Thread: How long does the blade's sharpness last after honing?

I am new to straights and have migrated over from DE's. To my surprise I have had very good results. I'm using a Theirs Issard, which I had honed before using. It definitely passed the hanging hair test, but on my second shave it no longer seemed as sharp. I know my beard is course, but not that course. Obviously, if anything, it is my stropping. I can't tell if I rolled the edge or not. It looks and feels smooth, but no longer will pass the hanging hair test. I'm questioning whether that is normal after a few shaves or is my stropping damaging the blade or it is it not effective. I'm hoping for some clarification. I've completed my fourth shave, and although it was very good I'm noticing it doesn't seem as sharp.

Unless you have a super heavy beard it's probably the stropping. Practice with a dull razor shaped object like a plain butter knife for awhile to get some feel for it, you won't damage the edge or the strop that way

The answer is "it depends" but it does seem that the edge lasts for shorter duration with new users than with the experienced who can maintain & use the razor carefully.

If you're not sure of your stropping a few hours prior practice may have saved you grief. Rust & shaving at too high an angle can also influence edge longevity. Some makes are softer steel & will not hold an edge a long time. The TI should be fine in that department.

Wellcome to SRP,Is probebly your stropping that is killing your edge,a heavy beard has nothing to do with how long an edge should last.
I have a very heavy beard and go 3 mos before a minor touchup,keep at it.

Thanks for you replies, I appreciate your insight. I believe it must be my stropping, but should I be able to tell if I rolled the edge? I don't detect any evidence of that. I suspect I'm just doing a poor job. I'll keep watching my blade angle. I think I've kept it pretty shallow and I've had great results. The shave's have been close and very comfortable. My last shave was great too, but I did notice more irritation.

Being that your last shave was "great", I would start with stropping the bejewels out of it and see how the next shave goes. I'm talking alot of quality laps... say bout 100 or more, never hurts. Never worry about speed. just get in the zone with slow laps, concentrate on wrist steadiness and flip.

Then report back on this thread and we'll get to next.

Welcome, btw. Fine forum, fine folk.

Strop the heck out of it. If that doesn't fix it, then go back to high grit hone for a couple of passes and strop again.
If you have rolled the edge, your face will tell you very quickly - it's quite painful and blood will be shed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZYFsOP7rBc

That link should help a lot.

Had a similar experience. It's was my stropping. I resisted the urge to want to over correct and stuck to my guns that as my stropping got better so would the edge. I also had been using a small 2 " strop and decided to tip the scale in my favor by picking up a 3" Roo strop. It was easier for me to handle as a "big framed tall guy" and reduced strop complexity by eliminating having to cross the strop to cover the entire blade. It simply felt like better equipment and frankly was. The edge came back as my stropping skills improved. Don't think anything was wrong with my other strop but eliminating a variable in my case simplified the process.

Well, today I stropped the heck out of it and it made all the difference in the world. It was as sharp as day one. Thanks again for all your replies.