Choosing An Electric Razor / Shaver

The world of electric razor companies is smaller than it was.  There have been a number of acquisitions over the years, narrowing the field down to pretty much 4 main players:  Braun, Philips-Norelco, Panasonic, and Remington.

So, you are looking to try an electric shaver and wondering which brand to pick?  It is not an easy decision, as these brands have made it all rather complicated.  Norelco is especially guilty of this--I've never seen so many different models for shavers under one brand over the years, with no real logical naming/numbering convention.  It is very hard to tell the difference between one model and the next.  Panasonic is not much better.  Remington is fairly straight forward, while Braun is probably the easiest to understand now that they've anchored down on a naming convention similar to BMW:  They now have the Series 3, Series 5, and Series 7 naming convention.

Technology

Before you even begin investigating brands, the key is to decide on what main technology works for you.  Basically you have two choices:  foil and rotary.  The foil technology is the oldest and works on the principle of a linear cutting block moving beneath a very thin metail foil with holes in it.  The hairs slide through the foil and are cut by the quickly moving block.  It sounds simple, but there are subtleties to the operation that has pushed 3 companies towards achieving this with slightly different designs.  The rotary technology was pioneered by Philips-Norelco (Remington offers their own version of the triple-head rotary design), and works on the principle of special circular blade heads rotating underneath a circular foil.  So, it is similar to the idea of the linear foil, except that you have a circular motion and repeated 3 times.

At first glance, it sounds like the Norelco (or Remington) triple head rotary design would be obviously superior.  It isn't.  If it was significantly better, Norelco would have put all of the other brands out of business.  This isn't to say that the rotary is inferior; it's just that the cutting affect achieved is different.  In my experience, the cutting design requires more passes to achieve a close shave.

Essentially I've discovered that the two technologies work as follows:
FOIL - You will get a closer shave overall, but the neck area won't be cut as close as the cheeks and chin.  The time to shave may be a little less.  Irritation risk may be greater, depending on your beard density.
ROTARY - Using the right technique, you will tend to get as a close shave as you would with a foil.  Operation tends to be more quiet.  Side trimmer is not as well designed as on typical foil shavers.  The "lift and cut" technique may cause greater irritation for some people.

Performance

It is certainly important for your shaver to perform in a manner that works well for you.  Don't expect perfection the first few times you use it.  And remember that you will not get a shave exactly as close as a manual razor.  That being said, it is a fallacy to say that all electric shavers are about equal.  Aside from the rotary versus foil choice, there is the individual performance of a razor to consider.  Does it run loudly?  If you take a longer shave, does the unit get unbearably hot?  Can it trim your whiskers close enough to satisfy you without causing much irritation?  And will the batteries last a reasonable time between charges?  All important questions to consider.

Braun and Remington seem to excel in the battery department.  In reviews I've read about the Panasonic and Norelco, the battery performance is somewhere around 20-50% worse.  This is no big deal if you don't travel much.  Most shavers will allow you to plug in and use the shaver corded if you need to.  However, some models are more sensitive to a low battery condition and might need a few minutes to charge before putting to use for a full shave.

Wet versus Dry

Another key choice is wet shaving versus dry shaving.  So far it appears that Panasonic is the most successful with their wet/dry technology, such that the shaver can be used in the shower.  It is not water resistant enough to be submerged, but can handle a full onslaught of running water.  It is impressive, as no other brand can achieve this.  However, wet shaving is not necessarily advantageous for a closer shave.  Also, shaving in the shower means wet and soapy hands--a greater risk for dropping your shaver.

Cleaning Station

One other key decision is whether or not to go with a shaver featuring a cleaning station.  Although these do work very well and result in a shaver with superbly cleaned heads, it is merely a convenience (and expensive if you run the cleaner after each shave).  Cleaning out the shaver head with a brush takes but a minute.  There are some models that allow you to rinse under running water, which is the most economical alternative to a cleaning station.  However, Norelco's shaver requires a certain degree of head disassembly to do it properly--Braun's models are easier to clean under running water.

I like the cleaning stations, as they do a nice thorough job and leave your razor with a clean scent.  But I use mine about 1-2 times per month.  This extends the life of the cartridge to the point where I replace mine about once per year.

Replacement Parts

Lastly, remember that after a certain amount of time, you will need to refresh the cutting parts of the shaver.  Some brands charge more for their parts than others.  From what I've heard and seen, Norelco shavers tend to require cutting head replacement sooner than Braun (anywhere from 6-12 months sooner).  Also, their parts are more expensive.  Panasonic heads are about the same as Braun in cost, when trying to source them from cheaper places (like sellers on eBay).  Dollar-for-dollar, I think Braun probably represents the best deal on replacement parts, when looking at the 6000, 7000, and 8000 series models.  The newer Series 7/5/3 parts are price higher, as of this writing.

Techniques: Getting a Close Shave

In the end, you will find that a blade usually shaves closest, especially if you have developed the skill to use them most effectively.  Unfortunately, this doesn't work for all men... some of us get skin irritations from dragging the blade across our uneven skin, causing those irritations to get nicked the next time around.  Electric shaving is not exactly as close, but has now come much closer than ever before.  Part of it lies in your technique of using the shaver, in a way that best suits your beard (density and whisker grain/direction), and using the right pre-shave lotion.  One useful technique is the "push and peak":  You push against your cheek skin with two fingers, then bring the razor up to meet your fingers.  It creates a "peak" or "ridge" of skin, exposing your whiskers to a prime cutting angle for the razor.  On the neck, the better technique is the "pinch and lift", whereby you gently pinch and lift up the skin, for the razor to follow behind it (essentially achieving a prime cutting angle).  The direction to pinch depends upon your whisker grain.

I've used these techniques for years with excellent success.  Seriously, I get just about as close as blade--the difference is negligible.  The improved shaver technology over the years has also helped make this possible.  But at this point, the design success of the last 8 years has now made the older models available for much cheaper, while delivering performance just about on part with the latest models.  You can also consider buying a lightly used razor for an even better discount... which can give you an opportunity to test out a razor design and see if it suits you, with minimal financial risk if it turns out not to be to your liking.

Give Your Razor a Chance

One final thing to remember:  When selecting a shaver, it is important to shave with it for at least a couple of weeks.  This gives your skin a chance to "adapt" to the new way of shaving your face.  Experiment with techniques to get a closer shave (such as "push and lift")  Some people may take less or more time, depending on beard type and skin sensitivity, while some may not find it works for them at all.  They key for people with sensitive skin is to use a pre-shave like Afta or Williams, which does a good job of preparing your skin for the shave.  Also, it's a good idea to use a soothing after shave to help your skin to rapidly recover from the shaving experience.

Good luck, and good shaving!

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