Any dive into the world of straight razors presents a beginner with a huge choice of accessories, and for many that becomes a dead end. It all seemed so simple: just one razor and a strop, no replacement blades, no geometry of exposure and gaps. And at first glance it seems even more complicated: because besides a strop, razor care also requires pastes — and they come in almost every colour of the rainbow, in tubes and blocks. The first reaction for many is to give up on the idea and change nothing. In fact, pastes are simple. And in this article, we will break them down clearly.
The colour of a strop paste first of all indicates its abrasiveness. Each paste has its own role and its own stage in the finishing of a razor blade. The properties of pastes from different brands may vary slightly, so be sure to read the instructions before use.
White paste
- Abrasiveness: very low or no abrasives at all.
- Purpose: final polishing, finishing the razor blade, and caring for the linen side of the strop. Its job is to extend the life of the strop by evening out the spaces between the fabric fibres.
Yellow paste
- Abrasiveness: very low or no abrasives at all; may contain wax or oils.
- Purpose: caring for the leather side of the strop, as well as refreshing the edge and final polishing. It greatly extends the life of the strop because it slows the natural cracking of the leather.
Black paste
- Abrasiveness: low, slightly higher than white. May contain carbon compounds or fine particles of chromium oxide.
- Purpose: polishing, final finishing, and everyday stropping of the blade. It finely polishes the blade and gives it a mirror finish. The most common paste for maintenance stropping.
Red paste
- Abrasiveness: medium, based on iron oxide.
- Purpose: stropping a slightly dulled blade when black paste is not enough. The second most commonly used paste after black in everyday use.
Green paste
- Abrasiveness: medium-high. Most often based on chromium oxide (Cr₂O₃).
- Purpose: restoring sharpness to dull razors that have not been used for a long time and are in poor condition. It should not be used often, but if the razor has lost its sharpness and red paste does not help, green is indispensable.
| Paste colour | Abrasiveness | Purpose |
| White | none | Final polishing, shine, care for the linen side of the strop |
| Yellow | none | Refreshing the edge, gentle stropping, care for the leather side of the strop |
| Black | Low | Gentle polishing, finishing |
| Red | Medium | Regular stropping of a slightly dulled blade |
| Green | Medium-high | Significant restoration of sharpness |
How to use paste for stropping a razor
- Important rule: one paste needs its own strop or its own side of the strop. Do not apply different pastes to the same strop.
After an abrasive paste (green, red, etc.), it is advisable to finish with polishing on a clean strop.- Apply the paste in very small amounts. Use cotton cloth to spread the paste over the strop.
- Keep the paste sealed, even in a container with a tight lid — this will prevent it from drying out and from collecting dust and dirt, which could scratch the blade if they later get onto the strop. It is more convenient to store paste in a tube.
Which paste should you choose?
The short answer to the question «which paste should I buy» is that you need all types of paste. But you will use them with different frequency, so the consumption will also differ. Great news: from any manufacturer, you can buy paste not only as a set, but also separately.
- Your biggest consumption will be of black or red paste — depending on how often you strop the blade.
- Be sure to stock up on white and yellow pastes for caring for your strop.
- With regular razor care, you will need green paste less often, but it is still worth having in reserve — it will come in handy when you feel it is time to sharpen the blade a little more.
