Go back to the basics, just like when you learned to shave wiht a straight. Just shave the sideburns. What I do is use the newly honed (or, to be accurate, the hopefully slightly sharper non-shave ready razor) razor for the sideburn - down area, except I use it for all three passes. Any discomfort, pulling, or signs it's not ready, i stop. If that area is as smooth as it can get with other razors, then I'm as happy as I can get (yet) with the honing.

Good luck. I'm only slightly more into honing, and it's coming along (slowly).