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Newb here. I just read that you should not strop your razor for twenty four to forty eight hours after shaving with it to let the fin straighten out. I am wondering what everybodies thoughts are on this. It said you will damage the edge if you don't let it rest. I also read that some people strop during the shave. All this is really confusing. Help!
I have read that about the fin before and am not sure if it is true or not. What I did find though that I reduced the time between shaving from daily to every 2nd or 3rd day. I have found that the regrowth is slower and is finer (and therefore wife approved). It is also easier on the face resting between shaves.
I only strop before each shave. If you did it between shaves you would have to wipe off the razor then strop. Meanwhile the lather and skin are drying out. Just stick to doing it once before I reckon.
I've paid no mind to this. At my age I may have trouble remembering which razor I used so I strop in all stages right after shaving so any of my
razors are good to go. If there is some difference I cannot tell.
Blade resting is poppy****, plain and simple.Quote:
Originally Posted by Danricgro
Hi,
This 'resting' business is a myth; I have examined carbon steel and stainless blades under powers up to 500 x, and could see no difference in the edge from the time of the end of the shave to one (1) week later. These blades were not stropped after the initial shave (and were then left unused) to allow full reign to any 'mysterious effects' :)
It may be that 500x was not enough to see any effect, but what I would say is that my daily razors (Dovo EnVogue stainless), which have seen 18 months of continuous use, do not seem to be any worse for wear for being stropped before and after my shave !
Have fun !
Best regards
Russ
It's been speculated that the 'resting blade' myth was concocted as a way to get consumers to buy more than one razor. Gillette uses this basic idea in it's adverts. In one commercial, they vaunt that their razor carts last longer than the competition, but in another commercial they urge you to replace their blades often.
It's pure hogwash. Waaaaay back when, this was a theory. Carbon steels do NOT need any rest, just a good stropping after use to clean the micro-crud off the edge before you put it away for the next shave.Quote:
Originally Posted by Danricgro
I used one razor daily for several months when I first started with no ill effects to the blade.
I agree with Shooter, a good stropping (15 fabric and 30 leather or something) before you stow the razor should keep things just fine.
Like others have said, the need to rest the blade is a myth. But having said that, don't let your wife know this. It is a great excuse to buy more razors.
I find that swishing my blades in strong coffee wakes up the edge even if it hasn't rested. I think this practice gave Gillette the idea for the vibrating razor.
regards &c
LG Roy
Resting the blade will allow the edge to realign, the memory properties of carbon and stainless steels are well established. But, there is no need to do this if you strop after use (i.e. there will be no harm from not letting the blade rest), and the benefits, if any are slight. I do not strop after use, and my blades do get to rest for about a week between uses. It is true that I can skip stropping for one cycle if pressed, but I really do not do this. I do sometimes leave my strop at home for short trips, but even then, I do a few passes on the heal of my hand.
Urban Legend................:)
Sometimes I use the same razor for several days in a row. I always figured it to be rubbish, as barbers used to shave many people in a single day. They could not have used a different razor for each customer I'm sure, although I am aware some customers had their own razors. 7 day sets were a sign of wealth back in the day and the main benefit is it reduces need to hone.
Ironically, a major source for this idea is the Dovo website! They perpetuate the need for the steel to "rest." I'll hunt a link and post it, just for fun.
I also stropped my straight razors after every shave and they worked very well on all the next consecutive shaves. I also used one for 30 straight days and got all BBS shaves from it.
"Resting the razor" - Sounds like something the marketing departments came up with.
Pabster
Here's one quote I found that connects this advice to Dovo, though it isn't direct. Note I don't agree with this view, but I do enjoy tracking down the sources of ideas that float around:
"The strop should be used prior to shaving, and never- under any circumstance- after shaving. This is because after shaving the delicate cutting edge is kind of bent (not visible to the naked eye), and you would break tiny metal pieces out of the cutting edge. This would consequently lead to cuts in the skin. Many refer to this condition as a burr from misaligned micro-separations that occur when the razor is used, but will go back into position and become fine again after approx. 24 to 30 hours. Stropping just before use will further align the blade edge and put it in shave ready condition. In order to get the best daily shave with a straight razor DOVO even suggests an individual even consider having at least two straight razors on hand to fully allow time for the blade edge to rest between shaves for optimal performance."
Here's the link
I've used a lot of scary-sharp leatherworking tools that I've stropped during use so I was skeptical of the admonition to let the blade rest. But what the heck, I did it anyway...at least for 24 hours. I shave most days (with the occasional day off) and my routine is to strop immediately prior to shaving and not afterwards. I can't say that my blades or my shaves have ever suffered for it.