Thread: How many times do you strop?

How many times do you strop during a shave? I'm getting pretty good shaves not dfs or bbs just yet.But I've noticed after say the left cheek and neck,I need to restrop to bring the edge back.I mean I'm leaving hair no matter what angle I use or pressure or number of strokes I'll leave a patch of hair until I restrop then, gone.Should my edge be so dull that when I'm done I can hardly cut the hair on my hand?Should I hone on the swaty?Thanks for any input. Aaron

I strop on linen and leather before the shave. Usually 50/50 but sometimes 40/40 if I'm lazy that day. Always 20 on leather after the shave and rinsing and drying the blade on a tissue. I never strop between passes as it isn't necessary for me. YMMV.

I strop before the shave, if an adequate razor and techniques are used there is no reason to strop in the middle of the shave.

I've never stropped during a shave and think it's a sign that the blade needs more touching up than stropping.

I'll agree with the above. Remember that folks who say they're getting a month of daily shaving in before a touchup using just stropping have probably been shaving with a straight for a long time. When you're first starting out your edge won't last as long simply because you might not be using the optimal angle, best lather or best stropping technique. It'll get the job done, but you'll have to touchup more often until you've been practicing for a while

I usually do 25/50 before a shave and then 15/30 after. On the few occasions that I do a three-pass shave, I'll add a 10/10 between the second and third pass.

I'll strop twice per shave: once before and once after. 50 laps on leather each time. 20 on linen (before leather) after the shave only if I felt a little tug.
I never strop during a shave. If a razor isn't working for me, I grab another to finish up, then assess the issue afterwards.

I strop 40 on linen, 80 on leather before I shave, and 15/15 afterwards to clean up the blade.

I strop before shave, 30canvas an 50 to 60 on leather.

I usually strop on leather about a dozen laps before the shave to smooth the edge and then afterward about five laps to dry the edge before putting it away. Sometimes I forego the pre-shave stropping.

It's possible that your razor is either heat-treated too soft (very unlikely) or that the edge is ground so thin that bends a little during the shave and that you are re-straightening when you strop.