That said, if you’re okay with a bit of scruff returning at the end of each day this might be a great razor for you. It’s louder and vibrates far more than the Series 7, definitely not the same class of motor. So far as we can tell the design and construction of the cutting heads is the same, you can even snap a Series 7 head onto the Series 5 body, but the comfortable shave of the Series 7 just wasn’t there anymore. If you’re okay sacrificing a little bit of comfort to save some money, Panasonic is a much better bet. The shaver was introduced in 1939, though initial production was limited due to the outbreak of World War II (the production facility in Eindhoven, the Netherlands, was overrun by the German Army in 1940). After the war, a slightly improved version of the cigar-shaped single-head shaver was introduced.
Panasonic still sells a lot of these Arc4 shavers, but the middle child in the family has largely been forgotten. The 8900 might get a tiny bit closer in a few spots than the modestly priced 4500 model. The “8 direction” pivoting head didn’t seem any different, though, and even if the motor spins slightly faster, this shaver was just as painful and ineffective in long stubble.
We looked long and hard at the Series 9, and we don’t see much reason to spend an extra $100 on metallic platings and an extra “Hyperlift and Cut” trimmer bar. Plenty of people who spring for the upgrade are happy to say that it shaves closer and with less irritation, so if buying the best is worth $250 we say go for it. For the rest of us, Series 7 is already enough of a stretch that we’re happy with our pick.
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 philips shaver 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.
Shaving Sensor Mode identifies the user’s beard thickness and automatically adjusts the shaver’s power to compensate. During testing, I didn’t notice any difference between how the two modes performed. Its pop-up trimmer, on the other hand, delivered a top-notch mustache and sideburns maintenance. Its pop-up trimmer does not have enough cutting power to make it a useful grooming accessory. Nor can it be locked into place while in use, making it a challenge to use the trimmer for minor cleanups.
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 philips electric shaver 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.
My relationship with the latter ended eight years ago—a long enough time that I feel comfortable saying that I can talk to you about shaving hardware, without bias. The Wahl Lifeproof Lithium-Ion Foil Shaver’s eye-catching yellow and black design made it stand out from the competition. Labeled as ‘practically indestructible’, Wahl claims that the shaver can continue to work even if it falls into three feet of water. To test this, I turned the shaver on, tossed it into the shallow end of my swimming pool, and waited three minutes before retrieving it. While still wet from its swim, the Lifeproof’s ergonomic shape and rubber grips made it feel comfortable and secure in my hand.