Is this insanely expensive electric shaver better than a real razor?

[Anubis]

Foil shavers suck. Tell him to get a cheap Norelco instead. He can throw it away and buy a new one when either the battery dies or the heads wear out.

humm for me the foil one i have (Panasonic Linear) is soo much better then the Norelco i had before it

 

[Sentrosi2121]

I hate electric shavers. I've only bought one that was over $100. It was the Norelco one with the comfort strip you had to reload about once a week. That lasted about a month before I went back to shaving in the shower. My neck hairs grow in every single direction, so even using a blade I have to go over 4 or 5 times.

 

[DivideBYZero]

I use this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgIWw8PP-E0

Wet or dry with the moisturiser it's pretty much the best electric shave I've ever had.

 

[Gibson486]

Electric shavers are worthless. Even the supposed time savings is lost on me since it takes like 12 passes on every square inch of my face to even approach what might be considered a close shave. Every time I've tried to use an electric shaver to save time, I've regretted it and wished I had spent the same time putting on shaving cream and using a regular razor.

Maybe the really expensive ones are different, but my experience is unchanged across several Norelcos and Brauns.

That is my experience, and no the expensive ones are not different. The only pro is that they are cleaner. If the shaver did not require 12 passes to get everything, then it would be faster.

 

[Gibson486]

I used to use an electric razor. I have sensitive skin, and I noticed it was irritating it, so I switched to a regular razor. Haven't had any problems since.

Electrics are definitely more convenient though. Even with a regular razor I can only shave every 2-3 days. Otherwise my skin will get irritated.

If your skin gets irritated after an electric have, it's because your skin is not used to the shaver. You need to not shave for like 2 weeks, then shave for your skin to get used to it. Then it should be fine and you can go back to your regular schedule.

 

[Fritzo]

I also have a similar one (Braun Series 5), but I don't know what you're doing to go through blades or cartridges that fast.

I've had the same cleaning cartridge since May, so about 5 months now and it's due for replacement at the end of the month. You don't need to run the cleaning cycle every day, only about once a week. If you're going through two a month, you've got to be spilling about half the fluid before putting it into the cleaning station. Also, if you order the cartridges in bulk they're $20 for a 3-pack, so a bit under $7 each instead of $10 and mine at least apparently last 10x as long as yours do. If you order a 12-pack, they're under $5 each.

I'm still on the original blade/foil from when I bought the razor in December '08 and it still gives me a good, close shave. I'll probably replace it this December just because two years seems like a decent lifespan.

Overall shave quality is indeed exceptional though. The Braun shavers have always worked well for me but I've never had a Norelco that worked worth a damn. Other people are the opposite. Just depends on the person I suppose.

ZV

Thanks. I didn't realize i was doing every single thing wrong in the use of my razor.

 

[Riverhound777]

Thanks. I didn't realize i was doing every single thing wrong in the use of my razor.

I have a series 7, though not that exact model as the op, and can confirm what zen said. I actually take the cleaning solution out after using it and put the lid back on so it doesn't evaporate. And I use it once a week. For daily use I just open up the razor and tap as much of the hair out as I can.

 

[Jeraden]

I've never had much luck with foil shavers. I used to have a remington microscreen that worked like crap. I eventually replaced it with a Norelco with the 3 rotating heads - that seemed to work great for many years. Eventually the battery died. There was a good deal on a Panasonic foil shaver, I don't know the model, but a higher end one with the cleaning system similar to the ops model, and an lcd displaying battery life. For all its fanciness, it shaves like crap. Takes forever to get all the hairs, especially around the neck. In fact, its not really that much faster than just using a blade razor.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Thanks. I didn't realize i was doing every single thing wrong in the use of my razor.

Show me where I said you were using the razor "wrong", I don't believe I even used that word in my post.

