We have noticed that it is still unknown to many men what a Razor Strop is and how you can use it. Time to delve deeper into this, because a Razor Strop is an absolute must-have if you want to keep your straight razor sharp! If you don't do this, your razor will not last as long. So if you maintain your straight razor well, it will last you a lifetime. See a Razor Strop as a good investment. However, you need to know how to use it correctly. Let us take on that task today! So pay attention, we are starting from the beginning.
What is a Razor Strop?
A Razor Strop is also known as a strop, so don't be confused if you encounter these different terms. A Razor Strop is literally a strap on which you can sharpen your razor. When you sharpen your razor, it will become just as sharp as when you first used it. And it is not entirely unimportant to do this every now and then, because all shaving problems like razor burn, ingrown hairs, etc. can be prevented with a well-sharpened razor.
A Razor Strop has two sides. One side is made of Leather and the other is made of canvas. With the canvas side, you ensure that all metal particles on your razor align in the same direction. In the shaving industry, this is also called “aligning.” You literally align the metal particles back to the right side. But more on that later. After aligning your razor, you proceed with polishing. As you might guess, you do this on the leather side of the Razor Strop. When you polish your blade, you make it smoother and thus much more comfortable to shave with. Both sides are equally important and should both be used.
How do you use a Razor Strop?
Many people give up on using a Razor Strop because they simply do not know how to use it correctly. What a shame! To make it easier for you, we've created a step-by-step guide for using a Razor Strop. Follow these steps and your straight razor will glide over your skin like a knife through butter.
- First, start by hanging your Razor Strop. You can do this on the door of your Bathroom or on the hook where you normally hang your Towels. Hanging is important because the Razor Strop needs to be under tension.
- Hold the other end of the Razor Strop and make sure there is tension on it. It is important that the Razor Strop does not sag because your blade will then move less smoothly over the Razor Strop. That way, you won't achieve the desired result.
- Hold your straight razor between your thumb and forefinger and place it flat on the Razor Strop (on the canvas side).
- Now it's time to sharpen your straight razor. Do this by moving your blade from top to bottom over the Razor Strop.
- Did you end up at the bottom of the Razor Strop with your knife? Great, then turn your knife around and gently move it back up.
Aligning
You use the canvas side of your Razor Strop to align your razor. Aligning literally means directing all the metal particles of your open razor in the same direction. You need to run your razor over this canvas side about 15 times. When done correctly, after 15 times you can be sure that the metal particles are aligned in the same direction.
Polishing
Just as important as aligning is polishing your razor. When you do this, your razor will be soft and much more comfortable to Shaving with. As we described earlier, this will result in fewer problems during and after Shaving. You polish with the leather side of your Razor Strop. Run your razor over the leather side about 20 to 25 times to ensure it will be soft and comfortable.
Do I need anything else to sharpen my knife?
A Razor Strop is necessary for the maintenance of your open razor, but the Razor Strop itself also needs maintenance. You do this with special types of pastes for your Razor Strop and a tension strap.
Yellow paste
The yellow paste for your Razor Strop is specially made for the maintenance and Grooming of the leather side of your Razor Strop. This is because the yellow paste is extremely greasy and keeps the Leather supple in this way. If your Leather is supple, your razor will also become smoother after use.
White paste
Besides a yellow paste, there is also a white paste for your Razor Strop. The white paste is specifically made for the canvas side and ensures that the canvas is cleaned after each use. The white paste thus ensures that the canvas side is maintained and lasts much longer.
Tension strap
After aligning and polishing your razor, it is a good option to use a tension strap. This tension strap also has two sides; a brown and a colored one. The colored one can vary between Red and Green. Red is specially developed for silver steel or carbon open Razors, Green is for sharpening stainless steel open Razors. The tension strap is used in the same way as the Razor Strop and is used when your razor needs to be extra sharp from time to time. Aligning is actually step 1, polishing is step 2, and sharpening is step 3.
When should you use a Razor Strop?
It's actually very simple. If you notice that your razor is getting dull, then it's time to use a Razor Strop. This varies per razor and its quality. That's why it's important to keep feeling how your razor shaves. You are the best judge of when your razor needs a sharpening session again! Razor burn, ingrown hairs, red bumps, they will all be a thing of the past when your razor always feels as New.
The conclusion is that it is important to use a Razor Strop if you want your expensive or quality open razor to last a long time (or maybe even a lifetime). Also, if you often suffer from irritation after Shaving, a Razor Strop is an essential part of your routine. You may be hesitant about the purchase, but if you can keep using your expensive razor for a lifetime, you'll probably end up much cheaper in the end!
We hope to have helped you with this, but if you still have questions, please feel free to contact us. We are happy to help you get the best products for the ideal shave. You happy, we happy.
Good luck!
Your friends, The Alpha Men