I have been straight shaving for just over 2 years and have just done my double century in straight shaves (200). Started out with the usual cheap strops and now have a nice Parker strop which seems to do the job ok.
I have found that over the first 150 odd shaves I needed to do around 120 laps to get the edge working again after each shave. I was always a bit puzzled by this as the general consensus is that 60 laps does the job. I have tried 110, 100 and 90 but wasn't getting a very good shave at all - so I went back to 120. Also I don't seem to be getting much mileage out of the edges as after about 10 shaves, it needed a refresh.
I have since adjusted my technique - after watching a couple of You-Tube videos they seemed to emphasise that you need to generate a bit of friction and speed to help restore the edge. Gave it a go and now getting much better shaves and the edges are noticeably pinging hairs in the tree topping and hanging hairs. However, the biggest thing I have noticed over the last 50 shaves is that I am nicking the hell out of my strop. At both ends where the razor flips over. It's getting pretty bad too and it's time I started thinking about buying another strop. The nicks are a clue that something has changed with my technique.
However, it looks like I still have a way to go. Need to get my edges restored without damaging the strop.
The main trouble with a lot of the Youtube videos is that they go up and down the strop at a million miles per hour and you have no real idea of what they are doing. Like a lot of other areas of wet shaving, you listen to all the conflicting advice then pretty much work it out for yourself.
cheers
Andrew
I have found that over the first 150 odd shaves I needed to do around 120 laps to get the edge working again after each shave. I was always a bit puzzled by this as the general consensus is that 60 laps does the job. I have tried 110, 100 and 90 but wasn't getting a very good shave at all - so I went back to 120. Also I don't seem to be getting much mileage out of the edges as after about 10 shaves, it needed a refresh.
I have since adjusted my technique - after watching a couple of You-Tube videos they seemed to emphasise that you need to generate a bit of friction and speed to help restore the edge. Gave it a go and now getting much better shaves and the edges are noticeably pinging hairs in the tree topping and hanging hairs. However, the biggest thing I have noticed over the last 50 shaves is that I am nicking the hell out of my strop. At both ends where the razor flips over. It's getting pretty bad too and it's time I started thinking about buying another strop. The nicks are a clue that something has changed with my technique.
However, it looks like I still have a way to go. Need to get my edges restored without damaging the strop.
The main trouble with a lot of the Youtube videos is that they go up and down the strop at a million miles per hour and you have no real idea of what they are doing. Like a lot of other areas of wet shaving, you listen to all the conflicting advice then pretty much work it out for yourself.
cheers
Andrew