Thread Number: 66158  /  Tag: Other Home Products or Autos
Electric shaver recommendations/opinions?
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Post# 887547   6/30/2016 at 09:21 (2,828 days old) by askolover (South of Nash Vegas, TN)        

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I've been using Braun foil shavers for 25+ years. I'm on my 3rd one. It works ok, but I seem to be having problems with the cutter blades not lasting as long as previously. All of my former blades were made in Germany. This newest one I've found to be made elsewhere in Europe, don't know if that affects the quality or not. I looked online for reviews and found positives for the new Wet/Dry shavers from Panasonic and Braun. Do any of you have experience with the wet/dry models? I can't really use a blade but once in a blue moon because they cause me to develop bad ingrown whiskers and I hate that. Opinions if you have them please.




Post# 887550 , Reply# 1   6/30/2016 at 09:28 (2,828 days old) by brucelucenta ()        

I personally have always used a norelco shaver. It does an adequate job. Doesn't cut as close as a regular razor though.

Post# 887557 , Reply# 2   6/30/2016 at 10:23 (2,828 days old) by ken (NYS)        

ken's profile picture
I've had three Norleco's which have lasted for many years each. I find they shave well and the blades last a long time. When I purchased my current one (which was quite a few years ago) I made sure to get a corded one. I don't like anything rechargeable (cordless) as it usually is the case that when the battery will no longer take a charge you get to throw away a device that otherwise is still in working condition. I haven't looked in a long time so I wonder if Norelco still makes a corded model.

Post# 887575 , Reply# 3   6/30/2016 at 12:13 (2,828 days old) by thomasortega (El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora de Los Angeles de Porciúncula)        

I have a Philishave Smart thouch XL bought in 2004 and it's still working super fine. It's battery still lasts, maybe it lost 10% of its total capacity in 11 years of heavy use.

When i replace it i seriously think of getting another Philips (here in the US they are sold as Norelco, right?)


Post# 887579 , Reply# 4   6/30/2016 at 13:04 (2,828 days old) by foraloysius (Leeuwarden, Friesland, the Netherlands)        

foraloysius's profile picture
Don't know much about shavers because I shave wet, but I have a lot of experience with electric toothbrushes and beardtrimmers. Can definitely say that Philips batteries are much better than Braun batteries. I have gone through quite a few Braun toothbrushes and a few Braun beardtrimmers because the batteries were dead quite soon. Never had that problem with Philips stuff.

Post# 887581 , Reply# 5   6/30/2016 at 13:19 (2,828 days old) by kb0nes (Burnsville, MN)        

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I have an old Braun Series 1 190 which is a pretty low end rechargeable & washable model. Overall it has worked well for a number of years. Only other electric I have had is an old Norelco AC powered Lift-N-Yank which I despised. The Braun is way more comfortable, although it may not cut quite as close. Battery life has yet to be an issue.

For when I care, I always use a multiblade traditional razor.


Post# 887586 , Reply# 6   6/30/2016 at 13:55 (2,828 days old) by RevvinKevin (Tinseltown - Shakey Town - La-La Land)        

revvinkevin's profile picture

 

 

I used Norelco shavers for years, but have had a Braun shaver with the "charge and clean" station 15 years now.   Battery life is still great as it will go more than 2 weeks on a single charge, with daily use.  

 

I usually run the cleaning cycle every week or two.   After the cleaning cycle is done, I'll remove the fluid reservoir from the base and keep it sealed between uses.   By doing this it will last 8 to 9 months vs 3.   I've replaced the foil & cutting blade 3 or maybe 4 times since I've owned it.   I've been really happy with it

 

Kevin


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Post# 887591 , Reply# 7   6/30/2016 at 15:00 (2,828 days old) by MattL (Flushing, MI)        

I've had Norelco and Braun shavers over the years.  Lots of Norelcos, one of my favorite one was the type with the Nivea shave gel. But even though I have a relatively soft beard none really gave me a close shave - it was OK, just not great.

 

Went back to Schick multi blade razors with the battery, and am quite happy.  Blades last me for months.  Everyone has their favorites and if I had to go back to electric/battery it would be Norelco.


Post# 887597 , Reply# 8   6/30/2016 at 17:14 (2,828 days old) by countryguy (Astorville, ON, Canada)        

countryguy's profile picture
All my electric razors have been Philishave (Norelco). I did try a Braun foil shaver once but did not like it at all. I find that the Philishave with the floating heads follows the contours of the face much better and does a closer shave.

Gary


Post# 887599 , Reply# 9   6/30/2016 at 17:48 (2,828 days old) by Maytagbear (N.E. Ohio)        
When I shaved......

which was from 1976 to 1978, it was first with a Gillette Atra (one of the first twin edged razors,) then with a Norelco. My Dad's Norelco was not repairable, or I would have used it.


