Thread: Stropping Observation

Yesterday I posted the question, does it make a difference if you strop before or after shaving. Typically I only strop after shaving and it was pointed out to me that people will strop both before and after.

So this morning I decided to strop before shaving, having stropped the razor after shaving yesterday.

The result from my informal little test: this mornings shave was definately more comfortable. So it would seem that stropping both before and after is the way to go.

At least for my face anyway.

All the best,
~Robert

I'd say somewhat dependent on where razors are stored, before and after shave stropping works best for EVERYONE'S faces. Micro-corrosion really happens and happens quickly.

I used to dry and Sterol my razors which worked for corrosion prevention when I stored them in the bathroom medicine cabinet. I have since stored my razors out of the bathroom and have no need for any oil application; just pre and post shave stropping.

Chris L

There is one other variable in this mix.... if you stropped 25 laps before putting the razor away and then 25 laps before you shave and it's better than just stropping the 25 laps after, perhaps you really needed 50 laps in the first place.

Personally, I wipe clean, dry over one of out heating vents in the house (furnace fan runs 24/7) and just put the razor away, I'll strop 50 laps before my shave on my Illinois 827 and if the edge is starting to get slightly dull, I'll add another 50 on my TM Latigo, just to smooth it a bit more. If that's not enough, I"ll drop to a CrO2 pasted paddle strop, then the 827 etc. Of course it's different for everybody, but I've tried the stropping after a shave and it's useful for drying the edge but as I use the air vent, I don't bother and I've never noticed any difference as long as the total number of stropping laps between shaves are the same.

Regards

Christian

Generally the stropping that really pays off in the shave is the stropping before the shave. Some folks strop after the shave to remove any moisture that may be left after wiping clean. I am on the paranoid side. I wipe the blade clean, dry it slightly with a hair dryer, and strop it about 10-15 times (generally lose count). I always strop 50-60 laps before shaving.