A few weeks ago I visited the small Turkish supermarket down my street. I did a nice find there: loads of Arko stuff (sticks and creams), dirt cheap Derby blades (0,10 per blade, non-bulk), and even some cheap plastic TTO razors by a company named Orak (which happens to be an anagram of Arko, coincidence?). I decided to spend little over 3,50 and do a bit of experimenting.
I already knew the Derby blades: forgiving and smooth, but not as sharp as other blades. Just not for me. Since buying it, I used the Arko stick several times already. I like it. It lathers like a rabid werewolf, and the packaging is as cheesy as a 1950s Turkish product can get. There was one new thing, and that was the razor. I already did some research, and apparently Orak and Yuma are one and the same. I never ran into plastic Orak razors though. At the princely sum of 2,50 you can buy one, and you get a hard plastic travel case with it as well. Even if the razor is bad, you can keep the case, so it's not a bad buy. The razor itself looks and feels like a children's toy. The 'doors' of the razor appear not to fully close. However, the blade fits snugly. It sticks out at some 0.2 or 0.3 mms, and the blade appears to be somewhat straight. The blade angle in my R89 is um.. sharper.
The first few strokes were actually a pleasant surprise. This razor allowed me to play with blade angle more than my R89 does. Additionally, the cheap plastic gives you more auditory feedback. It is easier to 'listen' to my razor. The more difficult parts of my face appeared to be a bigger challenge than with my R89. I'm gonna chalk that up to my own lack of technique. Even so, the razor is not really forgiving, even if it has a protective bar. If I had used a sharper blade, I would have had quite some weepers. Now, both my face and dome were relatively unharmed. Just a nick on my Adam's apple and one on my chin. These are both difficult spots. My head is not as smooth as with other blades / razors, but it never is with Derbys. It's just not my blade. I noticed a huge difference with my R89: the blade pulled more, even if it was new.
As for the Arko: I like it. It has been allowed to air out a bit, and actually smells quite pleasant now. It lathers really well and gives a nice, luxurious shave. It is dirt cheap as well, and literally a 100 meter walk away if I need more.
All in all, I had quite a pleasant shave with gear that costs a mere fraction of the price of more popular products. It is not perfect, but much better than your average cart shave. The razor scared me a bit, but that fear was unfounded. It was easier to work with than I thought it would be, even if it does not have the build quality and balance that I am used to. It actually seems quite a nice beginner's razor, if you use the right blade.
I already knew the Derby blades: forgiving and smooth, but not as sharp as other blades. Just not for me. Since buying it, I used the Arko stick several times already. I like it. It lathers like a rabid werewolf, and the packaging is as cheesy as a 1950s Turkish product can get. There was one new thing, and that was the razor. I already did some research, and apparently Orak and Yuma are one and the same. I never ran into plastic Orak razors though. At the princely sum of 2,50 you can buy one, and you get a hard plastic travel case with it as well. Even if the razor is bad, you can keep the case, so it's not a bad buy. The razor itself looks and feels like a children's toy. The 'doors' of the razor appear not to fully close. However, the blade fits snugly. It sticks out at some 0.2 or 0.3 mms, and the blade appears to be somewhat straight. The blade angle in my R89 is um.. sharper.
The first few strokes were actually a pleasant surprise. This razor allowed me to play with blade angle more than my R89 does. Additionally, the cheap plastic gives you more auditory feedback. It is easier to 'listen' to my razor. The more difficult parts of my face appeared to be a bigger challenge than with my R89. I'm gonna chalk that up to my own lack of technique. Even so, the razor is not really forgiving, even if it has a protective bar. If I had used a sharper blade, I would have had quite some weepers. Now, both my face and dome were relatively unharmed. Just a nick on my Adam's apple and one on my chin. These are both difficult spots. My head is not as smooth as with other blades / razors, but it never is with Derbys. It's just not my blade. I noticed a huge difference with my R89: the blade pulled more, even if it was new.
As for the Arko: I like it. It has been allowed to air out a bit, and actually smells quite pleasant now. It lathers really well and gives a nice, luxurious shave. It is dirt cheap as well, and literally a 100 meter walk away if I need more.
All in all, I had quite a pleasant shave with gear that costs a mere fraction of the price of more popular products. It is not perfect, but much better than your average cart shave. The razor scared me a bit, but that fear was unfounded. It was easier to work with than I thought it would be, even if it does not have the build quality and balance that I am used to. It actually seems quite a nice beginner's razor, if you use the right blade.
