I've been teaching myself how to use a SR for around three weeks now. My first week was with a shavette and since then I've started my shave with a straight, doing progressively more with it each day. Today I achieved a breakthrough of completing two passes with the straight and I only drew blood once, by carelessly taking the scab off a previous cut. It feels like it's beginning to get more natural – I'm instinctively more careful about where I put the blade. Onwards and upwards!