Thread: What will happen if you don't strop before a shave.

I've had several occasions in my shaving career that I came out the shower, started diving into my shave and half way or at the end suddenly realized I had completely forgotten to strop my razor. I've never had anything real bad happen. If anything I would say those shaves were maybe a tad less smooth. But I've never had a bad shave either by forgetting to strop.

This is all totally subjective here and entirely depends on the grind, type of steel, etc., but I don't see how missing one shave without stropping would effect the shave all that much.

That said, I am taking Lynn's "challenge" to strop only on denim pre-shave for tomorrow's go 'round. I'll let you know how it goes.

Don't believe these guys. The fact is if you don't strop before shaving a lightening bolt will come down from the sky and strike you dead. That's why you see many members here seemingly just disappear.

Of course if your razor was just honed by a real honemeister you get a pass. The guys who have gotten away with it? Well the man upstairs was probably too busy at the time but he saw it.

I usually strop every 3rd shave or so. The lightning picks up whenever I don't do it though.

Ladies and gentlemen,

I strop before every shave, usually using a ratio of 30 on canvas, 60 on leather, or 25 to 50, or 25 to 75. The Wackers receive more laps, usually a 50 to 100 ratio.

The only time I don't strop is for the first shave after my razor has returned from Lynn's honing.

Besides, stropping is part of my straight razor ritual. Shaving without it somehow feels unnatural to me.

I mean, dear friends, what would chili be without cumin and chili powder?

Regards,

Obie

Originally Posted by 15straightrazor

So I was just curious what may happen without stropping for 1 shave.

A cow somewhere will thank you.

If you dont strop before a shave, your razor will commit suicide...

Easy answer. Unless your razor has seen a hone very recently your shave will be crap. And even then I wouldn't recommend it because you will not get te smoothness you've come to expect.

I've shaved with blades I thought were dead blunt, only to bring it back to life with a solid stropping and got a wonderful shave. That's the power of stropping.

I think most will agree, that they strop after applying shave cream. It just gives the cream/soap more time on your beard. So, I don't see the problem. Then again, I just had back surgery and I'm on really strong drugs...LOL....I apply the shave cream, then strop.....Unless you just like having the blade ready and waiting. Once your out of the shower, and you dry off, apply your pre shave oil, lather up, then strop...That's another way you go...It gives the soap/cream that much more time to absorb into your beard....

It' not a problem as long as you give your face 25 passes WTG and 40 passes XTG, being careful not to raise the spine. Oh, and remember to lead with the spine. Seriously, if the edge was good and sharp to begin with, in this case, I'd say missing one stropping session won't mean diddly.