Ymmv..o..ymwv

[slr31]

An amateur's enlightenment:

When I joined this forum, I was looking for an easy and ready-made solution - let me find the BEST razor, the BEST soap/cream, the BEST brush (didn't care much for AS). I used to hate reading when members would post YMMV...Oh no I do not want to go through all the rigmalore of trying and finding what works best for me. Just show me what works for most and I will be set. Life will be so easy then and I can shave HAPPILY FOREVER ..Yipee...
Alas, how much farther this thinking (or WISHING) is from the truth.

My face was irritated over two days of using this very popular and pricey razor, very popular soap and very popular brush (except cheaper). Shaves were close but the rest of the day was not fun.

I wanted to skip shaving today, but then thought of using a combination that is not "very popular" and something I considered "lowly" and "mild". So I pulled out my cheap Omega boar (less than $10), cheap Omega soap (like $6) and Super Speed Flair tip (less than $10 and didn't look cool). Had such a smooth shave. That brush and soap combo is awesome. My face feels a lot better today.

Point I am trying to make is NOT that one set of products is better than the other. In fact quite the opposite. It is my coming to realization that it is YMMV. My goal now is to take my time with gear I have and find what works FOR ME and what does NOT instead of looking for the SHINY STAR everyone talks about.

YMMV baby...In fact that phrase is a little misleading in my mind. Shouldn't we call it YMWV (Your Mileage WILL Vary)?

 

[ateace]

Welcome to the house of varying mileage!

Nothing wrong with an economical shave. Or a mild one.
Many members gravitate towards this on a regular basis.

 

[Galengwath]

While I understand your point, some people really do agree with each other, hence the reason certain products tend to be highly regarded by many of us. YMMV suggests that someone who has yet to try a given product may feel the same way as the masses about it, or they may not. It's a toss up, even with a product that is statistically more loved than others. Thus, I think it's a perfectly appropriate acronym.

For example, I have no doubt that there are others here who really like MdC and Harris soaps, like Astra and Feather blades in their DE, and who are partial to 2-band badger brushes. Just like me. YMWV would suggest that everyone has a different set of perfect items, but that's certainly not always the case.

 

[Galengwath]

By the way, it's great that you found what works best for you! That's really what B&B is all about.

 

[Mendel]

An amateur's enlightenment:

When I joined this forum, I was looking for an easy and ready-made solution - let me find the BEST razor, the BEST soap/cream, the BEST brush (didn't care much for AS). I used to hate reading when members would post YMMV...Oh no I do not want to go through all the rigmalore of trying and finding what works best for me. Just show me what works for most and I will be set. Life will be so easy then and I can shave HAPPILY FOREVER ..Yipee...
Alas, how much farther this thinking (or WISHING) is from the truth.

My face was irritated over two days of using this very popular and pricey razor, very popular soap and very popular brush (except cheaper). Shaves were close but the rest of the day was not fun.

I wanted to skip shaving today, but then thought of using a combination that is not "very popular" and something I considered "lowly" and "mild". So I pulled out my cheap Omega boar (less than $10), cheap Omega soap (like $6) and Super Speed Flair tip (less than $10 and didn't look cool). Had such a smooth shave. That brush and soap combo is awesome. My face feels a lot better today.

Point I am trying to make is NOT that one set of products is better than the other. In fact quite the opposite. It is my coming to realization that it is YMMV. My goal now is to take my time with gear I have and find what works FOR ME and what does NOT instead of looking for the SHINY STAR everyone talks about.

YMMV baby...In fact that phrase is a little misleading in my mind. Shouldn't we call it YMWV (Your Mileage WILL Vary)?

Your insight is very well said. When I first started out, I was sampling, buying, and trying out many different products including razors, blades, soaps, creams, you name it, I tried it! Even if I made a mistake, I was comfortable knowing that I could sell, trade, or PIF stuff here on B&B that wasn't working for me. Like you said, after awhile, you will find those items that work best for you. And sometimes, your taste or preferences may change. For example, I used to love Personna Lab blades. I still do. But my preference has fairly recently changed to Gillette 7 o'clock black blades. Overall, the various shaving stuff I have now, I really enjoy.

 

[maxman]

You've hit the nail on the head. Find what works for you and go with it.
There is fun in the experimenting, but not at the expense of a good shave.

 

[Ducati Scotty]

You said it! Perhaps one thing we don't state often enough: have a backup. If things go wildly off track don't be afraid to go back to whatever it is you used to do to get an acceptable shave without too much effort and strife for the day. Cartridge, electric, whatever. If your shave makes your skin really irritated, razor burned, or sore, then skip shaving for a day and let it calm down. There's a fair amount of effort, experimentation, and learning that goes into learning wetshaving and finding out what works for you. Wetshaving can give you a better, closer, more enjoyable shave but that doesn't mean it's easy to learn. Don't be afraid to move slowly and drop back a step if it gets overwhelming.

Scott

 

[NCJack]

I was surprised when I first started on the YMMV posts: while some items and products were approved by a large majority, a decent number of folks would respond "NO, worst ever!" At first I thought it was just the same contrarians that I found on other groups, but it seems that faces and beards come in a pretty wide variety.

 

[penn1313]

I started this journey the same way you did, I wanted a good razor and brush and a cream to go with it. I just wanted an alternative to the carts. When the AD sets in, and shaving becomes more than a chore and turns into a hobby, one razor or cream or brush or aftershave isn't enough. Now I have many DE razors, five brushes and a few straights. Some work better than others but I use them all. I'm actually glad I didn't just stick with one of each because I enjoy varying mileage very much.

Penn

 

[Snuff-Belgium]

I often take a look at the stuff that seems popular on the forums and buy/loan stuff to try and have indeed found that it's not really my thing. I believe that's unavoidable but lucky we have the BST forum. Over time I've found what works for me and instead of a growing collection of shaving related stuff I now have a small collection of things that work extremely well for me. Use what you enjoy and enjoy what you use!

 

[Koss]

Higher prices does not always equal a better product for an individual. Some of my favorite shaving items are the cheapest.

 

[Elder Scrolls]

It's helpful to read other member's assessments and reviews but at the end of the day, we have to try it for ourselves to decide if it really works.