Do you strop before AND after the shave ?

[LordTyranus]

Hi guys,

I assume this question has been already discussed but I did not manage to find an answer.

I read very opposite opinions on other web forums on this matter. I would like to know what you do guys, and what is the reason for it ?

Thanks

 

[Bertilak]

I picked both before and after, but that is not exactly right.

I strop *between* shaves, which might be 12 hours or thereabouts before I shave. Immediately after I shave I strop on fabric about 5-10 laps just to be sure the blade edge is perfectly dry.

 

[Pumpkin]

I'm an evening shaver, so time isn't an issue. At least 60 laps before my shave, with lather already on my face. Then about 10 laps afterwards to ensure the edge is dry.

EDIT: I'm only using leather at the moment.

 

[maierar]

25 linen, 50 leather before, 10 linen 20 leather after. What Pumkin said about edge drying.

 

[jtrops]

30 linen/50 leather before shave, and about 15 linen after. Pretty much what they said about drying.

 

[Slash McCoy]

What they said.

 

[professorchaos]

Just before.

 

[TheVez2]

I've been wondering the same thing. I've read a lot (on SRP) about not stopping after you shave to give the blade time to rest. Does anyone here see a need to do that?

 

[SteveM]

I haven't stropped after shaving because I heard the steel was weak after use. Why they have 7 day sets right?

I do dry the blade well with a towel though.

Which is worse, stropping after a shave or having an edge that is not completely dry?

 

[Klarion]

Yes. Immediately after: 50 linen, 50 latigo. Just before: 50 horsehide.

 

[WilliamIam]

Nope, never after.
I really don't see a point.

I always rinse my blade with 91% alcohol when I finish my shave, to drive off the water. I wipe my blade, rather than rinsing it. Sinks are straights enemies in many ways.

I strop to make the edge shave-ready. If I strop after I shave, then I can't tell if it's shave ready when I'm done stropping until the next day.
In the mean time, the edge can corrode (maybe minutely) and I will have to re-strop it in the morning.

That's twice as much stropping, and I've noticed that more stropping (especially with coarse strops) means more frequent sharpening needs.

So no, I do NOT strop after I shave. Only before.

 

[TenorClef]

I've developed the habit of stropping my straight approx 30 times on my leather strop prior to using it and then another 30 times after i dried it just to ensure that the edge is dry and polished.

 

[grump]

Strop, shave, dry off blade, and strop.

Before and After

 

[Scissors]

What's the downside of stropping afterwards?

 

[maj_planb]

I strop before and after the shave in part for the blade edge and in part because I um enjoy stropping. It has become a part of my shaving ritual and I find it relaxing. It may be weird but it works for me.

 

[WilliamIam]

What's the downside of stropping afterwards?

Accelerated edge wear.
Some people have theories about the edge being microscopically rolled after a shave and then damaged by stropping, but I think that's silly.

With a high-carbon steel razor, the biggest reason for me to strop between shaves is to eliminate any minute oxidation that occurred since my last shave. Since I use the same straight every day, I only strop before I shave. It seems pointless to do it otherwise. To ensure my edge is dry, I dribble 91% (I prefer 99%) rubbing alcohol on the edge to drive off any water, then shake dry. Acetone would work better, but I don't want to keep that in my shave drawer.