Parker, 96R Graphite Gray Butterfly Open Double Edge Safety Razor

I decided to upgrade my morning routine and give myself something to look forward to when I'm feeling lazy and thinking about sleeping in. I also felt like it was time to stop using an electric razor since it was leaving me with a very amateur-looking shave (lots of stray hairs that I couldn't get no matter how much I tried). I wanted to get the most out of the safety razor experience, so I did a lot of research into which products are needed and how to use them. I made all of the purchases together on Amazon and tried them out as a set. After using an electric for the past 10 years, I was pretty worried that I would get some serious razor burn, but to my surprise I had none whatsoever! I was pretty careful to not get too aggressive with the shaving, so I went WITH the grain and only made one or two passes on each area. The result was a shave that was 100X closer than an electric with no discomfort, nicks, cuts, or razor burn! Here's what I bought and why: Safety Razor: Parker 96R – Long Handle Butterfly Safety Razor https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002IFFSOS/ref=cm_cr_ryp_prd_ttl_sol_2 This safety razor has a great weight to it, a long handle for a comfortable grip, and a black and chrome coloring that looks great with the other items on the list. The butterfly razors seem to be the easiest to open and close for changing blades. Razor Blades: Astra Superior Premium Platinum blades https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EXPTR0W/ref=cm_cr_ryp_prd_ttl_sol_4 One of the great things about safety razors is that the blades are SUPER cheap. These Astra blades are some of the most popular and highest quality blades I could find. At $0.10 each, you can clearly see the cost advantage to regular razors. I have been told that one blade should last about a week. That means that 100 is nearly 2 years’ worth! Do yourself a favor and buy the best blades you can get. There’s no reason to save a few cents to get blades that dull quickly and give you razorburn. Brush: Perfecto 100% Badger Shaving Brush - Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00VF1NI5M/ref=cm_cr_ryp_prd_ttl_sol_40 This brush is a fraction of the cost of the higher end brushes and it felt GREAT and worked up a nice, foamy lather very quickly. I don’t see any reason to buy a more expensive brush, especially if you are just starting out and want to see if you enjoy this process before you commit to a high-dollar brush. Personally, I still wouldn’t get anything more expensive. Bowl: Schöne Stainless Steel Shaving Bowl with Lid https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OQDEL8Y/ref=cm_cr_ryp_prd_ttl_sol_37 I think this is a matter of preference and taste in aesthetics. This bowl matches the other items that I bought and has a lid, which I am hoping will allow me to make my soap last longer. It seems to be well made and is a great size for working up a lather with the brush and is shaped well for holding it in your hand while you apply the lather. I think there are a lot of options for you to choose from, so pick something that matches your style if this one isn’t for you. Razor and Brush Stand: SimplyBeautiful Deluxe Razor and Brush Stand https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AG92BXY/ref=cm_cr_ryp_prd_ttl_sol_35 This stand looks great and is balanced well so that it holds my brush and razor without falling over. I chose black for two reasons. One: It matches the other things that I bought (razor and brush). Two: It should resist rusting better since it is coated. Pre-shave Oil: The Art of Shaving Pre-Shave Oil, Sandalwood https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000FGTTTM/ref=cm_cr_ryp_prd_ttl_sol_3 The Art of Shaving makes some great products, but some of them have changes in recent years, so you can’t rely on the ratings alone. I read through them and found that the pre-shave oil is still a very popular product and from my experience, it definitely helps prep your beard and skin for the shave. Applying the oil is step 1 in safety razor shaving. Shaving Soap: Taylor of Old Bond Street Sandalwood Shaving https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0007MW2ZW/ref=cm_cr_ryp_prd_ttl_sol_1 TOBS shaving soaps are the highest quality soaps I could find based off of smell, quality of lather, and consistency of the product quality. This soap is more like a cream. I scooped out some with my fingers, put it in the bowl, added some hot water, and then worked up a lather. It felt and smelled amazing! In reality, I didn’t want to wash it off because it just felt so good! After-shave Balm: Truefitt & Hill Sandalwood Aftershave Balm https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004OWPW0I/ref=cm_cr_ryp_prd_ttl_sol_29 This was my biggest splurge of the whole set-up and I did so for several reasons: First, using after-shave balm is said to be gentler on your skin than alcohol-based after-shaves. As I mentioned before, I switched from an electric to a safety razor with no skin irritation at all. This cream soothes the skin and makes it soft. It was the perfect way to finish my shave. Second, this stuff is rated as the absolutely best smelling after-shave balm out there and I can attest to that. It smells so great that I stopped using my cologne. Based on the small amount that is needed, this bottle should easily last for a year or more. Three, there are other “luxury” brand shaving balms that have been bought out by big brand companies and their formulas have changed significantly as a result. That means that some of the products out there have great ratings, but only because of the number ratings BEFORE they recently changed. If you look into other luxury shaving brands, then you will see what I mean. Razor Disposal Case: Feather Styling Razor Disposal Case https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DWGEY1K/ref=cm_cr_ryp_prd_ttl_sol_36 Even used razors are sharp, so I bought this little case to keep stray razors off of the counter, or better yet, off of the floor. Just drop in the used razor when it’s too dull for shaving. It holds over a hundred, so you can go without emptying it for a few years. It’s pretty cheap, so maybe you can just throw it away when it’s full? Your choice. That’s my whole set up. If you want to get into safety razor shaving, then I highly recommend the products on this list. All-in-all, you will spend about the same on this list than you would on a TAOS starter kit that only has the oil, brush, soap, and balm. I’m a morning shaver, so the sandalwood scent works great for me, but evening shavers may consider the same products in lavender scent if you want a relaxing experience to help you sleep.

