Thread: Broke a major rule!!!

I've used my straight without stropping for a few weeks now (forgot it at home over spring break), and I know that it does affect my shave a bit. It still feels fine, but I know that with each shave, it gets just a little bit less buttery. I think that as long as you strop the next time, you'll be fine.

I do wonder if it needs honing more often w/o stropping...

I was so excited when I got this Hawcroft & Sons from Alex (Philadelph) that I forgot to strop. I got the shave of my life from that razor. First it convinced me that Alex *knows* what shave ready means. Second it taught me that a razor can sit for a bit (in this case a few days) after stropping, and still give a perfect shave.

Unlike in Minnesota where every good idea is the law, most of these good ideas, such as stropping before a shave are recommendations for doing things which have proved to be of benefit over time.

It's entirely possible that if the blades on disposable razors could be stropped before each shave and touched up when needed, they wouldn't be all that disposable.

So, while stropping before each shave may not be an absolute necessity, we do it now because the old timers thought it efficacious and so it seems to continue to be of benefit.

Originally Posted by bpave777

I was so excited when I got this Hawcroft & Sons from Alex (Philadelph) that I forgot to strop. I got the shave of my life from that razor. First it convinced me that Alex *knows* what shave ready means. Second it taught me that a razor can sit for a bit (in this case a few days) after stropping, and still give a perfect shave.

I've always wondered whether stropping a day or two before the actual shave affects the quality of the shave.

I've also heard of people saying that when a newbie receives a freshly hone and stropped blade from a pro that they shouldn't strop it the first time. That led me to think that even if the razor spends a few days or weeks in the mail that it doesn't really affect the quality of the edge.

I wouldn't mind doing my stropping after my shave to get ready for the next one....