Stropping after shaving ... or not ? ... But why ?

Hi all,


so I'm confused by few (seemingly) contradictory information/advices.

Stropping after shaving would be:
1) GOOD: because it would (help) dry the razor, and in particular its edge, thus reducing the risk of rusting.
2) BAD: because the edge needs to 'rest' and some 'stuff' (sorry don't remember what) need to re-align themself naturally with time.
3) BAD: because doing so would (by some unclear process) deposit some dirt, metal, or scraps... onto the strop.

However, I've also read that #2 or #3 would be myths propagated by ignorant people (a bit like me :)).

So my questions are:
- what are the actual real advantages of stropping after shaving? Why / How?
- what are the actual real drawbacks or risks of stropping after shaving? Why / How?
- what do you do/suggest?


Thank you
Christophe

This is one of those questions that boils down to YMMV. Some strop after to dry. Some don't. I fall into the camp that doesn't. No real reason, just prefer to let mine air dry. That way I can be certain that the scales are dry as well as the edge before I put it away.

The only bad is if you suck at stropping

I strop before each shave. Gives me something to do while the pre-shave oil sets in and while my brush soaks in hot water....

I strop afterwards to remove any residue from the shave, that might remain on the edge. Then a clean coat of mineral oil is applied.

Hello, christophe,
I always strop before the shave, but find no need to strop after. I clean and dry the razor thoroughly and then oil it before it goes in the rack.

I strop before the shave then about 20/20 linen leather after. I have never oiled my blades, I leave them in a stand so they dry and put them away when selecting a razor for the next days shave.

If you are stropping correctly, I see no advantage or risk.

I think if I told you the same people that disagreed with me last time will disagree with me again this time.

I think you should strop whenever you feel the urge but as far as your razor goes I would strop either the full count before of half before and half after. Personally I only strop before shaving. By the way years ago when I frequented barber shops as a kid when they still shaved I only saw barbers strop when the next customer sat down in the chair never after he finished the last.

Like a lot of shaving/stropping/honing preferences, our world of straight razor shaving is subjective. imho. My memory is getting so bad with my advancing age I always strop after shaving. With that I can be comfortable that my razor choice for any particular shave will be good to go.

I strop just a few rounds on cloth after shaving just to remove any traces of residue that might be there. Then sometime before shaving I'll do cloth and leather so it's ready to go.

^^ Same here; I do 5-6 passes on linen after wiping the blade with a paper towel. I strop normally before shaving, without counting these.

I keep all my razors stropped and ready to go. After a shave, I wipe everything with a tissue, and leave it to air dry. Then in the evening or another day later (when I've used a different razor), I will strop two or three of them and put them back into their little home with all of their friends. Each on in the case is ready to go....the mornings are rushed enough as it is, and I don't operate well until after the first cup of java.

Stropping when tired is directly proportional to the number of nicks you have in your strop.

I always strop on linen after a shave to remove any traces of residue that might still be there after cleaning.

Don't you just hand strop it on your palm? Cleans and oils it.

I strop 10/10 (linen/leather) after shaving. I never used to, but then I read about it here and decided to give it a whirl. As far as I could tell, the razor certainly looked cleaner after I did this. I always dry it (wipe it on a towel) of course before doing so. Then after stropping I always wipe it down with Eucalyptus oil. I guess, technically, there's a pay off between a clean and dry strop and a clean and dry razor. I'd go for the clean and dry razor; I can replace my strop pretty easily, but I'd find it hard to part with any of my razors, they each mean more to me than my strop...

I find stropping in the morning (30/70) gives time for my shave cream or soap to 'soak in' and I like having to force myself to fully concentrate on this task; it's a meditative thing...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by carlmaloschneider

I strop 10/10 (linen/leather) after shaving. I never used to, but then I read about it here and decided to give it a whirl. As far as I could tell, the razor certainly looked cleaner after I did this. I always dry it (wipe it on a towel) of course before doing so. Then after stropping I always wipe it down with Eucalyptus oil. I guess, technically, there's a pay off between a clean and dry strop and a clean and dry razor. I'd go for the clean and dry razor; I can replace my strop pretty easily, but I'd find it hard to part with any of my razors, they each mean more to me than my strop...

I find stropping in the morning (30/70) gives time for my shave cream or soap to 'soak in' and I like having to force myself to fully concentrate on this task; it's a meditative thing...

---

Well, Carl... I'm afraid of things I don't understand, so before my razor starts to grow on me I strop it down after my shave... I can hear it squeeking so I hit it a couple of times on my 8k norton.

Before I pick it up again - the next day - I smack it down on the felt for 20 strokes... then give it 30 on the leather... shave with it... then give it 30 on the felt before it grows.

We have to stay vigilant... before our blades grow out of our control...

Man... this is like too much work...

....

I strop prior to shaving. After I'm finished, and the blade is wiped down, It sits out, opened, on a paper towel to air dry. The next day I wipe it down with a silicone treated cloth and put it away, or back in rotation.

Can you strop after shaving, sure, why not. Is it necessary, no. It's your call. Personal preference.

I like stropping afterwards, 20 on linen and 108 on leather. Then oil and put away. This has kept my razors shiny and rust free, and ready to go out of the box.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by bassguy

I like stropping afterwards, 20 on linen and 108 on leather. Then oil and put away. This has kept my razors shiny and rust free, and ready to go out of the box.

---

108? Wow, you're precise!

Oil?! Dohhhh. I should probably be oiling my razors!

After shaving, I wipe on a towel to clean and dry the blade, then strop on the linen side.

Before the shave, I strop on the leather side.

So as not to lose track of what I've done, I have a system:
Razor is put away in it's leather pouch, top facing left if I haven't linen stropped it, facing right once I have.

Once the leather side stropping is done, and it's ready, I close the flap of the pouch (top still facing right, ready to unsheath with my right hand).

Hopefully this is a system that'll keep working even as my memory fails. But if I ever find the razor in it's sheath, flap closed, but facing left???? I'll consult the form.

;-)

strop 60/60 linen leather before and 20/20 after shaving, leave them sitting in my hot water boiler cupboard for an hour and store in its original box without oil. The boxes seem to be quite good at preventing rust and corrosion, I've came back 3 months later and an unused edge is still good to go out the box

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by carlmaloschneider

108? Wow, you're precise!

---

I do 100, because I've always done 100, then 8 slower, exact strokes just to finish. 108 is an important number in Eastern religions, no other reason really.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by bassguy

I do 100, because I've always done 100, then 8 slower, exact strokes just to finish. 108 is an important number in Eastern religions, no other reason really.

---

Oh, interesting, I just thought it was a typo and I was being funny! I actually like the 30/70; I've thought of 20/60, etc, but I can't get over the fact that 30/70 given me the nive even 100!

Sometimes I post strop 20 laps on the leather, but I also strop again before I shave with it. I have never noticed any negative effects. Personal preference I guess.

I strop 25 laps linen + 50 laps leather pre-shave. Wipe down with a towel and 15 laps leather post-shave. Never needed to oil the blades. Long time between touchups on the rocks.