
It takes a few months, then you get comfortable and if you like me cut yourself a bit because your too comfortable. After that, just sheet enjoyment