Thread: How often to strop?

About 20 licks after the shave and 50-60 licks before the shave, always.

I read somewhere that it was bad to strop after shaving...but I can't remember what the reasons were.

Originally Posted by tumtatty

I read somewhere that it was bad to strop after shaving...but I can't remember what the reasons were.

You may have read it somewhere, but you will regret it if you do. Stropping after shaving does a number of things, among the most important is remove the micro-crud and moisture from the bevel. If you don't strop after a shave, you can expect your edges to last about 1/2 (or less) as long as a well stropped razor.

Strop after a shave and before a shave, end of discussion.

Originally Posted by tumtatty

I read somewhere that it was bad to strop after shaving...but I can't remember what the reasons were.

There's nothing wrong with stropping after a shave.

The linen surface is a bit harder and stiffer than the leather surface for stropping. If you're going to use linen, do that first and then the smooth leather. I always do at least 20-30 laps on linen, and then at least 50 laps on leather. You don't have to strop after the shave or even before it, but the blade should be stropped at some point between shaves to maintain the edge.

Originally Posted by tumtatty

I read somewhere that it was bad to strop after shaving...but I can't remember what the reasons were.

I did too, I dont remember where I read, but I remember I saw on youtube this man said not to strop after the shave, only stropping before the shave. I dont remember the reason why, and I also read about Dovo straight recommend to rest the razor for 24 - 48 hours before the next shave, For the best edge. but I think stropping on linen after shaving is a must to clean the moisturizer off the blade

I guess I'm in the minority here as I don't strop after I shave. All I do is rinse and wipe off the blade. Then hit the pivot area with compressed air to make sure it's dry. After that it is just a quick dip in alcohol and some oil. Haven't had a problem yet.

Everyone strops after they shave. It's impossible to avoid it, by definition. If someone strops before they shave, they are necessarily stropping after the last shave. There is no way to avoid it except by never stropping at all. If someone strops after they shave, they are also by definition stropping before their next shave. If someone strops before they shave and after they shave, they are essentially double stropping without reason because the stropping before the shave would be the same as stropping after the last shave. From a mathematical and logical point of view, there is no reason to strop before the shave if one stropped after the last shave because it has already essentially been done. Further, if one strops before the shave, then it is not true that he doesn't strop after the shave, because he has already done the shave and is now stropping after it.

Read the wiki thread Obie posted. Proper stropping technique will prepare and maintain your delicate edge. The key word is "proper". It does take some practice. Be patient and have fun.
Mike

Originally Posted by shooter74743

About 20 licks after the shave and 50-60 licks before the shave, always.

I second this wholeheartedly!