Thread: Why do they recommend using the Strop after shaving and before shaving?

Originally Posted by Augustagj

I understand one or the other but I don't understand why it makes sense to do both.

Before shaving gets the edge ready. After shaving, usually fewer laps than before shaving, cleans the edge of soap, water, etc. for clean storage.

I never considered this as a cleaning process. Thank you.

Nah, you will have many weigh in to say that they do not strop right after shaving because the edge needs to settle, or some such thing. Whether or not that's the case, if thou clean the blade with water after shaving, and dry it well, you can just strop again some time before you shave - the night before, right before, it doesn't matter.

I've read numerous articles and posts on this subject - strop before and after, or just before. A couple of posts, and the thread is probably on here somewhere, spoke of letting the edge "rest" and NOT stropping after the shave. It seems to make sense, maybe some of the veterans could chime in.

I do about 5 laps after just to be sure the bevel/edge is dry

Yup.. Do 15-20 laps on the strop after shaving.....just to get that edge cleaned up,before I put it away.

The notion of stropping to be sure the edge is dry makes some sense to me . . . but what about the rest of the blade?

Air dry, or toilet paper between scales, or hair dryer.. it's what you like..

We all seem to settle in to some routine that works for us.
And your local conditions (humidity for instance) can have some impact on post shave care.

Me? Before is 20 Fabric, 60 leather, after is 20/20.
But I also put a tiny drop of oil and distribute over the blade before I put it up (I wipe that off before I strop)

Nobody wants to shave with a rusty razor...I'm just saying'

Smooth Shaving...

I tested this a while back. Two weeks with the same razor every day then two weeks resting the razor. As long as the preshave strop is good you will be ok. I found no benefit to stropping or not stropping after shaving.

I stored the razor in a humid bathroom during the test. I do dry the razor well with a micro fiber towel after shaving.

After this test I stopped stropping after the shave finding no real gain, I have however as of late, found I enjoy stropping after the shave and now do 20 on wool after the blade has been dried.