In everything I've seen written about using a SR, you strop before, not after shaving. Of course, stropping after shaving is also stropping before the next shave, but the one time I had a barber shave me (I was the "dummy" for a friend's shaving test.) he used the strop before the shave. Crede experto.stroping after shaving.
I have a really nice strop and with time I've been stropping more and more with the heel of my hand. Usually I take a dump before shaving and I usually strop then and there, saves me time.The heel of your hand can be used as well. Just go easy if you arent used to doing it.
Usually I take a dump before shaving and ...
I will just have one shave and the its been stropped and honed just before they shipped it to me. I have asked the same question to the place I got it and they said its been already stropped so you can shave but clean the edge, I will shave tomorrow and just going to clean the edge with a cotton pad. I have order a Herold Solingen strop for 50 euro but I realized now that it only has russian leather and not linen side. I wanted it because its big strop so I dont have to make the X pattern.Yes, you want to strop, both before and after shaving.
Strop before shaving to straighten the edge and put a final polish on the bevel.
Strop after shaving on linen, to remove/clean the blade of soap, blood, skin, water and oxidation/rust. The edge will begin to rust immediately after shaving, the is very thin steel.
You want to strop on linen to clean and dry the bevel and edge, and importantly to prevent smearing all that smutch on what should be, your pristine leather strop.
You can strop on leather after the linen, post shaving to straighten the bevel and edge.
Stropping is way, way underrated. It can take a while to perfect your stropping technique, (get it to a point where you are continuously improving the edge with each lap.
As said you can strop on newspaper by folding the paper into a strip and looping over a towel bar or by stropping on your palm. Both methods are surprisingly very effective. But a hanging strop for most folks may be safer. Stropping does require all your attention to prevent nicking your strop. If you palm strop, you will focus your attention…
I often palm strop on my hand from the wrist to the end of my pinky, about 5 inches, more that enough milage to improve an edge in about 10 laps.
No, really it is not all that dangerous, just pay attention, stop, then flip, keep the spine on your hand and watch your pressure, all key advice, when stropping on linen and leather.
Folks will advise you to buy a cheap strop, as you will likely cut your strop. While you may cut your strop, a quality strop is as little as about $50, (Tony Miller, Heirloom Strops). But do buy a quality strop, even a nicked quality strop will improve a shaving edge. Tony sells replacement linen and leather for his strops.
Proper stropping on a clean stop can keep you shaving for a long time.
Hey you might be on to something That might be the reason I like really strong scented shaving soaps, clears out the nostrils hahaThat would explain all the crappy shaves.
The X pattern is good and correct technique. My strop is 3” wide, but I still do the X on it.I will just have one shave and the its been stropped and honed just before they shipped it to me. I have asked the same question to the place I got it and they said its been already stropped so you can shave but clean the edge, I will shave tomorrow and just going to clean the edge with a cotton pad. I have order a Herold Solingen strop for 50 euro but I realized now that it only has russian leather and not linen side. I wanted it because its big strop so I dont have to make the X pattern.