Strop the night before?

[AndroiDad75]

Everyone,

I am trying to save a little time in the morning, if I am going to do a SR shave in the morning. One of the things I thought might save a few minutes is stropping the night before, and having everything sitting out waiting for me. That way I could get up and just jump straight in the shower and get out and start shaving.

Is there a reason why we should strop right before shaving? Or is stropping the night before perfectly acceptable?

Also, if you have any time saving tips - throw them out there!!!!

Thanks!!

 

[Doc226]

I do this 99% of the time, works well.

 

[wolfsvein]

I find that with my stainless blade this is not an issue but on my carbon steel blade. I find that it is not as sharp as after a fresh stropping. I don't know if this is correct, but the only thing I can think of is a slight amount or corrosion might has formed on the edge. I do not store my blades in a silicon sock. I let it dry open after shaving in the morning.

 

[gsurko]

The only reason I strop just before shaving is to have something to do while the lather soaks in.

 

[Lmarkow]

I strop the night before or immediately before, depending on my time constraints. I've not noticed any difference in the shave. I am a bit mindful about leaving a razor on the counter over night, just in case . . . .

 

[u2u]

I strop and oil right after I shave so my razors are all always put away ready to go. Experimented at length with different ways and timing of blade maintenance and no other approach gave a different result. If I am too rushed I will use a DE that day. If stropping the night before works for your time management go for it. Your shave might feel better if you aren't as rushed.

 

[mikeadams]

Been doing that for years. Darned if I can tell a difference.

Steve

 

[gash]

If you send a razor out to be honed, a couple of days will have passed between the honing and your shave. I haven't read of any problems associated with that. As long as the edge is dry and doesn't come in contact with anything, I think it will be OK for at least a few weeks/months/millenia.

 

[AndroiDad75]

Thanks for the feedback everyone. I realize this isn't alone going to save me a ton of time, but I may have just about everything sitting out tonight, ready to go for the morning. I will strop tonight, put it away from little hands, and then take it out when I walk in the bathroom in the morning.

Even if it only saves me 5-10 minutes total, that will help where I live, as 5-10 minutes can mean the difference between 30-40 minutes extra in drive time.

Thanks!!!

 

[fireMedic1343]

Thanks for the feedback everyone. I realize this isn't alone going to save me a ton of time, but I may have just about everything sitting out tonight, ready to go for the morning. I will strop tonight, put it away from little hands, and then take it out when I walk in the bathroom in the morning.

Even if it only saves me 5-10 minutes total, that will help where I live, as 5-10 minutes can mean the difference between 30-40 minutes extra in drive time.

Thanks!!!

That's one of the reasons I shave the night before. Thankfully I don't start showing until about 12 hours after I shave, then it explodes.

 

[Lexbomb]

I see no issue in it. What about stropping after every shave. That way when you grab your razor it's already stropped?

 

[GreekGuy]

I always strop before and after I shave. Maybe its voodoo, but I think stropping beforehand makes a difference. I want to justify it as polishing off the little oxidation on the edge, but I have no proof to back that up. I strop afterwards while the blade is still warm to help it stay sharp, and it also helps dry off the edge.

 

[totorlekiller]

So I started stropping after because I saw somewhere that it was the best way of getting rid of the micro-film of water that would otherwise start corrosion and damage the edge.
After shaving I first strop on linen, then on leather.

However I still strop on both linen and leather before shaving.
Something magical seems to be happening: the blade gets sharper everytime.

The linen might be what makes the difference. It seems that I sharpen everytime, more than my beard dulls.

 

[drmatt357]

I must be in the minority. I used to strop at the end of a shave so it'd be ready for next time. Then I started using HHT (thanx Doc) and noticed it wasn't as good the day after stropping.

This backed up my sense that a shave immediately following a full strop session works and feels better.

I have no explanation for it (especially since I don't really know what stropping does) 😄

 

[Champion of Capua]

The only reason I strop just before shaving is to have something to do while the lather soaks in.

+1, to be honest, never gave it much thought. I seem to have more time before my shave, before the reality of my day comes crashing down round me.