Things I've learned as a newbie

So I've been doing this for what, 2 months now? A few things I've learned:

1. Don't cheap out on soap. Soap lasts a very long time, and the differences between Conk and lets say TOBS/Tabac/Mitchell's seem pretty pronounced to me. When you're first buying stuff, soap seems almost like an after-thought (at least it did to me).

2. Be prepared to buy a barber's hone, and some chrome oxide.

3. Don't blow a lot of money on your first strop, you will almost certainly destroy it. Or consider one with replaceable leather bits.

4. Do not drink and shave. Or strop. Trust me on this one ;)

when do you use a chrome oxide strop? I've seen some videos with a diamond strop, which would you recommend? all I have is a small narrow strop. leather / canvas