Thread: new razor is in danger

So with this razor do i definitely want to get the strop, or just learn to use it and get the strop later?

salazch,

Yes, get the strop...Even if its been professionally honed and is shave ready, you'll need to strop your razor before your second and subsequent shaves. Just go slow, turning the blade on its spine for 20-30 passes at first and you'll be ok. I started with 20-30 myself.

Later, after a few shaves and some practice with the strop you'll have the confidence to increase the number of passes on both the linen and the leather of your strop. Be patient. Don't try to replicate immediately what SRP members who have been str8 razor shaving much longer than you have. You'll get there eventually.

Now I do 50 passes on both the linen and the leather--and I've only been at this since Christmas of last year.

Take care...

Originally Posted by salazch

So with this razor do i definitely want to get the strop, or just learn to use it and get the strop later?

You definitely need a strop. Good luck.

I just got my razor and strop today. I'm just afraid to strop it because i'm afraid to harm this beautiful shave ready blade.

Like the ad says: Just do it.

As some others have said, you can practice with a butter knife and just take your time. Don't imitate the barbers you see on TV and in the movies. Go slow at first and speed will come later.

BTW, shave with it before stropping to see what a sharp, undamaged blade feels like on your face. If you do mess it up stropping you'll know right away, and some minor stropping problems can be stropped back out. If not it can be easily honed back into shape.

Just hang in there and the details will fall into place. It's a learning curve we've all been through, or in my case still going through.