Thread: Unstropped Refreshed Open Razor Report

Well, I've finally done it. I "refreshed" (resharpened) a nice American razor (been using it almost entirely since the calender year) and used it for a shave without finishing it on a strop.

I have a little acne that is starting up on the bearded part of my face that is difficult to shave, but it doesn't seem to be tender or anything (redness of acne flare ups conceal redness of razor burn). I was delighted to see that there were no spots of blood from the shave after blotting myself dry for the witch hazel follow-up. A good number of spots from yesterday's shave, about a week into a high-quality DE blade (possibly 5 shaves with each side). Despite the bumpiness from unkind previous day's shave I'd have to say shaving off a nice, high-grit finishing hone doesn't seem too bad. Of course I stropped it plenty after the shave, the dual-purpose of course to dry the edge before applying some mineral oil.

I don't think this post belongs in the honing section, but I wouldn't mind if it was moved there.

Anyone else with thoughts or experiences shaving straight off the hones?

I know I've read posts where people mentioned doing it. Even recommended doing it to assess their honing/razor. I have never tried it. The celebrated 1961 barber manual tells the students never to shave a customer without stropping first. I figure it is a smoothness issue so I'll stick with that and let you brave men explore the unknown reaches of the shaving frontier.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

I figure it is a smoothness issue so I'll stick with that and let you brave men explore the unknown reaches of the shaving frontier.

Yes, I'm quite the adventurer. Just look in Wikipedia's kashrut laws regarding shaving of beards... I did find it a bit strange, a good DE blade taken beyond good shaving compared to an unstropped open razor. My face is still comfy.

There are many things we do in the Straight Universe that are optional or you can get away with omitting. Stropping is one of the few that should be considered mandatory. Sure in a pinch you can do without it however you should strive to strop before shaving as a permanent fixture to your routine. Your face will thank you for it.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

however you should strive to strop before shaving as a permanent fixture to your routine. Your face will thank you for it.

Lol - agreed. Continue without stropping and your face will definitely NOT thank you for it!

I've experimented with finish honing --> not stropping --> shaving with several natural finishers. It did not go well for me. Harsh shaves that became closer and more comfortable with stropping for the next shave.

I always test right of the hone on a regular basis to see where the edge is at, but before the actual shave I do strop on leather only.

Originally Posted by AxelH

Well, I've finally done it. I "refreshed" (resharpened) a nice American razor
...snip...

Anyone else with thoughts or experiences shaving straight off the hones?

My experience is that the strop can so improve the shave that I never
skip the strop. When testing hones I try to strop as consistently as
I can so the strop is a constant. However if you can shave with out the
strop you are eliminating a variable. Having said that I consider the job
of hones as making the edge strop ready and not shave ready.



As long as you are testing and comparing and it works for you go for it.

Originally Posted by niftyshaving

My experience is that the strop can so improve the shave that I never
skip the strop. When testing hones I try to strop as consistently as
I can so the strop is a constant. However if you can shave with out the
strop you are eliminating a variable. Having said that I consider the job
of hones as making the edge strop ready and not shave ready.



As long as you are testing and comparing and it works for you go for it.

Well, I'm glad for the feedback. It was never my intention to give up my stropping habit. I was just curious because I've read of others doing it. I recall a few newbies to the open razor scene who shaved well off the hones but had quickly deteriorating edges, possibly due to bad stropping. I was pretty much a natural at honing, it was the stropping that was more challenging (and with only paddle strops). My finisher is a Spyderco Ultra-Fine, should have mentioned that...

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

There are many things we do in the Straight Universe that are optional or you can get away with omitting. Stropping is one of the few that should be considered mandatory. Sure in a pinch you can do without it however you should strive to strop before shaving as a permanent fixture to your routine. Your face will thank you for it.

Yep, I definitely understand and appreciate the importance in stropping. I've taken to hydrating my facial hair in a lazier manner, don't like standing in front of a bathroom mirror, now I watch the news/weather or a movie while leaving a tepid wet cloth on my face, usually about 10 minutes with one or two rewettings. But with stropping there are no short cuts. If I skimp on the stropping I can usually tell within a shave or two that the edge isn't quite "there", serviceable for WTG and very mild XTGish but not much more. I would rather keep the edge well maintained than have to hone it sooner, especially if I haven't taken a razor to the refreshing stage yet (I like to remain loyal to a razor and see how long it lasts before a touchup). My face didn't object to that one shave straight from the hone, and I may have "gotten away" with that one.

Originally Posted by AxelH

Well, I'm glad for the feedback. It was never my intention to give up my stropping habit. I was just curious
.....snip....
My finisher is a Spyderco Ultra-Fine, should have mentioned that...

Yep, I definitely understand and appreciate the importance in stropping. I've taken to hydrating my facial hair in a lazier manner,

When experimenting anything goes. It is about fun and learning.
One thing I have learned is that it pays to change only one thing
at a time and to evaluate that change over three days.

On hydrating the whiskers I have found that too little OR too much
is not satisfactory. Too much soak time and I do not get a close shave
and I often get irritation. Too little soak time and my whiskers are
like wire. At one point I resorted to a little sand filled egg timer.
I would splash water on my face and strop the razor and also
make a deluxe lather. When most of the sand had run out (about 2 min)
I would lather up and test shave. If my whiskers are not ready I would
relather and check my coffee or something. Like you looking in the mirror is not
high on my morning activity list.

Hidden in your reply is something I have often said. Knowing what dull is
is often more important than knowing what sharp is. This is because it
can establish better timing for refreshing the edge. For me a razor
is a little bit like a banana. As it ripens it starts out hard but with
the development of small dark spots gets sweet. Shortly after
that it goes past sweet and gets mushy and nasty. A razor shaves
best for me in this sweet spot....

A Spyderco Ultra-Fine as a finisher is uncommon but once worn in
it can be a slow quality finishing hone. For me my Spyderco UF needed
to be worried in with a chunk of mild steel. In other words it it only
improves with time.

Have fun.