First straight razor shave

I did my first straight razor shave, a partial shave actually. I did mostly just the cheeks and finished off with the Gillette Slim. I used a vintage George Wostenholm Pipe razor that had just come back from being professionally honed. I found it a bit intimidating, and I can’t say it felt as though it glided smoothly on my cheeks, but it efficiently removed three days of growth. I managed to use my left, non-dominant, hand for the left cheek. I made a  small pass at the moustache and nicked myself slightly. Any other first straight razor shave stories? I’m wondering how long it will take to feel comfortable with it

There is a definite learning curve.  I recall reading somewhere that it takes 100 shaves to become proficient with a straight, but it varies by person.  It took me a long time.  One thing I learned is that it's best to put aside your DE and just use the straight every day.  Once I did that my technique began to improve dramatically.

I started the same way you did ... but gave up on straights.

I wear a facial hair in a van dyke / circle beard .... so my mustache grows around the corners of my mouth to a short beard only on the chin.   Some people call this style a 'goatee' but the traditional goatee is only on the chin with no mustache.   
This makes shaving, for me, easier.   I really only have to shave my cheeks and neck. 

When it came to the straight razor, I did the cheeks well, I did the neck ok - I never got comfortable the jaw line that I had to shave - that transition from the lower cheek to the neck - that was my nemisis.   I never got the hang of it.   Additionally, I am somewhat of a lazy shaver.  I don't do any 'prep' at all except wet my face ... I don't use a bowl or scuttle - I just use a good cream (Taylor of Old Bond Street is all I use anymore) I get some cream on the brush, and then face-lather.

I do a two-pass shave with a DE and then that's it - then I slap on some balm

Some people do all sorts of prep, and then a three-pass shave and then the post-shave ritual too ... For me - I just want a good shave with minimal time and effort.  I could probably get a closer shave, but one thing I've learned is that no matter how close you get a shave - the hair will grow back.

Yeah, I have a nice collection of DE razors that I want to keep using. But mastering the straight razor is challenging and fun. So far I’ve don’t the cheeks three times with no blood. Soon I will try the upper lip again. I have never gone for a BBS.

My sense is a lot of guys quit before giving the straight razor a fair shot.  I know I was frustrated and almost quit, but one day it all just came together.

I plan to master it. We will see. Now I’m using the Peter j Michels (Made in Germany) c1928. A real sense of history.