Not sure what value this post will have to y'all except maybe to illustrate that persistence pays off when learning straights, but I was so struck by this that I felt compelled to post it.
I started dabbling in straights (from DEs) last November. I've suffered much frustration, many cuts and almost gave up straights a couple of times. I've had a few epiphanies in that time, each of which significantly improved my shave. While I am still perfecting my straights, my shaves are at least on par with my DE shaves and in some ways much better. Based on my experience to date, I am confident that the advice of the experienced straight shavers on this forum is true: While you may get a decent shave in a month or so, it will probably take 6-12 months to perfect your shave. I can see that I've turned the corner and don't see shaving with anything but a straight.
But what really struck me is the difference between my shave today and my first month of straight shaves. My shaves these days are more effortless than I ever imagined. My shaves that first month (and into the second) at times were excruciatingly frustrating. There were times I thought I just don't have the right face, the right angles, the right beard or whatever to make this the experience that so many raved about. Now I feel like I've entered the promised land, and I see the light.
So, what's in this post for others (i.e. why even post this)? Like I said at the beginning: Persistence. Unless you are truly at your wits end, stick with it, ask questions and try new things. You may be very close to making that next step that makes all the difference.
I started dabbling in straights (from DEs) last November. I've suffered much frustration, many cuts and almost gave up straights a couple of times. I've had a few epiphanies in that time, each of which significantly improved my shave. While I am still perfecting my straights, my shaves are at least on par with my DE shaves and in some ways much better. Based on my experience to date, I am confident that the advice of the experienced straight shavers on this forum is true: While you may get a decent shave in a month or so, it will probably take 6-12 months to perfect your shave. I can see that I've turned the corner and don't see shaving with anything but a straight.
But what really struck me is the difference between my shave today and my first month of straight shaves. My shaves these days are more effortless than I ever imagined. My shaves that first month (and into the second) at times were excruciatingly frustrating. There were times I thought I just don't have the right face, the right angles, the right beard or whatever to make this the experience that so many raved about. Now I feel like I've entered the promised land, and I see the light.
So, what's in this post for others (i.e. why even post this)? Like I said at the beginning: Persistence. Unless you are truly at your wits end, stick with it, ask questions and try new things. You may be very close to making that next step that makes all the difference.