Purchasing this razor has been a superlative experience in my life. I struggle with the irritation caused by disposable razors, but I really like the close shave that I get when shave with a Gillette multiple blade razor (mach 3, etc.). I have used this razor almost every day since I received it and have yet to see a single irritated bump on my sensitive face. I also purchased it with an escali badger hair brush and some taylor sandalwood shaving soap - both excellent. The whole experience of shaving has been forever and totally improved for me. I've used the blade about 6 times now and it shows no sign of becoming less effective. So, in short, I have discovered a way to shave that is more enjoyable, unbelievably more affordable, produces absolutely no irritation to my face, and it is all thanks to this razor. This particular razor is super easy to use, the doors open effortlessly and close dependably. It feel heavy and sturdy in my hand, but not at all bulky or cumbersome. The weight of the razor does all the work for you - you need not apply any pressure for a good shave. The finish is attractive and the operation is smooth. I would definitely suggest this ultra affordable alternative to anyone who shaves anything. I will never be going back to disposable razors or any other inferior shaving product. I will warn those that shaving with this is not like shaving with a mach3. Make sure you research the proper technique and save yourself some nicks. I did not and for my first shave I got a fair amount of nicks and cuts (however, after i used a styptic pencil to stop the bleeding - there was absolutely zero razor burn in spite of my poor technique). There are a ton of resources about how to shave with a safety razor and this particular company actually provides information when they send you the product, I just should have listened to the advice more attentively the first time! You can trust these sellers - they have been very forthright and attentive from the moment I purchased my item. They have made sure to contact me before and after the purchase to ensure my satisfaction. I typically do not write reviews, but this has been such a perfect buying experience, I could not pass on the opportunity to hopefully lead some other people to making this 100% in every way best possible shaving decision. Do it, ge this razor (or a different model from this company - we all have different tastes, but the quality will not falter, I can assure you). Your face and your wallet will thank you.

My first, and only other DE razor is a Merkur 180. It took me a while to master it, but I'm good with it now. This razor is different, in that it is a TTO and a different design from a different company, and I like it. It has a good weight, feels nice in the hand, looks cool, and secures the blade in place. I haven't had any trouble with the blade coming loose. I haven't quite mastered it yet, but that's probably because I've had my Merkur for 7 years and I've had this for a couple of weeks. The spacing between the comb and the blade is greater, and the head shape is different. It requires a different angle which isn't in my muscle memory. BUT, when I get it right, I can feel and hear it working, at least on my first pass. I can actually hear it popping the hairs more so than with my Merkur. I will say, it is harder to tell if I've got the angle correct (or if I'm just using the comb/head to wipe off cream) on subsequent passes than with my Merkur. I bet if I bought this razor 7 years ago and a Merkur 180 a month ago, I'd be saying the same thing in reverse. I bought it because I wanted to try/own several different types and styles of razors, and also because I spend the weekends at my girlfriends house and it became a PITA to drag my razor over there and back every weekend. The Parker now lives at her house. Up next are: Merkur Progress, Muhle r41, and a Merkur slant. That should round out my collection of various types of razors. Maybe an antique Gillette when I'm older and wiser. Footnote: I've only used it probably half a dozen times, and I'm using the blades it came shipped with: Sharks. They seem OK. I use Personna blades in my Merkur because they're made in Amurica, they're cheap, and I get a good shave with them. YMMV. I've used lots of blades over the years, and I'm currently burning my way through a 100 pack of Personnas. I remember early on I bought some Feathers and cut the holy hell out of myself. When I'm through my Personnas I'm going to give Feathers another shot now that I actually know how to use a DE razor.

