Elsewhere, we’ve looked at a combination of user reviews, specs, and features – combined with those years of grooming expertise – to pick the cream of the electric shaver crop. If you’re more worried about irritation than the closest possible shave, Braun’s Series 7 is the system to beat. With amazing battery life and a convenient (if redundant) cleaning stand, this is a prestige piece that works hard to earn its steeper price tag. The Arc5’s extra foils did help mow down the heavy growth, though, and if you’re going from fuzz to clean-shaven every week this model would save you some time. There are two common approaches to making a small motor into a hair-shaving machine. Each design is a transformation of the tried-and-true hair clipper mechanism.
Most electric shavers are waterproof, rechargeable and cordless, which also means they can be used in the shower and easily cleaned — and yes, that means they pair nicely with shaving cream too. To help alleviate discomfort, I recommend applying a protective barrier between your face and your new shaver. This could be an electric shaving solution, face moisturizer, or shaving cream (essential oil-based versions). Additionally, shaving with no more than 2-3 days of beard growth is most ideal for these shavers.
Because any longer could prove to be a very uncomfortable experience since electric shavers are made for removing shorter hair. Lastly, shaving the most sensitive areas of the face first when the shaving head is cool, is recommended in order to avoid any extra shaving irritation. They’re also regarded to be better for sensitive skin, as they’re less likely to cause irritation or razor burn. The Panasonic ES-LS9A is one of the best electric shavers for sensitive skin, as it’s clever enough to automatically adjust its power according to the density of your beard.
In other words, any of these shavers should work even better on legs than they did on our faces. The fact that newer shavers are almost all waterproof is also a boon if you’re used to shaving your legs in the shower. It’s easy to angle a rotary drive shaft, so each of the circular cutters can tilt to follow tricky contours like your chin. That said, foil shavers already have some contour-following advantages with the 3D shape of their foils. So the difference between types in this regard isn’t as big as it might seem. For a barber, this might still be a decent choice; it’s a simple machine and the replacement foils are the cheapest we found.
The shaver includes 72 self-sharpening blades which are guided by its Smart Hair sensor scanning system that adjusts to each hair for a consistently close and comfortable shave. The added bonus is that this razor performs even better in the shower and with shaving cream. Where possible, our team of grooming experts included electric shavers philips razor that we’ve personally tried ourselves. We’ve tested budget and premium models from Braun, Philips and Panasonic on different styles and stubble lengths. Key to any electric shaver scoring our recommendation is its balancing of ergonomics, aesthetics and ease of use whether its owner happens to be a trimming pro or an absolute beginner.
Our most sensitive-skinned tester said that, in comparison, the Panasonic – Arc3 felt like it was “very slightly snagging” on hairs, a tiny bit “scratchy.” The Braun shaves with a gentle, whirring caress. If you avoid blade-shaves because you don’t like the way they feel, that might be more than enough reason to cough up another $80 for the Braun. Compared to the $160 Braun Series 7, the Arc3’s shave is definitely more aggressive.
If you have sensitive follicles you might consider Braun’s smoother shave worth the extra $80 over Panasonic’s close and efficient cut. Braun’s Series 5, however, which is closer in price to the Arc3, is just buzzy and inefficient by comparison. You’ll have to rinse lather off the Arc3 more frequently than the Arc5, but it doesn’t smear the lather around your face the way Braun’s shavers do. Combining a slick shaving cream and the Arc3 is a luxe upgrade to your morning shave routine without the risk of nicks. According to instructions supplied with the units, the shaving heads need cleaning every 2 months and replacing every 18 months. The Philishave shaver was invented by Philips engineer Alexandre Horowitz, who used rotating cutters instead of the reciprocating cutters that had been used in previous electric shavers.
We asked some proper experts for guidance on what to look for when it comes to a quality electric shaver from our mate Joe Mills, founder of Joe Mills Studio and GQ’s Barber of the Year. “This magic thing was something I saw on TikTok and didn’t think it’d work. It’s super gentle and leaves zero razor burn. I’ve used it on my ankles, bikini line, and even armpits. Love, love, love it.” —Lauren G. We charged each shaver and then timed how long it took for them to totally run out of juice. Models from Panasonic, Remington and Philips have much more room inside the foil to scoop up the lather between rinses, while the Braun heads just “snowplow” the cream around your face. Panasonic pulls out all the stops with a five-foil monster shaver, and in some spots it’ll give you the closest shave in fewer passes than with the Arc3. If the solo model of the Series 7 came with at big discount we might tell you to forget about the stand entirely, but the sad truth is that Braun has made it hard to find them and the prices go up and down all the time.
The device uses a three-blades, a set of trimmers, and a hypoallergenic foil to lift and cut hair in minutes. Our hair is as individual as our fingerprints, but we hope that we’ve given you enough info to buy an electric shaver that you’ll love using. Our hypothesis is that the more expensive shavers are cutting more efficiently, which means you don’t need to press the shaver into your skin as much to get close; less abrasion always means less redness. On the whole, though, it seems clear that most people will be happier with the bar-shaped foils than the triangular pattern of circular foils.
Simply place the shaver into the pod and the cleaning solution inside will clean and lubricate the 9500’s blades, ensuring that it’s ready for the next time you need a shave. The Pod’s cleaning solution needs to be replaced on a regular basis, but the 9500’s shaving heads can also be rinsed off under a running faucet. We shouldn’t have to talk about the hygiene issues with using the same device you use on your body as your face, but in case we do, you definitely shouldn’t use the same electric shaver all over your body. In fact, we’d happily point you towards our best body hair trimmers article to learn about the best tools for that job. Unless you’ve already got stubble all over your body, these razors aren’t well-equipped for a total groom where the sun doesn’t shine, and you should definitely invest in the right tools if that’s what you’re keen on. The difference in cleaning score mostly came down to easy access to the inside of the cutting system.