Parker & Elvado Premium Shave
Gentlemen, you know the procedure so letโs get into it ๐. (SHAVING) razor ๐ช
- Prep: Lukewarm water face wash
- Pre-Shave: None
- Razor: Parker Injector Razor V3
- Blade: Parker Injector Blades
- Brush: Elvado Synthetic Brush
- Soap: Elvado Amalfi shaving soap
- Shaving Bowl: None
- Post-Shave care: Doctor Plus Alum & Amalfi post-shave lotion
- Nosegasm: Carolina Herrera Men Privee
- Pre-Shave: None (to properly test things)
- Blade Bank: Elvado Shaving
Razor: Parker Injector Razor V3
As the name suggests, itโs an adjustable Injector razor, which is unique and visually appealing too! ๐ The overall construction is solid, made of stainless steel ๐, and the grip, is rubberized with some ABS plastic. It’s grippy in wet and soapy conditions. An injector razor is already a rare find, with Schick having ceased production several years ago. Yes, a few other indie brands have introduced a few new ones to the market. All the mechanisms work fine. It’s slightly on the lighter side in terms of weight, yet performance is not compromised, making it a good shaver.
The adjustable feature of the razor allows you to increase/reduce the gap between the blade and the base plate. This offers a mild to moderately aggressive shave, in my humble opinion, for some it might be close to medium aggressiveness, depending on your preference and beard growth.
On my 4-day beard growth (dense and mid-coarse), I did only 2 passes, starting on setting 5 and finishing on setting 4, with setting 3 for some touch-ups, and that’s about it. Voila! I was happy with the BBS, which I usually achieve with a sharp blade, and there was no sign of irritation, razor burns, or bumps, which speaks volumes about this product.
What’s blissful about it is its lightweight yet smooth performance. This is a great option for those who are not comfortable with DE razors but want to step up their game with something better, eco-friendly, easy to carry, and economical. This razor comes with 20 injector blades; one blade would give a minimum of 12-15 shaves. Let’s take a minimum of 10, that’s like 200 shaves if you shave daily, and if you shave every other day, then you’re covered for most of the year. So, it’s much cheaper and better than a Fusion or even a Mach 3, along with its blades. And yes, DE blades are, of course, slightly cheaper. It took me one pass to understand the angle of attack and curvature, but the bottom line, I have been impressed with it through and through.
For me, and for frequent travelers who donโt carry checked baggage but are always on the run, this is a must-have. No tension of scanning and customs bothering you to open your bag and all, which is a big hiccup with DE razors unless you have checked baggage, which most of us, like me, also donโt carry for a 2-day business trip. You have to be prim and proper without being sly or somehow sneaking in a blade, otherwise, go blade hunting after reaching your destination. Donโt want so much hassle. The feel, the touch, the finishing, everything is top-notch and feels premium in every sense. I would say this, for me, would be the product of the year so far with all I have seen, be it innovation, price, performance, and features ๐.
I have to give it to Parker for making such a versatile, all-stainless steel razor, and making it available at such an affordable price ๐.
P.S.: I tried the injector blade in the Parker shavette, and it works, though I didnโt shave with it, so shavette lovers can try it out this hack.
Parker Razors at The Wet Shaving Store
Soap: Elvado Amalfi Shaving Soap
According to the company, Amalfi Breeze Shaving Soap is a 100% natural fragrance oil blend emitting a sublime fragrance and is a handcrafted plant-based soap formulation, enriched with premium botanical ingredients.
Scent Notes: citrus fruits, scent of bergamot, and amber, with woody and earthy undertones of Vetiver and Patchouli adding depth and warmth to the fragrance.
This soap is not hard but soft, with a creamy consistency, and a little goes a long way. I scooped the soap using the scooper provided by Elvado, which is a nice touch, and the scooper has a small indicative notch to show how much to fill so that you donโt overdo it ๐! The lather created was creamy/yogurt-like, and the slickness was extremely good, as was the cushion/glide, residual slickness, and post-shave feel. The soap leaves your skin feeling moisturized even after the shave. All in all, a good product to choose from, and above all, a natural plant-based product that, in my humble opinion, is a must-try for wet shavers.
Brush: Elvado Synthetic Shaving Brush w/ 21mm Knot ๐ชข
The brush performed decently well for its size of 21mm, with no complaints. The bristles are soft but not super soft; they provide a mild exfoliation during the shave and help lift the hair as well. The splay is good, and the backbone is decent. In my humble opinion, for $39, there are better alternatives in the market.
Blades: Parker Injector Blades
Nice blades overall in terms of sharpness and smoothness, which I enjoyed. If you prefer sharper blades, there are some alternatives in the market, but in my humble opinion, these are pretty good. Well, I would say they felt better than a cartridge any day, with no tugging or pulling and an extremely close shave, almost like a double edge. If you are accustomed to double-edge blades, then you should know that injector blades are slightly thicker and that the shave experience is a tad different but nice.
Combo of blade and razor: Overall, good shaves throughout, and I have completed 7 shaves with this razor/blade combo so far.
After Shave: Elvado Amalfi Post Shave Lotion
This lotion also has the same scent profile as the soap. A little goes a long way. This lotion is quick-absorbing and nourishes & moisturizes/hydrates your face nicely with the goodness of premium and natural plant-based ingredients, leaving your skin feeling fresh, moisturized, and supple. Performance as an after-shave lotion is very good, according to me. I liked it, and itโs a good product to try and experience for wet shavers ๐.
Scent Notes: citrus fruits, scent of bergamot, and amber, with woody and earthy undertones of Vetiver and Patchouli adding depth and warmth to the fragrance.
Blade Bank: From the house of Elvado, this is a nice piece to own. It can store approximately 25-30 blades easily. The construction and functioning are pretty good. This can also be used to carry your blades when you’re traveling, as it will keep them more secure than the box blades usually come in, and the mechanism is also very simple ๐.
Overall, a great shave & thumbs up ๐ to the Parker injector razor & Elvado soap and lotion. This can be a perfect travel shave for people who travel a lot.
Thatโs all for now, folks ๐. Happy shaving, gents/ladies, and stay safe ๐ค.
Rajat Bajat
Shave Dad Group Expert, Wet Shaving Enthusiast, Expert, and Reviewer