How to Strop a Razor

– Men’s Grooming Guide

When it comes to straight razors, they have to be kept incredibly sharp to make sure that they help you shave effectively. It is good to strop at regular intervals that helps to keep a razor sharper for a longer duration. In the process of stropping, a flexible strip of canvas or leather is used for sharpening a razor.

This is why you’ll often notice barbers sharpening their straight razors with a leather strop. Straight razors are designed to last for a prolonged period, but with time, the cutting edge design of a razor may get more aligned with the head, and this, in turn, may cause bluntness. Stropping helps in sharpening the edges and re-aligning them at the correct angle for smooth shaving.

Let’s take a look at the effective steps to strop a razor:

Step 1 - Get a Strop: These are relatively easier to find. If you’ve been using a straight razor for quite some time now, you must invest in an effective strop that lasts. Strops are usually available in three types: 

• Straight Strop: A strap that you simply hang up.
• Paddle Strop: It is made of a wooden paddle with a strap of leather attached to it.
• Loom Strop: It is similar to paddle strops. The only difference is that the leather runs around the wooden frame, rather than being attached to it.

Step 2 - Hang One End of the Strop: To begin with, simply hang the strop on a hook and yank it towards you. However, make sure that the leather side points downwards. This makes the process of stropping easier and there will be lesser chances of cutting into the leather, especially if you are a beginner.

Step 3 - Slide the Razor along the Strop: While sharpening the razor along the strop, it’s essential to point the spine away from you. Ensure that the blade is lifted slightly so that the edge makes contact with the strop. When you push the razor away from you, it is advisable to put light pressure.

Step 4 – Flip the Razor: Once you reach the end of the strop, simply flip the razor and confirm that the spine of the razor is pointing towards you and the blade is touching the strop. You can choose to roll the razor between your fingers but this definitely takes some practice.

Step 5 – Pull the Razor Towards You: Now pull the razor towards the bottom of the strop. It is important to maintain a slight angle so that the edges make a contact with the leather strap.

Step 6 – Slide to Cover the Entire Blade: As you slide your razor vertically, it’ll definitely not be enough to cover the entire blade. Therefore, you need to slide it horizontally to cover the entire blade. The easiest way is to move the blade towards you and then push it away from you.

Few Important Tips to Consider:

• Strop the razor only before shaving. If you happen to strop a razor post shaving, it is possible that the loose metal parts may simply break off and penetrate the leather.
• The movement of the blade should always be directed towards the back. Moving it towards the cutting edge may lead to accidents.
• It is vital that you work slowly as small mistakes can be expensive!

Only straight razors need stropping. The amount of stropping you need to do, however, depends on the condition of the blade, the type of blade used, and the strop itself. So, follow the above-mentioned steps to maintain the sharpness of your razor. Try it!