Every morning at a quarter to nine, before the lights come up, each barber hones their own razor. It takes ten minutes. It is the most important ten minutes of the day.
Stone, then strop
The whetstone sets the edge. The leather strop polishes it. Skip the stone and the edge goes dull by lunch. Skip the strop and it tugs. Both, every day, no exceptions.
Why not disposable blades
Disposable blades are sharp, safe and perfectly fine. A honed razor is something else: heavier, smoother and tuned to the hand that holds it. You can feel the difference on the second pass.
Want to learn? Our Straight Razor Kit ships honed and ready, and any barber will walk you through your first shave.