Thread: How many times do you strop in a shave session?

Great job rlmnshvstr8!! Way to hang in there and switch it up to get the results you are chasing!

I usually have to strop before finishing both my face and head if I do two passes. I am sure that it could be my honing or stropping technique, but I have had one razor professionally sharpened and purchased a relatively expensive new ones that do not seem to be any sharper than the ones I sharpened. Actually I usually just use a second razor. Mine are still not a sharp as the Feather DE blades that I used prior.

Originally Posted by Euclid440

You have an edge quality issue, most probably caused by stropping with too much pressure or an incomplete shaving edge.

Just look at the edge straight down with magnification. Any shiny spots are where the bevels are no-longer meeting.

Depending on what you see, will determine if you need stropping, touch-up or full bevel re-set.

If you are having to strop in the middle of a shave, the edge was not shave ready when you started.

Steel quality also may be an issue, either a factory fault or rust on edge can be a problem . Stropping will smooth the cut more than create sharpness so some razors will perform better for ATG etc with a light stropping.

never during a SHAVE... a good sharp razor dont need that. there a guys they do that but thats only in there head that it must.

I respectfully disagree. I shave both my face and head. The hair on my chin and back of my head is particularly course. If doing two passes, I use two razors. Everyone has a different situation. I believe it is impossible to say that a razor will not get dull just because it does not on your face.

I have had at least five razors professionally honed and these fared no better.

It works for me.

I've found that the more experience you have the less you dull a razor, angle and pressure tend to wear a blade faster, I used to have to send a blade out after a couple of months , now it is more like a year , and my beard is as tough as any out there, plus I shave every day, so this could be an issue , not sure but I have never had to strop during a shave. Tc

Not to seem argumentative but I do see that some of you do not shave your head and have facial hair. There is no comparison. I am shaving the equivalent of a basketball.

I am the philosopher on the right.

Not unusual, it can take a while to master stropping, up to a year. No doubt your edges and shaves will be better a year from now.

Most use too much pressure and try to go too fast. It’s not the razor or the honing…

I do shave my head thru the summer months, when I worked out in west Texas and New Mexico during the summer I found that heat and a hard hat were a bit too much so off came the head hair, and as for the face hair, only on my days off , so ya I do know. Tc

I love straight razors but, I have not even remotely tried on my head - I use a DE for that for now until I perfect my technique! I am trying to get expert level on three different styles of razors simultaneously.