However, when I went off to university, and the mad morning crush in the bathroom, I decided to grow a beard. Have never shaved since the second week of September, 1978.


If I shaved off my beard and moustache, I doubt if anyone would recognize me!


Lawrence/Maytagbear


Post# 887602 , Reply# 10   6/30/2016 at 18:11 (2,828 days old) by washman (o)        
Questoin for Maytagbear

Is it safe to assume then that your beard alone has experienced more than a lesser man's entire body?

Does your organ donation card also list your beard?


Post# 887627 , Reply# 11   7/1/2016 at 00:23 (2,828 days old) by Maytagbear (N.E. Ohio)        
My organ donor card.........

is, alas, invalid, because of the diabetes.


As for your first question, Washman, the answer is "Yes, everywhere." It gets shampooed frequently. That is, when I'm "dating." I'm in something of a drought at the moment.



Lawrence/Maytagbear


Post# 887631 , Reply# 12   7/1/2016 at 01:04 (2,828 days old) by LordKenmore (The Laundry Room)        
invalid, because of the diabetes

lordkenmore's profile picture
One of my grandmothers had diabetes, and I think organ donation would have been appealing for her given her beliefs had it been allowed. However...she was able to leave her body to (IIRC) some university or something for scientific study. A year or so before she died in the 1990s, I think she verified they were still interested/willing. They were, which made her happy.

Post# 887643 , Reply# 13   7/1/2016 at 04:51 (2,828 days old) by arbilab (Ft Worth TX (Ridglea))        

arbilab's profile picture

Check link.  Wet/dry, I use dry, wet requires more maintenance.  Sale priced/free shipping at Amazon.



CLICK HERE TO GO TO arbilab's LINK

Post# 887710 , Reply# 14   7/1/2016 at 15:05 (2,827 days old) by nurdlinger (Tucson AZ)        
Another vote for Norelco (Philips)

nurdlinger's profile picture
I have used nothing but for 50 years. Regarding the earlier post about throwing them out when the battery will no longer hold a charge, I have found it's possible to get replacement batteries on eBay. These often need to be soldered in place, possibly an insurmountable obstacle for some.

Post# 887742 , Reply# 15   7/1/2016 at 22:49 (2,827 days old) by dartman (Portland Oregon)        

Use a Philips Norelco and tried a foil shaver way back when. For me the foil shaver caused bad razor burn, the Norelco never do. I have had a beard forever but still have to shave my neck and trim up ever so often. The ones Costco sells tend to have a extra set of blades which buys you another free year or two out of them.
Mine I usually break something or upgrade before the batteries die and I still have my older one that may be 15 years old now but it still takes a charge but needs new blades. You can find Chinese knockoff blades on eBay but most are junk for cheap. Sometimes eBay or others places will have a deal on original blades and I bought my last triple row set at Target for about 30 bucks. You can buy batteries for them, or anything else in eBay cheap too if you know how to solder, of course things like cameras take user replaceable ones.
I think they shave almost as good as a blade and you can play around to get better results.


Post# 887744 , Reply# 16   7/2/2016 at 01:43 (2,827 days old) by d-jones (Western Pennsylvania (Pittsburgh Area))        
Kevin

d-jones's profile picture

I have a Braun electric shaver with the charge and clean station and I gave up on the cleaning because the fluid all evaporated too quickly. Thanks for that tip of yours. It'd never occurred to me to do that, but now that you mentioned it it seems like an obvious solution to the problem.


Post# 997300 , Reply# 17   6/16/2018 at 04:47 (2,113 days old) by askolover (South of Nash Vegas, TN)        
finally bit the bullet

askolover's profile picture

I ordered myself a new Braun series 9 shaver with the cleaning station.  I looked at all kinds of reviews online and youtube and was torn between Braun and Panasonic Arc5.  My ~10 year old Braun just couldn't "cut it" anymore even with brand new authentic German Braun cutter block and foil.  It just wouldn't cut.  I had been using my grandfather's nearly 30 year old Norelco until I decided what to do.  Braun has a $50 rebate for Father's Day and I had a $40 gift card my parents gave me for my birthday so I ordered it from Walmart.com (but it was still $$$) and it arrived 2 days later.  All I can say is AMAZING!  It has sonic technology meaning it cuts far faster than the old one did.  It just hums like my Sonicare toothbrush.  We shall see how long it holds up.  If I get 10 years out of it I won't complain.  There are recipes all over the internet and youtube now about how to make the cleaning solution.  It's pretty much just isopropyl alcohol and limonene anyway according to the MSDS on Braun's website.  So far I am very pleased.


Post# 997381 , Reply# 18   6/16/2018 at 22:11 (2,112 days old) by Spacedogb (Lafayette, LA)        
Panasonic

I have a Panasonic ARC5 shaver. Its a great unit with a nice self cleaning charger station.

