Thread: A bit of heresy

i would never have guessed that this was a contentious thread.

Me too. I guess SRPers take their stropping seriously!

Originally Posted by pcg

Having started this thread my conclusion is that, really, stropping before every shave, more than sharpening your razor, softens your beard. The longer that soap has to work its way in, the smoother your shave. Stropping 30-40 times allows at least several minutes to pass, which works its magic--on your beard if not your razor.

You are making the assumption we all lather our faces before we strop. I do not. I strop before every shave, and before I put anything on my face. After stropping, I face lather and shave. No hot towels, no oil, no pre-shave stuff. Simple. I know from my experience stropping before each shave makes a difference. I can feel it on my face and heavy stubble. Early on I thought I could get a few shaves from the straight without stropping. Well, I could, but there was a noticeable difference in the quality or smoothness of the shave. Yes, stropping before every shave makes shaving my face better. I have no doubt.

May the controversy continue, bro! It's safe to say, "Different strokes for different folks."

Offered for your edification without comment <typed in my best Rod Serling voice>

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rs,
Tack

Hmmm...very interesting, I kinda had a feeling that's what it really does to the edge. Thanks Tack for confirming it With my coarse stubble, I think I will keep that ole' strop close by.

I can forego stropping over two or three shaves without noticing any quality drop in my shaves. However, I know the razor is suffering - it suffers a little with every use. In experimenting with just two different razors I found that shaving gradually became more and more uncomfortable after two or three shaves without stropping - and that I did not realize how much more uncomfortable they had become until I compared again with razors that were stropped with daily use as usual.

So my personal conclusion is that it's good practice to strop between every shave whether the edge appears to demand it immediately or not. This seems to be in line with the common advice and practice here on SRP, so yes I agree with the heresy charge and second the motion to burn you at the stake

Originally Posted by pcg

Having started this thread my conclusion is that, really, stropping before every shave, more than sharpening your razor, softens your beard. ... Stropping 30-40 times allows at least several minutes to pass, which works its magic--on your beard if not your razor.

Haha, what a load of codswallop! Surely you jest or stir the pot for a lark

If you're serious then I guess my advice is to work on your beard preparation techniques. For example, I know when my beard is and isn't ready for a shave - not because I have or haven't stropped but because my face has learned to communicate with my whiskers. When they whisper, "it's time" then I know. When they whisper, "we want to be shorn by English steel this morning please" I heed their cries. Never have they cared a whit for my stropping habits, only that they are ready for a ready razor wielded by ready hands

Well it is different strokes for different folks. I personally feel .... know .... that it improves the edge, only takes a minute or so, and it is part of my shaving ritual. If it were proved to me that I didn't need to strop I would still strop because I like the ritual.

I also don't lather until I'm done stropping. More ritual, I don't aways need to do that second pass but I will always do it just to experience the badger or boar on my face. Part of the trip is enjoying the shave and stropping is one of the things I enjoy. YMMV.

In a shaving emergency can you strop on jean material? The ones you happen to be wearing? With great attention to direction!

Yes, just make sure they're clean. Any dirt or any dried food or whatever that you might have on them will ding up the edge of a razor.