Thread: What is your favorite stropping regiment?

Thanks Jerry,
Even so, his use of English far surpasses my Spanish and German. My significant other (who's a woman, but being adults we don't really know what the appropriate nomenclature should be, so we've settled on that) is from Deutschland - born and raised - and when her people come and stay with us for a while I find myself speaking the lingo quite fluently after a while. Then they leave and the redneck returns (actually, I'm fairly well educated), but I'm proud of my roots and if I must appear before his honor (notice the sexist comment, can't brake me from that) I manage to clean up my act. And you know it's funny, I have an uncle that was an English teacher and a part-time writer and he gave it up to sell guns and fishing tackle. His wife used to always be on his case, saying that he talked like such an 'ol hillbilly that he basically dumbed himself down. Well, that 'ol boy is my favorite uncle!

Somebody dumbed me down too and if I ever find out who it was, look out!!!

Jerry

Im a barber student and most new barbers seem to be leaning toward the disposable type straight razors. I want to keep the tradition of the conventional blade around so I have been investing time and money into the practice of using a real straight razor. I was told that I need to strop before each client, is this true? If so then it seems like 60, 100, or more strops may be excessive for neck shaves and the occasional full shave. That would mean I would be stropping over 1000 times per day. Any advice for stropping a razor that will be getting heavy use? Thanks guys.

Gentlemen,
I do 30 strokes on canvas and 60 on leather. That's plenty. I can get away with fewer strokes, I'm sure, but I do enjoy stropping.

I always strop after finishing my shave for the day and normally it's about 20 strokes on natural linen, about the same on whatever leather I feel like using that time. I strop after shaving because I am getting too old to remember which razor I used at the next shave. This way I at least know they have all been stropped.

Originally Posted by Barber2012

Im a barber student and most new barbers seem to be leaning toward the disposable type straight razors. I want to keep the tradition of the conventional blade around so I have been investing time and money into the practice of using a real straight razor. I was told that I need to strop before each client, is this true? If so then it seems like 60, 100, or more strops may be excessive for neck shaves and the occasional full shave. That would mean I would be stropping over 1000 times per day. Any advice for stropping a razor that will be getting heavy use? Thanks guys.

I'd say you could possibly reduce the number (laps), as you're not possibly shaving an entire face. But still, it may also depend on how long the razor sits un-used for. Also, as an aside, if I had a hair cut before I knew how to SR shave, and the barber pulled out a straight, 1/2 the fun would be watching and hearing him strop. I'd make it part of the 'act'; the hype, the event or experience, and it'll ensure a nice sharp edge for each client.

Just my thoughts, I love being treat like a really valued customer, no matter what I'm buying...

So if you strop before and after, do you still have to strop before on the next shave day? or does the after on the day before count as the before of the current day? Hope that didnt confuse you.

I only strop after I shave and it works perfectly for me.

Originally Posted by Obie

Gentlemen,
I do 30 strokes on canvas and 60 on leather. That's plenty. I can get away with fewer strokes, I'm sure, but I do enjoy stropping.

Exactly what I do, and I never variate.

Pre: 3" linen x 50, latigo x 100
Post: 2" fabric x 25, latigo x 50