Thread: linen/leather action.

which comes first just before shaving?

i am ready to rock in the morning. just got my new strop today. it is immaculate. i love the smell of new leather. lather and rosewater. i enjoy all of them, all of the time.

thanks in advance for the help.

Linen first, leather last as taught in the standard barber texts. But if you find finishing on the linen works better for you, then...


Scott

I left the linen side alone for several months cuz I was unsure how to use it. It seemed too coarse so I was afraid I would wreck the edge.

After I gained proficiency with honing and stropping I started experimenting with the linen. I think I like it now. I use it before stropping on the leather side. I quit using CrO (on paper mounted on glass) every night and instead just depend on the linen to shape the edge.

This has worked well for several days now, so I'm hoping I will be able to ride this wave for several weeks before needing anything else.

With most strops I use the linen first before proceeding to leather. On some of the Illinois strops, I do just the opposite. In fact I've even once seen a barber post he did the same.
Pretty much what seems to work for you. As long as your stropping technique isn't drastically wrong, it shouldn't hurt it either way. See which works best for you and go with it.

Have fun

John P.