Thread: How often should I sharpen/hone my razor

I am extremely green to shaving with a straight razor. I just ordered my first razor and am waiting for it to show up on my doorstep. Besides stropping prior to every shave how often will I be needing to sharpen/hone the blade. Also if I decide to sharpen myself What is a decent stone/stones to use?

Welcome to SRP. I could answer here, but you will find a plethora of info here: Straight Razor Place Wiki - Straight Razor Place Wiki
Check it out. Let me know if I can clear anything up.

Hopefully your blade is coming shave ready ? If it is a good blade and shave ready you have a lot of time to decide many things. 1 How many razors will you own etc. If just a couple, think barbers hone. Be careful with that stropping and you should be able to go 6 months or more before even needing a touch up. Of course this all depends on you the razor and your stropping skills.

For choice of stones you will get a variety of answers. For touchups a Barbers hone as 10 Pups said. Personally I use an Edlis and a Swaty.

After emailing back and forth with Lynn from straight razor design, i purchased a Ralf Aust from him. Yes it come shave ready. I'm trying to get all my ducks in a row for maintaining my blade in good condition.

Well, if your on the phone with Lynn than just listen and remember :<0)

Hopefully it will be awhile before your blade needs a touchup.
Strop not only before a shave, but also after a shave as well. This helps keep the edge as dry as possible.
Don't keep your razor in the bathroom, or any other high-humidity environment.
Keep your strop taut and your strokes on it light.
Always flip on the spine when stropping.
I hear CrOx on a balsa strop helps refresh an edge, though I havent used one.

Originally Posted by Novinaj1

I am extremely green to shaving with a straight razor. I just ordered my first razor and am waiting for it to show up on my doorstep. Besides stropping prior to every shave how often will I be needing to sharpen/hone the blade. Also if I decide to sharpen myself What is a decent stone/stones to use?

Welcome to the most Informative, Helpful and Friendly site on the web!

First and foremost, using a straight has a Huge Learning Curve! Before even thinking about honing, you will find that learning how to 'properly' strop, shave and make lather will be enough for now! Honing will come soon enough!

Now to your question: "How often will I be needing to sharpen/hone the blade".

That question's answer will depend on how well you've learned the basics that I've pointed out! You could ruin an edge off of a Professional Honing the first time you attempt to strop! There again, if you are careful that edge may last quite awhile!

I started out before I'd found this wonderful site, so I had to teach myself Everything! I'd sent my uncles Genco out for honing from another site and when I got it back I received no instructions and no information about how it was honed!

I had been given a leather strop from a good friend and it had been his fathers, I was careful and I guess I got lucky as that edge and razor did well for me for about 3 months. I'd since found SRP and started buying beginners razors in the $25-$35 range instead of investing in honing. I also started sending my razors out for a professional hone. And I'm Damn Glad that I did as when I finally started honing I had a 'reference' as to how I was doing!

My counsel is to learn the basics and at least semi master them, then think about honing!

It's a long road but the trip is worth it!

There isn't much else to say. Welcome

As often as necessary, and as little as possible. It all comes down to the razor, your ability to strop....your prep, technique, etc. etc. etc. and most of all personal preference.

It varies by individual. Some take off and just seem to be born to it. Others work and work and finally it clicks and they're off. Others get discouraged and quit.

I know you're looking for general guidelines, but....it just depends on too many variables to really give an answer.

You'll see as you get started and read here on the forum that almost everything is to personal preference, and boy, can we be all over the place on that.

Razors edge... I like crisp, I like buttery smooth, I like, I like.

I guess what I'm saying is you'll find that answer to your question on your journey to shaving Nervana.

In general. Some will touch up on a hone, hones or maybe a barbers hone every 6 to 8 or 10 days. Others will go a month, 2 months or more and some claim years.

In the above posts are some good options, including a barber's hone which if used correctly can extend the life of an edge to almost indefinitely given good technique, prep and not damaging the edge on the faucet or dropping the razor.

For future reference and what you may want in the future, here's a good link.
What hone(s), paste(s), or spray(s) do I need? - Straight Razor Place Wiki

Welcome to the forum, and hope you have a long and fun experience here at SRP!!

Hope this helps some, but it's a hard question to answer with specificity!!

Best Regards,

Howard