Do you guys clean the edges with alcohol before a shave, just rinse with water or just strop? I ask because a strop might might leave oils, metal bits etc causing an unhygienic edge that could lead to inflaming the skin or aggravating burns.
stropping on linen and leather should be sufficient.An unhygienic edge would lead to infections. Inflammation/burns are caused by over scraping the skin. Metal bits that would be remove by alcohol won't be left after stropping, such bits would cause the strop to become scratched. Oil? I haven't put any on it, and wouldn't if I was worried about it being on me. I wouldn't share with anyone, without something I was SURE would sterilize it.
Forgot to say "I just strop".stropping on linen and leather should be sufficient.
Okay, Brother Clay.Forgot to say "I just strop".
Olive oil will go rancid.If you use an non-contaminating oil, then you won't have a risk.
Oil is oil.
There is nothing wrong with using Olive oil on your blade and strop.
I have lately been wiping with alcohol before shaving. I'm a plumber. I get dirty sometimes. I had what I thought was ingrown hairs. After several days it was obviously something else. Not sure it finally went away. It had me thinking maybe I came in contact with something at work. So to be safe I just add 5 seconds to my routine by wiping blade with alcohol before I shave. Washed my brushes also.