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

I was wondering that since us headshavers have a lot more to take off before we are done with our shave, and many even have separate blades for our heads, but if you shave with a str8, how many times and when do you strop during the shave before you call it done. Now I understand that a big factor is the edge quality, but I was wondering on average how many times you strop. For me I normally strop 3 times during the shave. The pre-shave stroping, once after I finish my face and before starting on my head, and then once more before going ATG on my head. I may strop one time more or less depending on how the edge is performing. So how about yall?

My edges are very keen. No stropping required during my shaves.

If I had to strop with any blades during a shave,I would go back to carts

never during a SHAVE

Before and after, never necessary in the midst of the shave.

I have only gone at my scalp once with my Straight, and that was unintentional (wanted to try a quick pass, and it just expanded from there). I am not as experienced as some (all), but I would think that needing to strop during the shave would indicate a VERY poor edge on your razor. I strop mine about 20 passes after clean up. Between shaves I will occasionally bring it out to practice stropping (50-100 passes), and then , before a shave, I will go 30-50 passes to prepare the blade for work. Once I get my stropping technique down, I will likely eliminate the practice sessions.

Depends on the razor for me. With my known pro edge I strop before and after. With a couple others that need touched up I may strop before atg. Lately if I use a straight on my head I've switched to using a feather. No strop required.

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

If I had to strop with any blades during a shave,I would go back to carts

As another Curmudgeon...I agree with

I strop my straigth razors on strop only before and after shave. If you need seriously stropping in the shaving may be the razor isn't so shave ready
BUT between the first and second pass i usually wash razor and strop it on my hand's palm(4/5 times)...in this way i clean the edge from soap and water.

Well, though I wish the answer to my question was something else, at least it puts me on the RIGHT path and not allow me to think wrongly. That will be my goal for now on is to get through the face and head shave without stropping again. Thanks