Thread: New strop and terrible razor burn?

Hi all.

When I first started using a straight razor, I got the Poor Man's Strop Kit from Larry at Whipped Dog and thus far, it's worked out pretty well. I decided to upgrade my strop now that I've stuck with it for a bit and my stropping technique is pretty good, and I invested in Straight Razor Designs 3 Black Latigo Strop with D-Rings - $59.99 :.

It arrived today and I tested it out before my shave. I did about 40 strokes on the fabric first and 60 on the leather side. Now, as far as the shave itself goes, it didn't feel uncomfortable. I only do two passes since I have fairly sensitive skin and I did feel a little burning as I finished up the second pass. I finished with alum, Thayer's and some face lotion and about 15 minutes later, HOLY HELL! I had some of the worst razor burn I've ever experienced.

Now, I am definitely not going to point fingers at the strop saying it's a bad strop (I truly don't think it is), but that was the only thing that's changed in my routine.

So, my question is this: How much does the stop REALLY matter? One hypothesis I have is that the new strop made the blade significantly more sharp that my old stop was and as a result, I used too much pressure. Another hypothesis is that I screwed something up that I didn't know about buying a new strop.

So, any ideas?

Thanks!

I doubt the new strop has anything to do with the razor burn. While it may seem plausible the new strop made your edge sharper, razor burn generally comes down to too much pressure, bad angle, poor stropping technique, and or a dull blade. It is possible you may have slightly rolled the edge on the new strop. I have 2 SRD English Bridle strops, a TM Latigo, and a Dovo strop, all used pretty regularly and have not experienced any ill effects, other than the occasional nick in the strop. I would suggest going back to your first strop for your next shave and see how the next shave compares.

Originally Posted by ReardenSteel

I doubt the new strop has anything to do with the razor burn. While it may seem plausible the new strop made your edge sharper, razor burn generally comes down to too much pressure, bad angle, poor stropping technique, and or a dull blade. It is possible you may have slightly rolled the edge on the new strop. I have 2 SRD English Bridle strops, a TM Latigo, and a Dovo strop, all used pretty regularly and have not experienced any ill effects, other than the occasional nick in the strop. I would suggest going back to your first strop for your next shave and see how the next shave compares.

Thanks for the response. I'm not exactly new to shaving with a straight, but I just started using one regularly (used to be once every week or so). In thinking about it further, I think it was likely pressure or angle. For lack of a better summary, it's probably the result of me getting cocky!

I'll let the razor burn heal for a day and take my time with the next shave.

Thanks again!

A new linen is probably the culprit. Hone the razor and use the leather only.

Light touch when shaving.

That's my guess anyway.

It's not the new strop, it's your technique. Latigo generally has a very heavy draw, which makes it possible that your razor received a little "extra" from stropping (especially from the fabric component). Just watch your pressure and angle the next time and you'll likely get a better shave.

Originally Posted by Ryan82

It's not the new strop, it's your technique. Latigo generally has a very heavy draw, which makes it possible that your razor received a little "extra" from stropping (especially from the fabric component). Just watch your pressure and angle the next time and you'll likely get a better shave.

Sorry, what do you mean by "extra" and what role does draw play in stropping?

Thanks!

Draw is considered the action of the strop, or the feel of drag across the leather. The heavier the dragging feel = heavy draw. Some feel that a heavy draw produces more friction on the edge, therefore producing a keener feeling edge. Or something like that . Either way, with all due respect to Larry's poor man strop, your new strop is of superior quality and likely produced a better stropped blade. So in a way it WAS the strop, but it was your technique that resulted in razor burn, not the strop itself. The only way I can really explain the differences is by comparing the result you would get stropping off an old leather belt vs a proper strop like an SRD.

I should apologize for my use of Razornese. We sometimes forget that new guys don't know the lingo yet.

Originally Posted by Ryan82

Draw is considered the action of the strop, or the feel of drag across the leather. The heavier the dragging feel = heavy draw. Some feel that a heavy draw produces more friction on the edge, therefore producing a keener feeling edge. Or something like that . Either way, with all due respect to Larry's poor man strop, your new strop is of superior quality and likely produced a better stropped blade. So in a way it WAS the strop, but it was your technique that resulted in razor burn, not the strop itself. The only way I can really explain the differences is by comparing the result you would get stropping off an old leather belt vs a proper strop like an SRD.

I should apologize for my use of Razornese. We sometimes forget that new guys don't know the lingo yet.

Thank you very much for the explanation. Would it be accurate to say that my technique was appropriate when using the poor man stop, but with the "enhanced" edge from the SRD strop, my technique will need to be adjusted?

Originally Posted by itsmrbrooks

Thank you very much for the explanation. Would it be accurate to say that my technique was appropriate when using the poor man stop, but with the "enhanced" edge from the SRD strop, my technique will need to be adjusted?

What usually happens is that we get used to our own gear, our own edges etc. If you are used to shaving with one of your own edges and then you try a pro honed blade there will be a difference (unless your honing is equal to a honemeisters) that will require a change of technique. So yes, what you are saying is fair. Try to ease up on the pressure and watch your angle and you should be fine.

When I first started I was on a strop kick and intended on owing a strop made from every critter that ever walked or crawled. I don't know if I succeeded but I had a lot of strops and though they all felt different in one way or another they all did the same job. I never had one perform better than another so therefore I'm not in the camp that one strop will perform better than another. As long as it's a quality piece then it's just that.

Of course as you go from a strop with draw big time to one with none you have to adjust things. I've had razors taken out of my hand when I switched strops without realizing the difference so in your case probably something you did relating to the strop caused an issue.

Oh and all my critter strops? I gave them all away and just have about 6 or 7 that I alternate now some new and some vintage and none exotic though I do miss that black seal skin strop.