Welcome to the Club.....shaving with a straight requires a soap/ cream that is slick and has good cushion. A slick soap helps when putting that blade on your Hollywood face....the blade is easier to get going on your beard..it doesn't get stuck and cut you. CELLA soap is very slick and makes great suds and it's cheap too. As noted before..LIGHT PRESSURE ...just let the blade glide on your skin...the sharp edge will do the rest. But get a tub of Cella...you will thank me later.