A straight razor just can’t do its job without a strop. Made from horsehide or cowhide, strops come ready to use, but
a bit of maintenance will keep them in perfect shape to align your razor’s edge for that balance of sharpness and
comfort on your skin. An effective strop will realign the blade’s edge for a more precise cut, as well as remove
microscopic pieces of metal that could otherwise cut your skin. Keep reading for our best tips on how to care for
your leather strop.
General strop care tips:
Always hang your strop to maintain the strop’s shape and to prevent stiffness.
Always strop before you shave and never after. Stropping before a shave aligns the blade and gets it in
good form, whereas stropping after a shave means making microscopic breaks in the cutting edge (the cutting edge
becomes slightly bent after a shave).
William's Mug Shaving Soap
To care for a new strop:
To be clear, you don’t need to break in a strop before using it. You can
start using a strop right after you get it. But should you wish to increase the draw, rub a small amount of
neatsfoot oil into the strop. Other good options include mink oil, William’s Shaving Soap, and leather conditioner.
Start small – only use a little bit to start and let it absorb completely. You may repeat the treatment until you’re
satisfied with the outcome. If your strop is particularly dry, you should add more; if it’s too oily, simply wipe
off the excess with a cloth. You can also warm the strop with the palm of your hand, which will coat the leather
with natural oils to keep it strong and supple. Do this on its own or follow it up by loading the strop with
neatsfoot oil, mink oil, or William’s Shaving Soap.
What to do if your strop feels stiff:
If your strop is stiff, you’ll notice it makes a slight scratching noise when you glide your razor over it. Usually,
stiffness is caused by lack of use and age – the longer a strop sits there, the more dust it’ll accumulate. Resist
the urge to roll the strop in an attempt to loosen it up – this will only cause wrinkles and tears in the strop,
rendering it useless. The best thing to do is simply to condition your strop. Rub your hands on both sides, and
apply one of the oils mentioned above if the strop still feels stiff. Repeat this process every time before you
strop your razor. Another method is to clean your strop with saddle soap and a soft bristle brush or sponge. After
scrubbing the leather clean, wipe off the excess and let dry. -- For more on strops, check out our post on the different types of strops available and the
characteristics of each one.
