Thread: A question for you head shavers

Do you guys have to strop your razor mid-shave? I find I need to strop 2 or 3 times during my shaving process... My hair is quite thick and coarse so I was hoping to find out if i'm alone on this.

I start to get some tug and pull half way through my first pass and mid way though my third pass.

Originally Posted by fchan

Do you guys have to strop your razor mid-shave? I find I need to strop 2 or 3 times during my shaving process... My hair is quite thick and coarse so I was hoping to find out if i'm alone on this.

I start to get some tug and pull half way through my first pass and mid way though my third pass.

A head shave does take its toll on a straight razor edge

I don't really need a stropping during my two daily passes, but it sure does require a more frequent honing.

One little tip might be to try to utilize the entire part of your edge during the shave.
I find that there are plenty of areas up there that will allow for use of the tip, middle, and heel section of the blade.
This tends to allow me a sharp blade throughout the shave.

After the shave I will, if necessary, add a dozen or so laps on a pasted strop to get the razor back up to snuff.

Good luck

Thanks for the tip. I'll try to put more focus on using the heel and tip.. especially around the ears I think that makes a lot of sense.

I don't head shave as often as you. I typically shave once a week. I wonder if that makes a difference on the strain on the blade? I've also never honed a razor nor am I interested in learning how at this point... Is it good enough that I run about 20 or so laps on a CrOx pasted linen and another 20 on the leather each time?

I think a weeks worth of hair growth will definitely have an effect on how easily your razor shaves your head. Do you have a heavy ground blade or something more hollow?

Originally Posted by fchan

Thanks for the tip. I'll try to put more focus on using the heel and tip.. especially around the ears I think that makes a lot of sense.

I don't head shave as often as you. I typically shave once a week. I wonder if that makes a difference on the strain on the blade? I've also never honed a razor nor am I interested in learning how at this point... Is it good enough that I run about 20 or so laps on a CrOx pasted linen and another 20 on the leather each time?

I don't think that the length of the strains matter all that much. It doesn't for me anyway

20 laps on a CrO pasted strop sounds like a good plan when needed.
But do strop on linen and leather a bit more than it sounds that you are doing now.

I strop about 50 linen and 60 leather before each shave these days, and in addition I do 20/40 after each shave.

I've tried to shave mine several times, but my hair is so fine and thick that the razor stops shaving entirely about half way through every time I've tried. They've had to be rehoned. I finally just gave up on that idea and went back to the DE for my head. I usually use three blades to get the job done. I wish I could do it with the straight. It's just cooler.

Originally Posted by TwistedOak

I think a weeks worth of hair growth will definitely have an effect on how easily your razor shaves your head. Do you have a heavy ground blade or something more hollow?

Right now i'm using a Dovo Pearlex 6/8 full hollow. I have been toying with the idea that maybe a flat or 3/4 ground blade would hold up better? I'm relatively new to straights so maybe someone can correct me on that thought...

Originally Posted by Birnando

20 laps on a CrO pasted strop sounds like a good plan when needed.
But do strop on linen and leather a bit more than it sounds that you are doing now.

Thanks again for the tip. I'll be sure to make more runs on the leather side. I pasted my linen with the CrOx so really its just a CrOx strop followed up with leather. From what I gathered from reading the posts that should be fine but i'm always open to suggestion.

Originally Posted by maddafinga

I've tried to shave mine several times, but my hair is so fine and thick that the razor stops shaving entirely about half way through every time I've tried. They've had to be rehoned. I finally just gave up on that idea and went back to the DE for my head. I usually use three blades to get the job done. I wish I could do it with the straight. It's just cooler.

Yikes! Your hair must be crazy coarse!

I used to get slivers from my hair when shaving with an electric razor... My hair would literally pierce my skin That's part of the reason I went to wet shaving...

3 DE blades to clean up the dome? You must have steel wool growing out of your nugget. If I let my hair go for a whole week, I sometimes clipper it down before getting the straight razor after it. I suspect this minimizes wear and tear on my edges and a couple straight razor passes afterwards usually puts me in fine trim. A good stropping of 50 laps or so on either side of the strop normally puts the razor in good shape for the follow up face shave but I typically do not strop between passes on my dome.

It's not that my hair is coarse, it's actually pretty normal texture I think. It's that it's so thick. I have two or more hairs growing out of most follicles. It kills clippers at an alarming rate too.