"Look pal, I didn't ask for your shaving life story." YEAH WELL YOU'RE GONNA GET IT ANYWAY. When I was maybe five or six years old, I received an AVON boy's toy shaving kit. I found a picture of a vintage one on Etsy: https://img0.etsystatic.com/000/0/6404262/il_fullxfull.286952360.jpg The fake, chunky blue plastic 'razor' approximated what I saw my dad shave with daily -- disposable yellow-handle Bics. It was fun to pretend I was shaving alongside him. Fast-forward to ages twelve through fourteen. I got myself a Gillette "SensorExcel" twin-bladed razor to shave the little dirt-stache growing above my lip. That was my introduction into 'real' shaving and the modern disposable razor market. I used that type of razor for years, progressing along with the industry and its ridiculous push towards three, four, and five-bladed disposable razor heads. SNL skits about twelve-bladed razors seemed prescient when the market was still 'only' at three. Several years back in my mid-to-late twenties, I decided to ditch that wagon and started looking into straight razors. I bought and eventually sold a beautifully-designed and expensive razor after attempting to go the whole nine, strop and all. It was magnificent tool but required too much care and maintenance for my taste. I decided to pivot to the type of straight razor that my barber uses -- they aren't allowed to used fixed-blade razors for sanitary reasons, so they use what's basically a straight razor *handle* that accepts one-half of a disposable double-edged razor blade. I bought a Parker SR1 Stainless Steel Straight Edge Barber Razor and 5 Shark Super Stainless blades along with a bulk order of 100 blades and hadn't looked back since then. I'd been very happy with the Parker SR1 through my early-to-now-mid thirties, but at some point a few weeks ago it went missing. Not sure if it'd eventually turn up, I wanted to replace it but not with the same EXACT thing -- so I opted for a Parker DE razor instead. I'd been perusing DE razors back around the time I was originally researching straight razors, and decided now was the time to give one a chance... OH. OH MY. IT'S SO OBVIOUS NOW. IT'S ALL SO CLEAR TO ME. THIS is what I'd been raised on, yet took until adulthood to understand. That fake, chunky blue plastic razor I played with as a kid wasn't emulating my dad's crappy disposable Bic, it was emulating THIS, a DE-style safety razor. Those DE blades weren't made to be snapped in half and inserted into a shavette handle, they were made for THIS, to be dropped in whole and locked in place behind two butterfly doors. In my personal view... after using all sorts of razors, this basic DE safety razor design is the pinnacle of razor achievement. The razor industry fooled people with their cheapo handles and their expensive replacement blade cartridges. It should have stopped at the DE design of quality handles and cheap replacement blades, but "innovation" and capitalism go hand-in-hand. This type of razor is probably all I'll ever use now. It's much easier and safer to use than a straight razor / shavette, it accepts the same super-sharp and super-cheap replacement blades, and it's much easier to rinse and clean than those cheapo disposable razors that get clogged up on the inside after one stroke. For me, this is perfect. ----- Now, with SPECIFIC regard to the Parker 96R model -- I don't know if this in particular is the pinnacle of DE safety razors, but I'm certainly happy with it. I'm surprised 'Long Handle' is in the title -- I'm a short dude and don't have especially large-sized hands, but this handle didn't seem particularly long to me at all. If *this* is a long handle, then do other DE razors have just a little nubbin of a handle and that's it? I don't know. The handle on this is... sufficient in length. It has a nice weight to it. The butterfly doors seem to open and close fine. I notice curves in the center hole of DE razor blades that aren't incorporated on the inside mechanism of the Parker, so I *imagine* it's possible that other DE razors do incorporate those into their design to lock the razor blade more evenly and precisely in place. On this one, it's possible to have one side of the razor jut out a fraction of a millimeter more so than on the other side. It hasn't been a big deal during use, just an observation. In retrospect, it's funny that the toy razor I played with as a kid approximated a better razor design than what I'd end-up using for the next ~25+ years of my life, and it took me literally this long to realize it. Even if I eventually find my Parker SR1, I'm pretty certain I'll be using the Parker 96R as my regular razor from now on.

