After a little over 30 days with the straight(s), I've tasted both the ecstasy of victory and the agony of defeat. My shaves were progressively getting better for the most part, and suddenly, yesterday the wheels came off. Lots of stubble and some irritation after the shave.

My temptation was to blame the blade - did I roll the edge while stropping? But I had a few smooth spots, so I have determined that my technique stunk. Today, I really concentrated on blade angle and stretching, and got a very nice shave, but it took an hour and a quarter. After decades of woodworking, I have learned that no one cares how long it took, the results are what are important.

Is it normal to have these setbacks, and what is a reasonable amount of time to allow for a nice shave once the technique becomes consistent? It has been tempting to return to the DE, but I really like the feel and last of a straight shave when done properly.