For dry shaving, it’s best to start with clean, dry skin—no deodorant or lotions. Both of my top picks have a pivoting head, but I found that this one was the easiest and most comfortable to use for multiple types of hair removal. It was the only one with an efficiency guard, which I found useful for eliminating more hair on the first pass, and a quick-charge mode. We’re also testing the Panasonic Arc6, a six-blade version of the quiet-but-bulky shaver we recommend as a Braun alternative, as well as additional rotary shavers.
We’ve recruited people with diverse facial hair types and shaving preferences to test our picks long term. We had the testers keep the top-performing razors for extended periods to allow for break-in time. We asked testers to evaluate each razor for closeness of shave, speed, and irritation. First, testers used the razors at whatever their standard “I need a shave” interval was. We then asked for a double-growth test—skipping a shave—and, as a go-for-broke scenario, a triple-growth test.
Unlike our picks, the lightweight Andis ProFoil Lithium Titanium Foil Shaver is not waterproof, and it is warrantied for only one year (whereas all of our picks are covered for two).
To get the smoothest, most comfortable electric shave, no matter which shaver you choose, you need to remember that electrics can’t easily get as close as a blade. Most electric shaver makers offer advice on how to get the optimal shave. (“We recommend that you shave before you wash, since the skin tends to be slightly swollen after washing.”) Philips Norelco says to wash but not shower (“…otherwise your skin will be hot, puffy…”).
If a close shave is your top priority, you may find that an electric razor simply cannot compare to a manual one. Based on our research and testing, we believe a foil shaver philips razor produces a better shave for most facial hair. But if you prefer a rotary style, consider Philips Norelco’s Shaver 9300 (or another model in the brand’s 9000 line).
In 2019, we tested the S9000 Prestige (pictured), which includes a digital battery meter—a nonessential upgrade—but unlike the 9300 doesn’t come with a cleaning system. Among electric razors under $50, the Remington F outperformed lower-end Braun and Panasonic models in our testing. EVEN THOUGH my grooming routine is extensive, I’m a minimalist at heart. I like nothing more than an easy-to-use, no-fuss-no-muss product that can cut down my grooming time. I was still stuck on the pre-shave, shaving cream, razor, aftershave hamster wheel and couldn’t seem to get off. No matter what I did, and no matter what product I tried, I couldn’t seem to get rid of them.
If you follow all these steps you should be in good hands for getting a quality shave every time. Just make sure to take care of your razor and give it proper maintenance. And if you’re just starting out using an electric razor, give yourself a grace period for your skin to adjust (we touch on the reasoning for this more down below). So overall, what you get with the Series 8 is a high quality trimmer for about $75 cheaper than the industry-leader. There may be something to that, but I gotta say, it sounds totally bogus to me. I’ve been using electric razors since I was 16 years old, and personally, I’m skeptical about the entire design of this razor.
I just don’t believe that if I use it for three weeks, it’s going to become a great shaver. With an electric razor, shaving against the grain results in a cleaner shave so it’s kind of whack to not really have that option. Hypothetically, you could turn the entire shaver upside down and use the pop-up trimmer against the grain, but yeah, who wants to do that? One of the first things you’ll notice about the 2300 shaver is that it looks odd. The blade doesn’t look like a standard facial hair trimmer at all.
If you have sensitive skin or are prone to ingrown hairs, it will serve you better than a manual razor. It’s also a good choice for tweens just learning to shave or people who take medications that put traditional razors off limits. Pardon the pun, but the best electric razor for women literally shaves time and effort off your grooming routine. It really depends on your shaving style and what you’re looking to achieve. Electric razors offer a few benefits over the traditional razor/cream combo. Most electric razors don’t require the use of shaving cream or any other products to achieve a close shave.
The special cleaning formula is 10x more effective than water1, so you can keep your shaver hygienic. We’ll get into the nitty-gritty details shortly, but to put it simply, this shaver doesn’t do a very good job at, well, shaving. They’re a big name brand that makes everything from entry-level trimmers, like the OneBlade, to high-end models that cost nearly $300, like the S9000 Prestige. When powered on, the Arc5’s display employs an LED dashed circle that slowly disappears, piece by piece as the shaver’s battery level drops. The only drawback I discovered while testing the Life Proof is that it did not perform very well in the shower or with shaving cream, making it less competitive amongst its peers. This information is sent to the GroomTribe app and used to suggest how I might improve my shave.