Post# 997382 , Reply# 19   6/16/2018 at 22:43 (2,112 days old) by wayupnorth (On a lake between Bangor and Bar Harbor, Maine)        

wayupnorth's profile picture
Electric shavers are like using tweezers on my face. I cant use them. I buy a package of cheap razors to shave around my beard. I bought a Wahl beard trimmer and its tweezers again with that thing. Using a razor and scissors to trim is much less painful for me than those electric things that seem to just yank and pull, not just cut the hair off without all the pain.

Post# 997391 , Reply# 20   6/17/2018 at 04:06 (2,112 days old) by DADoES (TX, U.S. of A.)        

dadoes's profile picture
 
I have some Remington model or other, with a suction fan and hair-collection bin.  My neck grows heavy and fast, it's a chore to do with an electric so I sometimes use a disposable razor for the area.


Post# 997399 , Reply# 21   6/17/2018 at 05:03 (2,112 days old) by askolover (South of Nash Vegas, TN)        

askolover's profile picture

Blades give me bad ingrown hairs which I have to flip out with a sterile needle or else they just keep growing inward and get painful and nasty.


Post# 997410 , Reply# 22   6/17/2018 at 09:55 (2,111 days old) by ea56 (Cotati, Calif.)        

ea56's profile picture
If you use an old fashioned, double edge safety razor, you won’t get ingrown hairs. The modern, multi blade razors are what causes ingrown hairs. This is because the first blades pull the hairs up higher than the surface for the skin before they are finally cut off by the last blade(s). Then the hairs retract below the surface of the skin. If your beard is the least bit curly,or wavy, some of these hairs have a good chance of becoming ingrown.

I have been using a double edge safety razor for the last 4 plus years. My beard is very course, and wavy/curly. I haven’t had an ingrown hair since I started shaving the old fashioned way again. I actually enjoy shaving now. And it is much less expensive to shave this way too.

Check out some of the thousands of You Tube videos on double edge safety razor shaving. You can get the blades online at tremendously low prices on ebay. I use Gillette 7 O”clock blades. I shave twice each time, but only every other day. My skin has been better since I began using this method. And I use the same blade for a month at a time. I just clean it off after every shave and rotate it from top to bottom so it get even usage.

I learned about this method from thread here on AW.org, can't remember the OP, but I thank them for this wonderful hint.

My razor of choice is a 2 piece Merkur 34 HD, they cost about $30 to $40 online and are worth every penney.

Eddie


Post# 997536 , Reply# 23   6/18/2018 at 01:26 (2,111 days old) by askolover (South of Nash Vegas, TN)        

askolover's profile picture

Yeah, my whiskers do tend to get a little curly when I let them grow out.  That razor is like the one my dad used when I was little!


Post# 997940 , Reply# 24   6/21/2018 at 13:01 (2,107 days old) by Revvinkevin (Tinseltown - Shakey Town - La-La Land)        

revvinkevin's profile picture

 

 

Greg, congrats on the new shaver!   

 

Cleaning fluid tip: after the cleaning cycle is done, remove the fluid reservoir from the base and replace the cap to seal it up again.   By doing this it should last 8 to 9 months vs evaporating in 3 months.

 


Post# 997945 , Reply# 25   6/21/2018 at 14:53 (2,107 days old) by norgeway (mocksville n c )        
Best one I ever had

Was a Panasonic you could use wet or dry, but they don't make them anymore, Brauns don't last so I went back to a Norelco, it does fine and I shave my head as well as my face with it.

Post# 997998 , Reply# 26   6/22/2018 at 04:12 (2,107 days old) by askolover (South of Nash Vegas, TN)        

askolover's profile picture

Thanks Kevin, that's what I'm going to do.  I only use the clean function once a week anyway so it should last me a good long while.


Post# 998033 , Reply# 27   6/22/2018 at 14:42 (2,106 days old) by firedome (Binghamton NY & Lake Champlain VT)        
I'll second

firedome's profile picture
ea56 on double blade saftey razors, went back to one last year after almost 50 years and love it!

Post# 998035 , Reply# 28   6/22/2018 at 14:57 (2,106 days old) by ea56 (Cotati, Calif.)        

ea56's profile picture
Like Roger, once you start to shave with a DESR you’ll never want to use anything else for shaving again, I also use a shaving brush and shaving soap. The reason that the big companies like Gillette don’t promote DESR’s is because it is SO much less expensive! And the plus is that I never have any razor burn, ingrown hairs or nicks, like I did with the new multi blade, crap razors.

