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My buddy texted me today asking if I wanted to come hang out so I had to get a shower and shave and everything so I got ready and right before I was about to get out of the shower, and I realized I hadn't stropped my razor, so I had to run up and strop it after my shower. So I was just curious what may happen without stropping for 1 shave.
My first shave I didnt strop before hand, since I was afraid I would spoil the edge, it shaved fine but cant really say how comfortable the shave will be since all my shaves at that point were pretty uncomfortable. Today I had my best shave yet and it was also the best day ive had on the strop, up till now, might of just been a coincidence but for the time it takes to strop even if you have to run and get it, why not strop. Rushing doesnt seem to be what Str8 shaving is about at all, imo.
Nothing bad.... just may not be as sharp as it might be.
If you are that short of time very often keep a double edge
or toss away handy.
The one thing that is hard to compromise on is beard prep (lathering)
and drying the blade before putting it up (that is two -- woops).
your first shave was probably from a shave ready razor which means you probably didn't want to strop it anyways.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jasongreat
Back to the original question...
I'm sure someone here has done test and can tell you exactly what effect not stropping will have on your shave (I have never shaved without stropping so I don't know).
I can tell you this, when someone new shows up here and says they are getting an uncomfortable shave, one of the first questions the experts will ask is; "tell me about your pre shave prep".
There may be a clue in that question for you.
Quote:
Originally Posted by 15straightrazor
The mattress police inform on you, to the strop police, and they come and arrest your non-stropping lazy butt :):) And you are sentenced to 25 linen and 50 leather...
Are the mattress police the guys that arrest you if you take the tags off the mattress?Quote:
Originally Posted by gssixgun
Yes the Mattress police hang with the Pillow Patrol and the MSRP Squad :)
Just try and see for yourself - it won't hurt the razor, but your face will let you know what difference the stropping makes for you and that razor
I'm going to call your bluff. I recently went 17 (one-pass) shaves without stropping and nobody arrested me. That was punishment enoughQuote:
Originally Posted by gssixgun
Quote:
Originally Posted by gssixgun
Is that front or back?
I'm a firm believer in trying stuff for yourself if you're curious about it. I've never tried shaving without stropping first because I'm also a firm believer in following the instructions of those who've been down the road before me but if I was curious about it I would try it. Even though the barber manual said to go to leather only after honing I found that linen/leather was better. I tried their way and found my way was better for me... but I tried their way first. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by hoglahoo
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
A cow somewhere will thank you.Quote:
Originally Posted by 15straightrazor
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.