Thread: When to strop

I would like to know why it's better to strop right before shaving as opposed to the night before? Does it make a difference? The topic has come up in another thread and I figured it would be easier to get some responses starting a new one!

I have been stropping the night before so that I can take my time doing it right. Tony Miller explained to me that using a paddle strop is easier for a beginner but requires more passes. (I don't even own a regular strop yet) I am at a point now where my shaves are almost always perfect. (for a newbie) But if it's better stropping before hand maybe I will change things up a a bit?!?!?!?!?

Gabriel

I don't think it makes any difference. As long as you strop before you use the razor, whether that is 24 hours or 2 minutes before you shave, the blade is ready.

I think, once your comfortable with stropping, that you should do a test, and let us know.

To answer your question though, I've never noticed any difference but have heard from some pretty knowledgable guys that it does make a difference.

Originally Posted by AFDavis11

I think, once your comfortable with stropping, that you should do a test, and let us know.

To answer your question though, I've never noticed any difference but have heard from some pretty knowledgable guys that it does make a difference.

Really? That's interesting. Do you remember the issue or what was said? I didn't search the archives, but would be interested in hearing about it...

I assumed that it wouldn't make any difference because when you get a honed razor from Lynn or someone else here, you don't need to strop it before you shave. If a Lynn honed razor, that was stropped by him before he sends it to someone in the mail, would be ready to shave, wouldn't that imply that stropping the day before or right before the shave would not make any difference?

Your right it does imply that, until you review what people said about the shave that occured. I'll search for the mentioning of it...yet as I said, I've never noticed any difference. Then again, I've had shaves where I actually forgot to strop at all and didn't notice a difference.

I usually strop the night before. Sometimes I just strop all razors on the weekend and they deliver a great shave. I think the important issue is that they are stropped, not so much 2 minutes before/night before.

Well that settles it well enough for me then....but still no night time stropping... ;-)

I think this calls for a test!

I shall call it... the “Morningshow vs. Eveningshow”

Wish me luck…

(I am REALLY into this shaving thing now… when my girlfriend finds out what I am doing she may ring the “NERD ALERT” bell on me…. Oh well )

On the other hand, here is what the 1961 Barber text says :

I find that stropping right before I shave serves another purpose. Lather first, then strop and it gives just the right amount of time for the lather to do it's job. I then lather up a little more and shave.

Tony