I bought the Parker 96R in January 2010 as my first safety razor - I'd simply gored my face on too many cheap Bic disposables and wanted something that would last and that wouldn't suck money. It's a perfectly serviceable modern straight razor, and I had no issues with the SHARK blades, though I don't have very coarse facial hair. Also, if you've never shaved with a straight razor, I'd advise searching online for tips - it's a different skill than shaving with disposables. About a week ago, I dropped it on a hardwood floor - not very violently, it wasn't like it was thrown on the highway from a moving vehicle or anything, just dropped, and it broke. More specifically, the black plastic piece near the head broke, so the head kind of wobbles around and the doors have trouble opening. I even took it to my jack-of-all-trades friend who took it apart to see if it could be salvaged, and he confirmed that it's totally broken and I just have to get a new one. Also in that time, a good bit of the black paint on the handle has come off - not all, and it doesn't particularly bother me, but it's not exactly a good thing. So if it's your first straight razor and you have the discretionary money for it, I'd hedge towards recommending it so long as you're confident that you won't be dropping it. If that's not the case, I'd recommend to either go cheaper for a first-time straight razor (they're all roughly the same), otherwise buy one that's all metal. I'm trying the Parker 22R this go around, and it's one of the most (if not the most) popular straight razors out there. I would also not search for a straight razor based on Amazon.com's average consumer rating unless you intend to read most or all of them, because a good half of the reviews are from first time straight razor users who don't really have the experience or knowledge to know what makes a good straight razor, and they tend to mark otherwise highly-rated straight razors lower.

Now Let Me State That Others Have Had Problems With The Parker But That Hasn't Been My Experience At All. As I am both impressed with the 'Fit and Finish' of the razor and also the way it cuts as it shaves very well and believe me I am very picky and Ive shaved with the full gamut of razors from antique straights to drug store Gillettes. Now its said they redesigned the cutting head along with the fact that it does somewhat resemble a vintage Gillette Model. Frankly I really like this razor as its in the middle or rather it shaves better and closer than my mild Weishi, Yet the cut isn't so sharp and severe as my Merker Adjustable. Granted I didn't use the shark blades that came with it as they are a bit sharper than I care for so I used an Astra blade which in other razors seem to work better with my face and skin type. Put simply It shaved me pretty fair but didn't cut or tear my face up and do keep in mind that 'Astra Blades' are pretty sharp or at least as sharp as I normally care to use. Yes just to see what it would do on my last pass i pressed a bit hard and then I got a couple of mild nicks so its clear you can cut yourself with one of these but depending on the blade you will really have to work at it. That alone tells me that this will be a good razor both for those who are new to wet shaving, And also to those who'd like a closer shave but who's skin wont tolerate a sharper blade nor a more aggressive razor. Oh to be sure you will need to test both differing blades along with different types both shaving soaps/cremes to find what Shave Creme works best for you. Now I used an Astra Blade and Col Conks shave soap and got excellent results. But again thats just me ok. Now tomorrow just for the heck of it I'll try a shark blade together with 'light pressure' and some Palmolive Shave Creme to see if I can get the beard down just a tad closer. But Again thats just me as Im sure you'll find the blades and shave cremes you need right here on Amazon and at some very decent prices too. My only and 'Sole Complaint' is for almost a 30 buck razor id expected a case and not the cardboard box it came in, But then again its not the case that shaves you?,. Still In Any Case Do Buy And Try One Of These Parker R96 Razors There Really Pretty Neat. Nuff Said: IndianaED

