Reddit reviews Parker 91R Super Heavyweight Double Edge Safety Razor & 5 Blades

Parker 91R Safety

Derby Bulk Razors

I shave everyday cause I have to (military) and I have a fairly tough beard so I replace the blade once a week.

You can make your own shave oil & aftershave

You can economize instead of going with the Merkur razor by going with a comparable Parker razor.

Parker Heavy Weight

They take the same blades, and the quality is just as nice. I use a heavyweight as my field razor since it takes abuse without a complaint.

The stands are easy to make yourself from some metal pipe and parts from Home Depot. Sand and paint it with enamal and you'll have something that will last for many years.

Last, the brushs need to be cared for, that means you rinse them after use and then air dry.

http://www.wikihow.com/Care-for-a-Badger-Shaving-Brush

I like my safety razors a lot because they give me a close shave with a very heavy beard. Your face will also look a lot better as less time exposed to a blade means less knicks and cuts.

Here's what i use:

http://www.amazon.com/Parker-91R-Heavyweight-Safety-Razor/dp/B001AKFXN8/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1289919458&sr=8-3

I'm in the UK, so got mine from Shave Lounge, but I was thinking about using Connaught for more blades, as their postage seems a little cheaper (also, I kinda like their archaic website). There are lots of US suppliers listed on the /r/wicked_edge wiki.

I got a Parker 91R because I believe that the handle should be knurled. It's not that fancy (although I see there are cheaper), but it's fine. You can get it for $30 in the US, it seems.

Buy a sampler or two of blades and see which ones you like. This seems to be a subjective matter - I've only tried two brands so far, as they're the ones which came with my razor; I liked the Derby Extra, which lots of people seem to dislike, whereas the Persona Platinum didn't suit me.

I kinda think the subscribers to /r/wicked_edge are taking it a bit too seriously, posting photos of their new razors and making it into a "hobby", but I can feel a noticeable difference between the two brands of blades.

The /r/wicked_edge subscribers harp on about shaving gel / foam being shitty - I bought a brush and the kind of shaving soap they recommend, but haven't used it, as Gillette gel still seems fine to me.

Hope this helps.

This brings up an interesting point in discussion. So, I bought a lifetime supply of blades from Costco over two years - every time we made it up to the one in the city, I'd buy them because they are quite expensive otherwise here in Australia. This resulted in a tiny drawer full of blades I have very slowly worked my way through.

I justified to myself that taking up the one small (really, it was quite small) drawer was fine and I didn't need to feel bad about the space usage since I saved money.

Then after five years in our apartment, we moved. That meant I had to box up my still half full drawer to move them. Then I had to make room for them and the other pack I found stuffed in another drawer because I'd ran out of room and forgotten it.

The physical burden went from one drawer to moving it, finding a new home, the mental space it took up and the inevitable land waste from the razers. It wasn't just the physical space that mattered. And in our small apartment that was just one more thing I had to stress about moving.

BIFL for me isn't about just the physical space. It's about the life I choose being effective for me in the immediate present, the less obvious present (my landfill footprint and how much goes into my garbage and recycling that doesn't even need to be there in the first place if I choose not to), and the future of my life that will inevitably leave its mark on my child.

One really good item replaces all of that and more for me it means I can live in a place with less storage because I don't need it. Less to clean up, organise, fix or replace. Because replacing still happens and is a little mental pocket I have to care for. My mental burden is less for every item I choose to not store.

I swapped to this and it's great. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001AKFXN8/ref=ox_sc_saved_image_9?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A262S395NXGG8Z

I'm still working on that blade pile too though. Ugh.

This is the blade I ordered. The reviews seem to give it high regard.

The Parker 91R Super Heavyweight Double Edge Safety Razor.link I would suggest being careful with yours. A number of other people have had issues with the chrome coating on the 91R, I can't speak for the 99. The treads tend to snap too. Apparently Parkers aren't cheap razors, they are just made cheaply.

I have one of these.
Works great. Blades cost $1.50 for a ten pack and my face doesn't breakout any more and I don't have any ingrown hairs. I couldn't begin to tell you how much money I've saved.

This has been covered before, and I recommend you head over to the FAQ's on the right.

That being said, the great thing about wet-shaving (i.e. using a brush and soap ISO gel) is that it gets your beard to actually stand up so the grain is of less hindrance. Notice I said "less" hindrance; grain is still important and relevant. So, you're on the right track if you start with a good kit that includes brush, soap and razor.

Now, on to Safety Razor vs Straight Razor debate, and trust me, it is a debate with both sides very vehemently and stringently for their side. However, and this is my $0.02, as you're a N00B, you should probably consider a Double Edge Safety Razor. The reason I suggest this is because there will be fewer differences between a DE and a cartridge (which is what you're using if you're not using a straight or safety razor). You can find lots of inexpensive ones, but this is definitely an area where you get what you pay for.

The problem with starting with a straight is that you have to worry about a lot more, e.g. blade maintenance, sight lines (it's a straight blade and your hand will be in your line of sight), blade types, and a whole slew of other things. Most people (who use them for a while and get the feel of them) end up preferring straights to DEs, but there is a severe learning curve with the straight.

So, here are a few recommendations for beginner sets. Very reasonably priced so if you give it a shot and decide it's not something you're into very much, you won't be out a lot of cash:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001GMTKCK

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001A3HPT0

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001AKFXN8

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0038KA5RC (These can be broken in half to make two blades for a straight.)

Parker Safety razor: http://www.amazon.com/Parker-91R-Heavyweight-Safety-Razor/dp/B001AKFXN8

A lot of people like feather blades (I haven't tried them) but I'm happy with Derby (also bought on Amazon)

Agreed! But I'm partial to BlueBird blades... a little sharper and last a little longer than Shark (which are also good) but they won't shave your face off like you can with Feather blades... and a little cheaper too!

My razor is a Parker 91R Super Heavyweight (I like it)... and it's inexpensive.

And then for my shave cream I use Taylor of Old Bond Street... a little goes a very long way. The stuff is great.

A good badger shave brush and a shave mug.... maybe some pre-shave oil if you really want to take your time. And you got yourself a shave that is far closer and more comfortable than an expensive as hell cheaply-made multi-bladed razor...

Sure upfront costs are slightly higher, but in the long run you save tons of money... plus you get a better shave. What's not to love?