Thread: When to strop?

In looking at the YouTube stuff on SR shaving, I thought that the rule was strop then shave. But I think that I've seen discussions here that favor stropping after you shave & something like letting the edge relax overnight before you use the razor again. So what's best and why?

I strop before and not after. I don't believe that "blade relax" stuff; never seen or experienced anything to convince me it's real. (At least I haven't yet...)

Most will say post-shave stropping cleans the blade edge of debris and hastens the drying.

I don't buy the "relax" theory either.

I strop before shaving, and then a few passes after to dry the edge to prevent rust.

I actually have observed the "relax" behavior, and have played with shaving after 24 hours without stropping, or with just straightening the edge with the ball of my thumb. It works, but just going ahead and stropping seems to work better.

What's best? Whatever gives you the best shave experience.

I strop 25 on fabric and 50 on leather before the shave to make sure the blade is aligned and 25 on fabric and 25 on leather after the shave to clean and dry the blade.

I tried the relaxing metal thing several times, but didn't notice any difference in the shave, so I don't worry about it.
YMMV

Originally Posted by criswilson10

What's best? Whatever gives you the best shave experience.

I strop 25 on fabric and 50 on leather before the shave to make sure the blade is aligned and 25 on fabric and 25 on leather after the shave to clean and dry the blade.







I tried the relaxing metal thing several times, but didn't notice any difference in the shave, so I don't worry about it.
YMMV

I strop twice too. Pretty much the same lap count.

I strop also before and after my shave.

I strop before to ensure the best edge possible and after to clean and dry. As long as you strop between shaves you should be fine. Never seen anything to prove the resting theory. It is pretty much concluded to be a wives tale

Stropping before and after cant hurt unless your stropping sucks, so why not , I firmly believe in a good clean edge will not rust or corrode, and let's face it at the microscopic level , skin , soap ,and hair can still be on your blade, so I do strop after the shave , wether it helps or not,, my razors shave for months without any trouble or a bunch of honing. Tc

I am far from an expert, but for me drying the razor well and only stropping before shaving seems to work well. However, you can't really over strop as mentioned above so I don't see both before and after shaving stropping damaging anything.