Some would say a lifetime – but most people are not THAT obsessed.
In all seriousness you can probably expect to have a decent technique going within a month of starting to shave with a safety razor, straight razors may take longer I’m told.
… expect to have a decent technique going within a month of starting to shave with a safety razor …
After about a year it should be pretty automatic if you just want to stick with a tried and true method. Of course part of the joy of this process is experimentation and learning and developing your technique with different combinations.
Whether you will actually enjoy shaving is hard to say, but here are LOTS of forums full of guys who now say they do – is that sufficient proof?