Thread: Can razor performance drop THIS fast?

Asked a question on here last week - got lots of great answers, and to prove that no good deed goes unpunished, here's another:

A number of people suggested that I touch up the edge on my razor, which I did. The next morning when I shaved, the first pass was the best I'd ever had - the razor seemed wicked sharp. The second pass was good, as was the third, but not quite like that first one. Five days later, it feels like the razor is exactly back to where it was before I touched it up on the 8K stone. I would sooner believe that my stropping is somehow degrading the razor than I would believe that my beard is so hard on the edge that I can notice the difference just a day or two after sharpening. (My beard is heavy and coarse, however. And there was the little matter of that brilliant first pass!) What say you, oh wise ones? Thanks!

IMO you'll find that as you gain experience your technique, both stropping and shaving, will drastically improve and the time between honings will gradually get longer. What you're exoeriencing now is pretty normal. The best advice I can give you is if your razor needs a touchup do it. There is no point in suffering a dull edge just to eck out a few more shaves.

BTW - how many laps do you strop before shaving?

Either your beard/technique is really that harsh to an edge, or the the edge is rather fagile...

What kind of razor???

It is possible also that the razor was not honed properly and stropping on pastes mask that fact until after the first pass.

I strop 40 strokes total on linen, then 80-100 strokes total on leather. Thanks for the response!

My razor is a Solingen Bismark full hollow ground. Got it new about two months ago, and had it professionally honed to start with. Thanks for the reply!