This is my first safety razor, so my comparison isn't versus other safety razors but rather, against disposable razors. I was first drawn into the idea of a safety razor from my coworker who said it was the best shave hes ever had. Naturally that peaked my curiosity, being a wet shave kinda guy, I decided to take a look. I saw some links from others suggesting this particular razor and when I saw it I said, this is it (had been looking at others). Let me say the look and feel of this razor is amazing; perfect weight. The materials are all top notch. If they made a pen to match this handle I would buy it because it's a work of art and it just screams manly and awesome. With a disposable, you kind of hide it on your counter or in a drawer, with this, it is proudly displayed on a stand I bought for it. The way this razor works is that you twist the handle and the top part of the razor opens up and you put a razor (comes with shark super chrome blades) in it, then twist it back to close. Easy and its really cool looking. As for the shave, I was a little nervous at first, being my first time, so I watched a video to make sure I was doing it right... but to be honest, I probably didn't even need to. It was very easy to shave, and very smooth. And extremely precise in it's shaving lines. Now it doesn't hug your face like a disposable razor would, so getting angles is tricky and I'm still working on that, places like, under your nose and around your neck. But that isn't a knock on this razor, it's just me as a beginner to this sort of razor. Now I haven't gone all out and bought a brush or whipped up my own shaving creams, I'm using Cremo Astonishingly Superior Shave Cream and it works great with this razor. All in all, this is just a much better experience than a disposable razor and I will certainly switch to using this razor full time. Will I keep a disposable razor on hand? Sure, I'm still getting use to it, but it stays in a drawer, hidden away. This is full on displayed. Even the wife said it was pretty awesome looking.

I promise I will explain the 5 star review. I have used multi-blade razors all of my life and assumed the learning curve on this razor would be relatively shallow because of that, I could not have been more wrong. When I first used this razor, it cut me up to the point where I looked like the Frankenstein monster. To be forthright, I should mention that I shave my face and head all in one go. So I used this razor and some shaving soap I had purchased and spent about 30 or so minutes butchering my head. I had long gashes and felt like I had peeled my skin from my head. It hurt, a lot. The learning curve on this razor was much steeper than I had thought. So I waited a week for my cuts to heal and attempted it again. This time I took my time (about 45 minutes) and mixed in some Nivea For Men Sensitive Shaving Gel (here's the Amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/Nivea-Men-Sensitive-Shaving-Canister/dp/B00BIL9HZE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1414271475&sr=8-1&keywords=Nivea+For+Men+Sensitive+Shaving+Gel%2C+7-Ounce+Canister) and had better results, just a few nicks and no gashes. In the following weeks I ordered a sampler pack of razors and discovered Derby Extra Double Edge Razor Blades (Link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004SGKMA0/ref=sr_ph?ie=UTF8&qid=1414271569&sr=1&keywords=derby+razor+blades) and also stopped using the shaving soap and stuck with the Nivea; the results have been remarkable. I get much better shaves than I did with my Gillette or Schick multi-blades, my skin feels and looks better and I don't get the razor burn I always got with those blades. Additionally, my shaving time has been reduced to 15-20 mins (for my whole head) and I can shave against the grain without issue. If you use this razor, be wary of the learning curve and the blades they send with it. The Shark blades were like shaving with a chainsaw when compared to the Derby blades. Additionally, most double bladers will rave about using shaving soap and a brush; since switching back to the canned stuff I have had nary a nick nor cut and my shaves have been very comfortable. So why 5 stars? Because, once you learn how to use it, and use the right cream and blades, this razor will give a superior shave compared to multi-blade razors for a very small fraction of the cost. Gillette is running ads saying their blades will cost you a dollar a week, Derby blades will run you a dollar every 2.5 months! Instead of spending $52 a year on cartridges, I'd much rather spend the roughly $5 a year for the drop-in blades. Finally, it just looks cool to have this thing in the bathroom. I've always hated how multi-blades look like toys/jet planes/euro-trash sports cars. I don't want/need bright colors or vibrating heads or an all plastic build; I want something with some classic style that a man of good taste would have in his bathroom. This razor fits that bill perfectly.

Arrived as advertised and quicker than the estimated time. Thanks.

Buena de sujetar, peso ideal para el afeitado, resistente, de buena calidad.

Funciona muy bien, de buena calidad. Recomiendo

Dopo tanti anni con un Daune finalmente ho provato rasoi di sicurezza degni di questo nome; con questo modello ho trovato un buon compromesso tra efficacia di rasatura e comodità, almeno per i miei gusti e le mie esigenze.

The Razor is great. It's quite solid, the weight is perfect, not so heavy but not so light. Very firm grip even with wet hands. I don't think this is hard on the skin. It is my very first safety razor ever and I have not had any problems with it so far. It is just a matter of doing small and SOFT passes over your damp skin and that's it and if you need to do a new pass, make sure to apply shave gel again before letting the razor touch your skin. This is basic information found on any YouTube tutorial. I am satisfied with this razor, it's all I expected. And it's way cheaper getting shaving blades for this than using those cartridge razors.