Thread: Stropping mid-shave????

Originally Posted by Kopoly

OK folks, I started shaving my three-day old beard with a perfectly honed and stropped razor. All went well in the first two passes (WTG, XTG). On the third pass (XTG), I cut myself several times above and below my lips. I stropped the blade about 20 times and the blade was just fine again.

I've found that straight razor shaving is a Very Personalized Endeavor! While there are many guidelines as to stropping, face prep, shaving angle etc they are just that 'Guidelines'.

If you find that stropping between passes seems to help- -Go For It! Don't worry if someone says it doesn't help! It may not help them, but if it helps you, then do it!

It is true that I'm new to SR's. To date, I have shaved with my SR four times. I bought the SR from SRD so I know the razor is good. I have tested/observed the edge with the various recommended methods including HHT and it passes the test just fine. I certainly have ended up with a better shave each time. I usually wait a few days before shaving partially because I don't think my face is ready for successive days of shaving and partially because I cannot devote the time necessary as I am quite deliberate when I shave with the SR.

At any rate, I certainly hope that I get to a point when I don't have to strop mid-shave. In the meantime, I just ordered a SS SR from SRD. I want to test and see if I get though a shave without mid-shave stropping with the SS blade. If not, I'll use both of them for each shave. I am hoping that my technique will eventually improve so I can get by with one SR only.

Kopoly

You may well need to review your technique. When you begin your shaving stroke, the spine of the razor should be about one spine-width or less away from your skin. This is your proper angle of attack. If the spine is too far from your skin, you will be literally scraping your beard off and that will destroy the good edge you started with. Also a very light touch in your stroke will help your skin as well as the edge of the blade.

Sham mentioned scything motion and I do that often times but be careful and keep trying.

I know many of the guys over at the other site are truly convinced stropping mid shave is something you need to do because you have a "really tough" beard however I'll say again what I said there, if you need to strop mid shave it's either a technique thing or a razor thing. If you are starting out it's understandable but once you have some shaves under your belt it's not something you should be having to do.

Thank you all. I shaved today and did not strop mid-shave. I did managed to draw blood though. I am convinced that my technique needs to improve. That and the private tutoring that I received from "cudarunner" will hopefully see me through.