When you start looking for a Parker safety razor reviews you will quickly realize there are dozens of choices! How can you possibly choose the best without trying them?
Well, you won’t really know until you put the blade to your face but we have spent hours of research and compiled that information right here for you to try and help you in that decision.
Parker has been producing high end safety razors for over 40 years and is a well-known brand in the wet shaving community.
They are a family owned company with an emphasis on their core values of quality an excellence. Parker makes their razors in India but have strict quality controls in place to ensure you get the best product possible.
They strive to bring you a mix of the traditional features you are used to seeing in safety razors as well as use the most up to date state of the art technology to take your shave to the next level.
If you are new to wet shaving you might know what your preferences are yet. This can only come with time and experience. However, knowing your beard and skin types help.
Some features that give each razor its uniqueness include:
The head – there are generally four types of heads, straight bar, open comb, adjustable and slant bars. Straight bars have no teeth and do not put an angle on the blade so it stays straight like the name implies. These can be the least aggressive types of heads. Open combs have teeth so there is not as much metal touching your skin while you shave. This could provide for smoother strokes but they tend to be more aggressive as the teeth allow more hair cut with each pass. Slant bars press down on the razor blades when the head is close adjust the angle that the blade cuts the hair, therefore changing the level of aggressiveness. Adjustable razors are slant bars that allow you to change the angle of the blade.
The weight – the weight of the whole razor also plays a big role in the performance of the razor. If you are newer you may want to consider a lighter razor. Heavier razors do not require any applied pressure when shaving so if you are used to this from a disposable cartridge razor you may end up cutting yourself. More experienced shavers prefer a nice weight as you simply need to guide the razor down your skin.
Handle length – this is more of a preference than a performance issue. Handle lengths usually range from 3-4 inches. The shorter handles tend to give more control but this is just because it forces you to grip the razor close to the head. So, if you have a longer handle you can always move your grip up for more control.
There is not a real straight forward answer to this as it depends on several factors like:
However, in general you can get about a week’s worth of shaves from a new blade. Of course, if your razor starts to pull or drag your hair you should go ahead and make the switch.
Parker offers different ways of changing the blades on their models. Some have butterfly openings which are really quick but can sometimes fall out of alignment. They also offer models with traditional screw off heads. These are great because the blade will line up perfectly.
The different types of heads don’t usually affect performance they are mainly preferential.
For those using disposable cartridge razors or electric shavers, wet shaving has been making a comeback in recent years. With the convenience and technology of the disposable razors from companies like Gillette, they became wildly popular.
However, recently there has been a trend to revert back to traditional wet shaving. There are several reasons for this trend.
It is cheaper. With disposable cartridge razor, you can end up spending over $20 a month on refills. While razor blades for safety razors are usually only a few pennies. This can add up to a decent amount of money over the course of a year or 5 years!
Better for the environment. Where do all of cartridge razors end up? Landfills most likely. So, having less waste since you are only using one blade vs. 5 that are held together by plastic is generally seen as a good thing. Plus, you may find yourself getting a closer shave and shaving less often which will only add to this.
Less irritation. Cartridge razors work by having the first 1-2 blades pull your hair up while the trailing 2-3 blades cut the hair. This technique can cut the hair below the surface of the skin which is one of the main causes of razor bumps. When shaving properly, especially if you use a pre-shave oil under your shaving cream, you will find yourself with less irritation.
The only down fall of switching to wet shaving is there might be a learning curve. But everything worth doing takes a little effort, right? Don’t be afraid however, with time and a little practice you will have no issue at all.
If you are looking for the best price and a secure place to buy your Parker safety razor your best bet is usually Amazon. Especially if you are just getting into wet shaving and also buying other things like a shaving brush or stand, you will most likely qualify for free shipping if you spend at least $50.
The other thing we love is all of the reviews you can read. Since they have the most traffic they usually have the most opinions to read about the particular razor you are looking at.
They also carry just about every model out there and even offer suggestions of what types of razors or soap people are buying with the razor they get.
We feel like the best safety Razor that Parker makes for the masses would have to be the 99R.
It is one of its heavier models weighing in at 3.4 ounces which most wet shavers prefer, especially after they get some experience under their belt.
It has a 4-inch-long handle which some may prefer a shorter one, but as always, you can move your grip up if you need more control.
The other thing is it has a smaller profile on the head than some of their other models so it will be easier to get in hard to reach spots like under your nose.
It is also moderately aggressive so it will be good even if your beard is on the tougher side. Some even say it is as aggressive as the 34C from Merkur.
Check out our full review here.
We like Parker’s 91R for those of you who are new to wet shaving. It has a straight bar comb with the three-piece screw off design.
There is less room for error when setting the blade in these types of razors so it might speed up your learning curve a bit. It also doesn’t weigh as much so if you are prone to applying pressure still there may be less risk of you nicking yourself.
It will also be easier to clean since you can take the whole razor apart. There is nothing fancy about this razor, it is just well made and will get the job done.
This is still moderately aggressive because it has a decent gap between the blade and the head so just be careful and go slow as you start shaving.
This might receive a little backlash but we like the 24C for those of you with sensitive skin.
The open comb means less metal is touching your skin which should allow it to slide easier. Especially if you take the time to prepare for the shave with an oil and shaving soap.
It also allows more hair to be cut by the blade with each stroke so you may find yourself performing less passes to get the same shave. This should also help reduce irritation as well.
If you don’t find irritation, be sure to try many different kinds of blades as they are made with different thickness and sharpness which can also come into play in how the razor works for you.
As we mentioned earlier, it is not an easy thing trying to pick just one of Parker’s razor to purchase. With so many options it can be overwhelming at times.
We hope that you are at least a little closer in making your decision after reading this post! It is hard to really know how the razor might perform until you really try it out. Experienced shavers will probably have a good idea before you buy. If this is your first you may just need to take the plunge and get your feet wet before you really know what you want.
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