Thread: Is linen necessary?

I have a classic shaving linen/horsehide I need to replace and am wondering if the linen side is necessary or could I go with just the horsehide. Any thoughts?

Rich

Always acknowledge a fault frankly. This will throw those in authority off their guard and give you an opportunity to commit more.” – Mark Twain

I never use linen, only a leather strop. Works just fine !!

I like the linen before the leather pre-shave and leather only after the shave. Here is an old post that may be instructive, particularly the fourth post by mparker762.

In shaving, there is very littel that is necessary, but much that may improve your shaves. Linen is one of those things.

What Jimmy and Holli said. Trust them, they know their business.

+1 to JimmyHAD - threads like that one and the 'Stropping is King' thread have helped my edges last much longer

IMHO linen isn't necesarry, but it really does help.

Yep, as the others said, not necessary but it really does seem to help!

I have the white chalk paste on my linen side and it works like a charm!

Thanks fellas. I was leaning toward keeping the linen and will do just that!

Rich

“Be respectful to your superiors, if you have any” – Mark Twain

Something interesting that I noticed in the barbers manuals that I've seen discussed that horsehide strops aren't good for barbers because it "doesn't have sufficient grain to draw out the edge of a razor or a sufficiently smooth service to put on a good edge." I just wonder if the linen was added to make up for the insufficiencies of horsehide. I don't know