Thread: Beginners Tips: September 2011

Another month is here and I have a good one for this month I think, I hope you do too.. For those just joining, each month since I read most of the posts as they come up each day, I look for trends over the last month and try to address them here....

-VS-

Yep we see this a ton on the forum, mostly from beginners and sometimes from intermediates.
Normally with some type of product on either side of that, most of the time you are asking which is better...
I saw a post the other day that actually prompted me to write this for the Tips this month..
It asked "Is there a marked difference between two high end strops" and I realized that many of you take what some of us "Experts" write way to seriously. Honestly there is no "Marked" difference between most of this stuff we are nitpicking the very very fine points here guys...
Especially when you get into the hones and strops, most of what we write about impacts the shave itself maybe 1%, we are simply tweaking the last tiny bit out of our personal hobby..
There is a fine line that separates Shaving from Hobby when you cross that line then some of this stuff makes a difference but it sure ain't a "Marked" one

I think Lynn has always said it best with his "Have Fun" remark, because in the end Shaving is one thing, and "Having Fun" by making this a hobby should be the other.

When you ask the question "Which is better" always keep in the back of your mind you are simply asking the approximately 33000 members on the forum for their opinion do you really want it ???? There is nothing better than trying the new aspects/products out for yourself and forming your own opinion. Yes there are some products that are just pure junk but we cover most of them in the Wiki and the Beginners section here, and if you can't find the info simply ask before you buy...
Hopefully you will end up taking this to the Hobby stages, as many of us have, but if not, enjoy the fantastic shaves anyway...

As always with these monthly tips please feel free to add to it, especially the more senior members, as we all have different perspectives and one of them might help a new guy out, and after all that is really what SRP is here for, "to help each other out"

You do know, Sir, that all your posts just make too much sense!


Keep up the good work!

Happy Shaving!

Glen, my dear man, well said.

Totally true!

I said the same thing in an earlier post today: What do you want from the hobby? A way to shave or to get into all aspects of it for the fun of it?

That will dictate the kit you get and the advice you seek.

Thats something I think we should all consider when we give advice and we do for the most part. If a guy just wants to maintain an edge then he doesn't need a suite of shaptons and vice versa.

Great post G man!

Well said!!! When i first got into this after many months of wet shaving and reading and asking questions, i first got a razor shave ready and i was allready familiar with face prep so it wasnt to bad i dont think. But i must say seems with this great bunch of people on here it makes it a lot easier. And i must say if your a totally fresh newbie to this read ask and dont give up ive personally
been stricky shaving daily with a straight razor for a few months and i love it!!! i actually look forward to it.

So the real enjoyment, like so many (of the finer) things, ends with ...subtlety? Nuance?

The Subtlety of Straight Razors (a paradox...)