Ho do, and wellcome to wetshaving at its best!!
I am also a newbie, in that I"m still trying to figure it all out, but having fun in the proccess. I"ve been into Str8 shaing for about a little over a year now, still working on shaving angles and shave prep, razor maintainance and so on. The bottom line is that its different for different people, depending on inate skill levels, coursness of beard, and the quility of the tools that can be afforded. Just go slow, work on technique first and go for that perfect BBS smooth save much later on, unless your lucky enough to get to that level quicker than most of us out here. It comes down to this in my limited experience, the more you shave, the better you get at it, bottom line. Holding that razor just enough to control it and not dig it into your flesh, not a feel that comes right away, any additional help you need you will fine from the more practiced member of this forum. They have always helped me even when even I thought my question might be to simplistic or obsurd!!! Have a great G/day'!!
Your fellow shaving guy, tinkersd of SRP