Thread: Stropping after a shave?

A buddy told me that its sometimes recommended to do about 10 laps on linen and 15 on leather after finishing up a shave, before putting the razor back in the stand. I haven't seen anything on that here, really. Thoughts? Opinions? What would be the purpose of stropping a little after a shave? Would it hurt, help, or have no effect on the edge?

I am of the opinion that stropping after the shave will dry the edge and get it slightly "greased", thus preventing microrust.

But it's just an opinion, mind you, and others surely has tons to say about this matter!!

Best regards

Clas

I subscribe, for lack of any solid information, to the "fin" theory, that says the actual sharp portion of the blade gets bent during a shave, and straightens out about 24-48 hours later. Since it is so thin, that makes sense to me.It needs time to come back to normal, so it can be stropped and used again. It follows that if you strop the edge when it is bent, you might break some delicate edge metal off. More honing would be required. I have not seen actual microsopic photos of the razor edge
AFTER a shave. If some enterprising soul with a good LCD microscope could take some "before shaving" and "after shaving" photos of the bevel, it might clear up this question forever. Any takers with the right photo equipment out there?

Thank you.

I strop mine on linen about 15 laps for no other reason then to be sure I have cleaned off any soap and or water that cant be seen.

Just my 2 cents and the way I do it.

I would be interested in seeing more on Croakers thoughts etc.

I also strop after every shave. Old habit. No special reason. I let the razor dry then strop and put it up.

Lynn

I’m along the same thought process of Croaker; Right after a shave I make sure the blade is good and dry and I safely leave it open to “cure” overnight. It’s most likely fine to strop right after shaving, but I like the idea of letting the razor “breath” for a day and then stropping right before a shave…..

I strop 6 stokes or so on my arm to make sure the edge is dry and give it a little 'skin-oil'.

We've got the strop to help dry the edge camp, the I've always done it that way camp, and the wait to strop until the plastic deformation fins have had a chance to normalize camp. There may be other camps out there, but I can't see the fires from here. I have the sneaking suspicion that so long as you physically strop correctly, you can probably do it whenever you want and probably for as long as you want to flap your arm and it's fine, just fine.

I strop 10-20 on linen to clean and de-soap and 15-30 on leather afterward.

I am of the "let the strop dressing grease the edge and prevent rust" camp, that plastic deformation normalizing idea just doesn't sit right with me.

I strop before and after a shave.

I don't know why, but I love stropping and the cool sound it makes so I just do it more than I may need to!