I palm strop each new blade out of habit (read that OCD). For the last few months, most of the time the blade is used once and then binned. Life’s too short to use a dull blade. I should add that to my sig line. Edit: done ✅
Works great for a shake sharp razor and a carbon blade. kamisori style razors technically are, since they were designed to be used one handed (same hand) across the whole face.
Good point, though I can imagine buffing affords a bit of stropping action. But it isn't the wrong direction when using a sharpening/honing steel on a knife. Hmm, does this give a whole new meaning to a steely complexion?
In my world, blades are cheap, and I have a lifetime supply. I leave the blade in the razor, usually for three shaves, and then I replace it. In my experience, handling the blade less reduces the chances of accidentally getting cut. And it allows me to avoid uncomfortable conversations... ER Doctor, "Son, that finger looks pretty bad. How did you slice it?" Me, "Doc, I was wiping my razor blade on my jeans, and it just slipped outta my hand." ER Doctor, "Nurse, can you please contact psychiatry?"
I've been hand-stropping my DE and SE every day for the last 11-12 years and I've never cut myself. (Be watching tomorrow's news. I'll be the headline as guy who cut off his finger.)
News interviewing the neighbor. " He's done this for 11 years and never had any trouble before this. "
The difference this time? He began stropping with: y'all ain't never going to believe this. Hold my beer.
Remember, it only counts if the interviewee is standing in the middle of the street, has curlers and is wearing a full-length nightgown. But as always... "It's your lounging wear. Enjoy it your way."
Or in the case it is here in Mississippi, wearing a Harley-Davidson t-shirt and jorts, standing next to a vehicle up on blocks and forgot to put in the dentures for the interview.
The particular Mississippi species I outlined, would be holding a Budweiser or Miller Light shoved into a "Don't Tread On My Beer Or My Deer!" coozie.
I used a Blue Bird Platinum blade this morning. But I didn't dare to flip it over. "Flipping the bird" is naughty, you see... - Bax
I doubt it would make any difference for me, as I shave my legs & underarms. That's a lot of real estate, so no matter what, I won't use a blade for more than 2 shaves.
Perhaps apropos regarding a blade getting sharper. I recently stumbled across a bar graph that showed the sharpness of various blades. I recorded data for initial sharpness, after 1 and 2 shaves and average. Of ddly enough some of the data indicated blades getting sharper with use! How does that work? What I wouldn't give to have that be he case for my kitchen knives! I tried to find that graph again but couldn't for the life of me. Perhaps others know of this? I did however dig up this blog: https://www.refinedshave.com/razor-blade-sharpness-testing/
I would ALMOST rubber-stamp this comment, although I'd say "The only flipping I do is flipping a shave-item I don't like or is almost finished into the trash bank".
The idea is to make the edge last longer by flipping it after every shave, not to fix a worn out edge.
I tried it a couple of times, but it did not seem to make the blade last any longer or improve the shaves. It's like stropping the blade on the inside of a drinking glass - worth trying once or twice just to see if it actually works. If it doesn't, there is very little time or effort lost. Your mileage may vary, so what works for one person might not work for another.
