As a newbie I underestimated the skills needed to master straight razor shaving. Since I have always mastered any challenge in front of me before and SR shaving was not rocket science or a college degree required and 40 years ago I used to shave with SR, no problem. To acquire the proper skill to handle, shave, hone and strop the razor it takes more than a couple of shaves, honing and stropping. It helps if you have good quality razors properly honed and stropped, but that does not give you a great shave, only your skill will do that. If good quality equipment guaranteed a great shave, I would have saved a lot of bleeding, razor burns and pain. The only way to learn the skill is by shaving and shaving and shaving. Juan.