Thread: From beginner's struggle to intermediate enlightenment.

Thanks for the good info. Although I have just started shaving with a straight, I know where you're coming from. I roll my wrist when i strop, and i thought it was fine too. My fingers are short so it is hard for me to roll the razor with just my fingers. I will learn from your experience and double my efforts to learn the proper way of stropping.

Originally Posted by Disburden

I kept turning my wrist and everyone here says NEVER turn your wrist. I didn't care though, it didn't seem to hurt and I wasn't cutting the strop. This was wrong and I was probably dulling my razors and not even knowing it. If you're turning your wrist when you strop, keep telling yourself not to, your hand should be face the floor (palm down) at all times and your wrist shouldn't move, only your fingers.

I understand that you're not meant to turn the wrist, but I think there needs to be a certain wrist action. Do you keep the wrist completely rigid while stropping?

I had my razor sharpened by SRD, I strop but don't roll my wrist. I watch my angles and try to keep an eye on my technique. I let my face rest over the weekend and do a very good pre-shave prep. Yesterday it felt like my skin was getting pulled off with the whiskers. I am either royally screwing up the stropping or my technique really sucks. Either way............
I have shed blood but continue to try to get a decent shave. We'll see how long this continues. There may be some relatively new razors up for sale soon!!!

Originally Posted by Sigurd Aaset

I understand that you're not meant to turn the wrist, but I think there needs to be a certain wrist action. Do you keep the wrist completely rigid while stropping?

I've been trying to limit my wrist turning as much as possible lately, it's hard to do, but I like the results on the edge better without wrist movement. The coin on the back of the hand is a barber's training tool to help new barbers not turn their wrists, so there must be something to it.

Originally Posted by Mvcrash

I had my razor sharpened by SRD, I strop but don't roll my wrist. I watch my angles and try to keep an eye on my technique. I let my face rest over the weekend and do a very good pre-shave prep. Yesterday it felt like my skin was getting pulled off with the whiskers. I am either royally screwing up the stropping or my technique really sucks. Either way............
I have shed blood but continue to try to get a decent shave. We'll see how long this continues. There may be some relatively new razors up for sale soon!!!

It's going to take a while to finally get good results without pulling your face. It's a lot to do with technique and stropping. Once you get those two down everything else is pretty easy. Like I said, it took me a few months to hit the strides where my shaves improved dramatically.

Originally Posted by thecornerbooth

Thanks for the good info. Although I have just started shaving with a straight, I know where you're coming from. I roll my wrist when i strop, and i thought it was fine too. My fingers are short so it is hard for me to roll the razor with just my fingers. I will learn from your experience and double my efforts to learn the proper way of stropping.

Try hanging the strop from different heights too! This can help you get the hand movements down easier.

Originally Posted by Disburden

It's going to take a while to finally get good results without pulling your face. It's a lot to do with technique and stropping. Once you get those two down everything else is pretty easy. Like I said, it took me a few months to hit the strides where my shaves improved dramatically.

Originally Posted by Disburden

Try hanging the strop from different heights too! This can help you get the hand movements down easier.

Thanks for advice, I am trying to stick with this, but it is not getting any easier and to be honest, it hurts!!

An excellent and insightful post Mr. Disburden sir, thank you. You make some excellent points.

I have been str8 shaving for just over a year and I just now feel that I have stepped over into the lower levels of the intermediate ranks.

And that's only because my hand doesn't shake when I touch blade to face...at least not too much.

Again, excellent post.

Originally Posted by Mvcrash

Thanks for advice, I am trying to stick with this, but it is not getting any easier and to be honest, it hurts!!

Take your time when you're practicing, you don't need speed to strop well (yet). You'll still get good results with a slower pace.

I get a stiffness in my fingers when I make more than 40 laps. I am sure this passes over time just like when I taught myself guitar and bass 15 years ago.