I looked for raves and common complaints, particularly about battery life and stubble-y results (both major pain points). Then I reached out to Katie Sobelman, an aesthetician and skincare educator, to tell me more about why someone might want to use an electric razor, what they’re best for and how to select and use the right one for you. Foil-based systems use one or more cutting blocks mounted beneath the thin metal head. The foil’s perforations guide the whiskers into the block, where a pair of opposing blades slice them off. The action is more like what you’d get from a pair of scissors than from a knife. Rotary shavers use similar perforated surfaces to guide whiskers toward their cutters, but instead of snipping, hundreds of tiny blades slice hairs with a circular motion.
The Braun Series 8 features four synchronized shaving elements that can cut in one stroke what other razors do in two. You get most of the features in the Series 8 as you do the Braun Series 9. The main difference being you receive an extra cutter on the Series 9, making it easier to cut down longer wiry hairs, which would push the Series 9 to better tackling stubble that’s grown out for a couple days. However, with my thick and overly curly beard, I found it very challenging to get a clean shave without multiple passes over the same area. That said, when tested on thin, straight beard hair, it did a very good job, delivering a close shave with much less effort. During testing, the Pro-Foil had no trouble removing hair of any hair type.
I found the LED light on the Finishing Touch Flawless razor to be very convenient and wish this one had one. A USB charger, like the one that comes with the Finishing Touch Flawless razor, is more convenient philips electric razor because you can just use the block that comes with your iPhone. I found the design of the Panasonic charger—a base that plugs directly into the wall with no cord—to be very user-friendly too.
The latter made shaving with the Arc3 much more comfortable for me. Electric shavers have been a go-to alternative for removing facial hair for years. They shave faster than a manual razor, offer nick-free performance, and can be used almost anywhere. It’s actually important to do that with these because some can be used wet and dry, and some only dry; some with soap or cream, and some only without. I also took down the battery life and charge times (to compare them with my experience), cleaning and maintenance instructions, return policy and warranty so that I could see which ones of the bunch were optimal. I’ve been a lifestyle reporter and editor for more than a decade, covering beauty topics like grooming for a number of magazines and websites including Elle, O, The Oprah Magazine, Martha Stewart Living and Allure.
Braun’s Series 9 clean-and-charge base uses the same cartridges as the Series 7 base (and those of all other Braun shavers) and is functionally identical. Replacement cartridges last about three months and cost about $25 for a four-pack. Replacement foils are considerably more expensive for the Series 9; they currently run about $50, compared with about $30 to $40 for the Series 7. That extra power and performance come at a dollar and design cost. Series 9 razors are notably bulkier than Series 7 razors, and some testers found the Series 9 razors tough to maneuver in tight spots (like the equally ginormous Panasonic Arc5, which this Braun line somewhat mimics).
We continue to recommend Series 7 shavers for most facial hair removal (and Series 9 models for handling heavier growth). Sales often make a given higher-end model less expensive than a version a notch below it. During deals events like Black Friday or Cyber Monday, you may be able to find philips razor a higher-series model at a lower-series-like price. If you neglect to clean your electric shaver, you risk the chance of shortening the razor’s lifespan and also running dirt across your face when shaving. A dirty razor can result in uneven shaving, as well as cause ingrown hairs or acne.