Strop before or after shower?

I have noticed that when I strop after the shower rather than before, because of the steamy bathroom the draw on the strop seems a little grippier (Illinois Russian Leather). I assume this is the moisture collecting on the leather, or raising the grain. Is it a good thing, bad thing, or no functional difference besides feel? :thinking:

Personally, I wouldn't store the strop in the bathroom. I did with my first strop, and (I believe) the changes in humidity caused the strop to cup. At the moment, I hang my strop on the outside doorknob to my bathroom. The razors I plan to shave with also sit just outside the bathroom to avoid getting the condensation on them. It's my stropping/staging/photography area, so having all that stuff in one place works for me.

I have been storing the strop in a closet clipped to a hanger, but I bring it into the bathroom when I shower. This is mainly so my gf and roommate don't accidentally do something to it. I will try and find a better solution somewhere else then.

I don't know if this will help or not, but I do all of my stropping the night before, completely taking bringing the strop into the bathroom out of the equation. I also find that stropping at night brings me to a nice relaxed, zen state before bed.

I'm aware I should store my strop somewhere other than the humid climate of a bathroom, but I don't. It's right there hanging on the towel rack. I always strop before the shower, because as you've stated the draw is off and the strop is slick. This may make some cringe, but I blow dry my strop if it gets shower steam on it and I need to strop. I don't recommend my methods, but they work well for me.

I've been storing mine in the bathroom on the towel rack as well. I think I may change that after reading this post!

But I always strop BEFORE I take a shower, simply because I like to go right from the shower and into the shave! Since stropping takes me a few minutes to do, I don't want to waste that time and have my face start to dry out from the shower. So I typically hop out of the shower and begin making the lather to apply for shaving.

I store mine in the BR too. I always strop before showering, but umm, I always shave before showering. I'm a messy face latherer..:(

I keep my strop in the bathroom, but it doesn't get humid in there so I'm not worried about that. As far as stropping goes I do it after I shower, giving time for the pre-shave cream or oil to soak in.

I lather up and then strop. It gives the lather a chance to work on the whiskers.

My strop seems to have gotten a little stiff after being in the bathroom. Its in a nice dry place now, but how can I get it back like new? I heard that you can use neatsfoot oil? How do you even apply it?

If oiling a baseball glove is like oiling a strop, then I would wrap a clean rag around two fingers and pour a small amount of neatsfoot oil onto the rag. Then, just work it into the leather a little bit at a time. I little bit of oil goes a long way, and remember that you can always add more!

Personally, I store my strop in my closet and strop before the shower. For some reason it puts me in the shaving mindset while I'm in the shower lol. Also, the dorm bathrooms are tiny with little to no ventilation, and walking out of there looks like you're just getting off a spaceship with how much steam there is.

Peace,
Conor

I put a couple DROPS on my fingers and just work it in and spread it out. A couple DROPS goes a long way.

For applying oil I place 2 drops on the heel of my palm then smear it around between my hands and rub first one, then the other on the BACK of the strop.

For when:
I like to strop when the lather is soaking, but I also like to rub down a strop before I use it and this is best before a shower since the natural oils are still on my hands. I have found a compromise. I strop after I shower by having the wife rub down my strop or rubbing my hand on the back of her neck.