Thread: how soon is too soon to strop?

I'm not sure where this should go, but...

I've been shaving at night before bed because I can get all the time I need to prep/strop/shave without having to rush. That's fine, but I would LOVE to shave in the morning and actually feel the effects of a great shave all day, rather than sleep through the first 8 good hours of it!

So, how soon is too soon to strop? I feel that I can get up and get a good shave in if I were to strop the night before (I always do 50 each on the webbing and latigo) and then wake up and get the shave going the next morning.

Any thoughts?

Many thanks,

Julian

Stropping should take no more than about a minute of your time.

If you want to give it a real careful stropping the night before, then great. But I'd give it a few quick laps right before too, because.....well....because I like to strop, OK? So sue me!

Originally Posted by Seraphim

Stropping should take no more than about a minute of your time.

If you want to give it a real careful stropping the night before, then great. But I'd give it a few quick laps right before too, because.....well....because I like to strop, OK? So sue me!

That's a good point! I'm a really careful stropper and I find it does take some time, but it makes such a difference to have done a good job. My face always knows when I've gone the distance without cutting corners.

Maybe I'll split the difference so I can do both!

Thanks!

Julian

i think 50 x50 is too aggressive stropping. stropping shouldn't take more then a minute approximately 15x25 combination. hope this helps.

Thanks for all the input! I'll try fewer laps in combo and see what comes...the only reason I brought this up was that for the first time in a few months I shaved on a morning where there was more time and was amazed at how long through the workday the BBS lasted...fantastic!

Have a great night, all!

Julian

I wouldn't think your razor would need any re-stropping in the morning if you strop the night before. I am letting the lather soften my beard while I strop.

Rich

"There is no native criminal class except Congress,"- Mark Twain

It's not a problem to strop the night before. And I would respectfully disagree a little with "hi bud gl" and do not agree that stropping should only take 1 minute. It might be true that a very experienced person can strop in 1 minute, but many people roll edges on razors trying to strop too fast.

It's much better to do it slow, steady, and consistent and different razors take different amount of strokes on the strop before they're ready to shave. There's no hard and fast rule about how many laps on the strop. It depends on the razor and strop.

When you understand each of your razors and what it takes to get them ready, then you can guage how much time you need for all the steps.

Thanks for the advice! I've decided just getting up earlier and doing it well is it's own great reward...I hate to rush! I will remain a morning stropper!

Have a great day!

Julian

Originally Posted by Seraphim

Stropping should take no more than about a minute of your time.

A minute?! It takes me much longer than that, I get too nervous when I go too fast. I also do 60/40/40 on Linen/Latigo/Horsehide

Julian, I would do some serious stropping the night before, and then just a few pre-shave strokes in the morning. Let us know how it goes!

EDIT: Forgot to read to the bottom of the thread nevermind

Personally, I agree that stropping shouldn't be more than a quick job before each shave, say for a minute or so. If a blade needs heavy stropping, I tend to think it's time to hone it.