What I did say, and what I stand behind, is that your assessment of the lifespan of the cleaning cartridges is wildly inaccurate based on my experience and that your evaluation of cost is also inaccurate (a quick check on current prices for cartridges reveals that the 3-pack is now about $15.50, so you're overstating the per-cartridge cost by a factor of 2).

Again, you're not using the razor "wrong", you have simply presented a wildly inaccurate estimate of the lifespan of both the cleaning cartridges and the foil/cutterblock.

ZV

 

[KeithTalent]

I have that one. It works well for what I need and I get laid plenty thanks, not that it's any of your business.

KT

 

[Pollock]

I've had a couple of (admittedly, inexpensive) electric razors and can never get a close shave, even with several passes. It's really impossible to get the neck and chin. I've switched to a double edged razor, and while it hasn't been a seemless transition, I've gotten a lot better. I don't get awful razor burn anymore, and it's generally a higher quality shave.

 

[Mo0o]

I have a Braun electric and it works great. Takes significantly less time than a regular razor

 

[postmortemIA]

multi-blade Gillette beats all these. Braun that I had was biggest POS, lots of plastic moving parts that broke quickly.

 

[xSauronx]

I use this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgIWw8PP-E0

Wet or dry with the moisturiser it's pretty much the best electric shave I've ever had.

that video was creepy

i use a DE razor for my face, never did like electric ones and the "good ones" are pretty pricey

 

[blinblue]

I got some cheap ($20 after rebate I think) Panasonic foil one off of Newegg a few years back. It does a pretty decent job most of the time, getting a little dull now. You have to use it regularly or else your hair will get too long and it doesn't work well. Also, if you are new to electric razors it takes some time to get used to it. No idea how much nicer a super expensive one is, but you might want to give a cheaper one a shot first and see if it works. If it works great, then you are good to go. If not, then maybe electric razors won't work for you (or maybe the more expensive ones really are that much better)

 

[Pardus]

$254.95 for a razor? You can get a lifetime supply of these razors for that kinda money.

 

[KeithTalent]

$254.95 for a razor? You can get a lifetime supply of these razors for that kinda money.

Yeah, but then you'd have to shave with them. D:

KT

 

[SamurAchzar]

I got a similar Braun Pulsonic (the older 9000-something), it's awesome. I love it. I ditched the base, pretty useless - makes lots of noise while it cleans (the motor turns intermittently on) and the cartridges are a PITA. Plus, the contacts don't always work.
Instead I just clean it with soap and water, and once in a while oil the head with Triflow, which leaves a scenty, oily residue on my pale skin. Oh yea.

 

[Madwand1]

My Braun with its cleaning system sits under the sink unused. I recommend Panasonic Wet/Dry instead.

Why:

Wet shaving (with lather) is the best. It's always done with blades for a good reason, which can also benefit some electric razors. You can also shave dry if you really want to, but there's really no contest. You can also just use water for the lubricant if you don't want lather.

Lower materials cost -- wet/dry means that you can use liquid soap and water to wash it. Also no need for additional shopping, space, garbage, time.

Close and gentle shave which doesn't require much skill.

 

[Wyndru]

I like adjustable electric shavers. 5:00 shadow at 9 am for me. I'm not a fan of close shaving.

 

[GeekDrew]

I have the Braun 9585 / 760cc. I've tried numerous electric razors, and this is the first one that I've liked using. Rotary razors make my face feel like it's on fire (yes, even after I've used one for years... always hated it), and cheaper foil razors were just as bad. This one, however, was a game changer. Works beautifully. I can shave daily, if I want to, or I can wait a couple of weeks between shaves.... doesn't matter, it can handle it. I always put it in its base to clean after every shave, unless I'm traveling, when it might go a week or two between thorough cleanings (feels like performance starts to degrade after about a week).

As for supply consumption... I go through one cleaning cartridge every 3 months or so. I'd estimate that I use around one foil/block per year. Supplies therefore don't cost me very much. Yeah, the initial purchase price is high, but it is definitely worth it, for me.