For starters, make sure your skin is clean before starting your shave. If you have a wet and dry use shaver, you can go at your scruff right out of the shower (or even in the shower) after washing your face. Unlike shaving with a traditional razor or safety razor, an electric razor has a pretty low learning curve. But that doesn’t mean you should just take your electric razor out of the box and start zooming without first knowing how to get a close shave.
The 9500 comes with a Quick Clean Pod that makes post-shave cleanup a breeze. 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. When you shave, you want a close, smooth shave in as little time as possible. Buying a quality electric shaver that’s right for your shaving needs accomplishes this task.
The precision trimmer located just behind the head, outperformed many of the shavers in this guide, making facial hair maintenance a breeze. After an hour’s worth of charging, the Lifeproof can run for 90 minutes. If you’re in need of a quick shave and forgot to charge it, a five-minute charge provides just enough runtime for a single shave. Flexible shaving heads are also important in an electric shaver for men because the face has many contours and angles. MultiHeadLock is another convenient feature that gives you the ability to adjust the shaver’s angle for addressing difficult areas. Once this Philips razor is completely powered up, you can groom for nearly an hour and a half before the battery dies.
Dan has dabbled with electric razors most of his adult life, and his technique is based mostly on saving time. Since he has two kids, he’s always in a rush first thing in the morning; when using a manual razor, he shaves in the shower. But with an electric shaver, he waits to shave during a calmer moment midmorning. The best women’s electric razor has the right blades, battery power and attachments to give you smooth, nick-free results fast. It should be easy to grip and maneuver, quick to charge and simple to maintain.
I’ve tested many hair removal products including IPL devices, epilators (ouch!), DIY wax strips and refillable safety razors (which I really like). I have always been a manual razor person for my legs, though I have used an old Philips trimmer for years. Building on the research and testing we’ve done for seven years, we’ve looked into new models from competing brands that have been released, and we’re confident that the Braun line of foil shavers is the best available. And the Series 7 offers the best mix of effectiveness, features, and affordability of the line. On my quest to find out why this razor didn’t work very well, I also read that the razor is intended to be used with three days worth of facial hair growth.
The Philips SatinShave razor has two foil blades and a cutter made of hypoallergenic stainless … James has been using the Series 7 to shave a portion of his face (growing a pandemic beard after initial testing decreased his use somewhat) since first testing for this guide in 2020. It’s held up remarkably well and, aside from a dip after a little more than a year of use which was remedied by replacing the foil, the shave quality has remained philips shaver consistent. The 7085cc and the 7020s provide the same high-quality shave as our pick, but they each come with different sets of accoutrements. We think the new 7071cc has the features that most people want or need, but prices tend to fluctuate, and if you find one of the others for significantly less you won’t be missing a lot by picking that model up. The Quick Clean Pod is the world’s smallest and cordless cleaning station.
This top-of-the-line Panasonic shaver includes a total of five blades—a quartet of foils and a single oscillating lift-and-cut center trimmer. The Arc5 is quieter than the Series 7, but the noise it does make is much higher pitched, which some may find annoying. If you find that Braun models aren’t working for you, the Arc5 might be a better option for your skin or hair type. The Lifeproof’s performance on all hair types (straight, curly, thick, and overly-curly) ranked surprisingly above average. This is quite a feat considering most foil shavers can find it challenging to deliver a close shave on wavy and curly beards without multiple passes.
We’re retesting our picks against newer models—including Braun Series 8 shavers—and will update this guide with our findings. With our shavers, you can go for a comfortable dry shave or a refreshing wet shave. The new shavers with SenseIQ technology are equipped with advanced sensors that read and adapt to you.