I would incourage anyone that isn’t familar with the method to check out the many You Tube videos on DESR shaving. Then buy a good DESR, like a Merkur and some blades, along with a shaving brush, shaving soap and a mug or bowl for the soap. I recently bought a new Cremo Shaving brush on ebay for only $11.00. I was hesitant because it’s a horsehair brush. Glad I gave it a try, its the best shaving brush I’ve ever owned or used.

But if you do start DESR shave, don’t share your razor or brush, they can be contaminated by others bacteria and cause you to get an infection. Only you should use these items.

Eddie


Post# 998071 , Reply# 29   6/22/2018 at 19:57 (2,106 days old) by twintubdexter (Palm Springs)        
Not a shaver but a beard trimmer

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I bought a Phillips Norelco trimmer about 3 years ago after my Panasonic pooped-out after several years. This thing works great. Charges fast, holds the charge for a long time and it's pretty much mess-free. It vacuums the trimmings and holds them inside. I highly recommend it. If you buy any blade trimmer invest in an inexpensive bottle of trimmer oil. It will last you forever.

 

This is a newer model than mine, available on Amazon.


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Post# 998097 , Reply# 30   6/23/2018 at 00:53 (2,106 days old) by tolivac (greenville nc)        

For my Norelco electric razor that uses the cleaner base-vacuum out the clippings before putting it in the base-the fluid lasts longer as well.

Post# 998105 , Reply# 31   6/23/2018 at 03:50 (2,106 days old) by askolover (South of Nash Vegas, TN)        

askolover's profile picture

I always tap my Braun's cutter head in the sink a few times until I don't see anymore whisker dust coming out, then blow in it too.  I could rinse it under the faucet too, but I haven't done that yet.  So far not much visible in the cleaning solution.


Post# 998175 , Reply# 32   6/23/2018 at 18:14 (2,105 days old) by bendix5 (Central Point, Oregon)        

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After years trying electric shavers and multi blade razors (even Harrys) I found my old Gillette adjustable razor and went to Walmart to get blades. Only double edge was a off the wall name and bought them. Tried it out and it worked pretty well. It does take your beard a while to get used to them. I told a friend about it and he said I have a place for you to look at. West Coast Shaving. I buy most everything there now. I have a Merkur razor. I use Feather, Gillette, Derby blades. I sometimes buy a sample pack. I got a new shaving brush and soap and have been doing this for at least 10 years. In a pinch I will use electric and take it on trips. Lately I went back to my adjustable Gillette and have also collected about 15 vintage razors over the years. I have tried them all and the all work well.
www.badgerandblade.com/...

www.westcoastshaving.com/...


CLICK HERE TO GO TO bendix5's LINK


Post# 998205 , Reply# 33   6/24/2018 at 02:35 (2,105 days old) by ea56 (Cotati, Calif.)        
Dan

ea56's profile picture
I just realized that it was your post a few years back the induced me to try DESR shaving again. I can’t thank you enough for your helpful suggestions. I will never shave with any other kind of razor again. And the Merkur 34 HD is my favorite. I get my blades on ebay, but I seldom have to buy theme because I get a month out of each blade, each shave comfotable too. I have been using the Gillette 7’Oclock Platinum blades for the last two years, they are great. And I get a full 6 months out of a cake of shaving soap, usually Vanderhagan. But David got me some really nice premium shaving soap for my Christmas stocking this year and I really like it too, but I can’t recall the brand, the box is gone. BTW, I like West Coast Shaving too, very good service, prices and selection.

Eddie


Post# 998237 , Reply# 34   6/24/2018 at 09:10 (2,104 days old) by gizmo (Victoria, Australia)        

Philishave all the way.

My first was a 1984 corded model, lasted till about 2015. replaced with a new Philips cordless.
My partner used a Remington, you know, "I liked it so much I bought the company." When that finally died he went through several newer Remingtons which were all junk, before finally getting a Philips.
The rotary heads on Philips shavers last for years, unlike the fragile foils on other shavers.


Post# 998315 , Reply# 35   6/25/2018 at 00:32 (2,104 days old) by tolivac (greenville nc)        

Instead of "Philishave" the razor I have is Norelco-they are named Norelco in the US Replaced a Braun that was on its last legs.Yes,the rotary blades and heads last longer than the foil heads and blades.Plus the Norelco is a LOT quieter than the Braun.Those were getting too noisy to use.

Post# 998317 , Reply# 36   6/25/2018 at 00:53 (2,104 days old) by askolover (South of Nash Vegas, TN)        

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My previous Brauns were so loud I just hated to use them when I first woke up...everything seems so loud to my ears upon first awakening.  But this new Braun is quiet, it just hums...really, like my Sonicare toothbrush.  Much more tolerable.


Post# 998732 , Reply# 37   6/28/2018 at 17:05 (2,100 days old) by DADoES (TX, U.S. of A.)        

dadoes's profile picture
 
Six, maybe seven days of neck growth.  Maybe should let it go


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