In fact, many individuals will take advantage of the 30 day refund period when they buy an electric shaver. It is not as if they are cheating the system or anything like that, but it is very hard to know whether or not a shaver is going to be right for you until you have you tried it on your face for at least a few weeks.

You can read all the electric shaver reviews you want but at the end of the day, a three or four week trial with your shaver of choice is the best way to go. If at the end of the trial period the shaver is not working for you, you can return it for a full refund and try something else.

Although it is frustrating and an inconvenience, you at least have not lost any money out of the deal and can safely cross that particular model off your list for good.

How do I Find the Best Electric Shaver?

As far as aligning yourself with a particular brand or model, many men swear by the Norelco line of electric shavers, which have been incorporated into the Philips series of shavers.

Of course, no-one can guarantee that you are going to pick any old Norelco shaver and it will work for you straight away, but you may as well start your search in a place where many other people have had success.

If you are a foil shaver fanatic on the other hand and don’t wish to even consider the Norelco rotary shavers, then Panasonic is a good place to start.

They make quite a big range of foil shavers in every price range that are easy to use and comfortable to hold. The many hundreds, if not thousands, of positive reviews speak for themselves.

Hidden costs and inconveniences

When learning how to choose the best electric razor, it is wise to make yourself aware of any extra costs down the track.

At some stage you will have to replace foils and blades when they become blunt. Some manufacturers make it very difficult to locate these parts through any other avenue but their own, and they will often charge top dollar for them.

Others make it much more easier, with just the simple click of a mouse on the order button on a discount online shopping site being all that is required.

If you intend to do any sort of traveling around the place then you should also check to see if the shaver can be used overseas. Many of the higher end shavers have worldwide voltage adaptability but a lot don’t, rendering the shaver next to useless overseas once the battery runs flat.

These are all things that must be planned for and checked out before you even think about opening your wallet.

So without further ado…..

My Top 10 Best Electric Shavers

#1. Panasonic Arc 5 ES-LV81-K

This shaver has everything you could want in a shaver, and is a real no-brainer for the number one slot. It will provide you with the closest shave possible. It is not cheap by any means, in fact it is one of the most expensive shavers on the market, but it does offer incredible value for money.

Or…..Read the full Panasonic Arc 5 ES-LV81-K review here.

#2. Philips Norelco 1290x/40 SensoTouch 3D

This is a great looking shaver that is  as easy on the eye as it is to use. Like the LV81 above, it is a top-end shaver with a price to match, but its functionality and performance helps you look past the price quite easily. The Norelco 1290x has the lightest touch of all the electric shavers I’ve ever tried due to the flexibility of its shaving heads.

Or…..Read the full Philips Norelco 1290X40 review here.

#3. Braun Series 7-790cc Pulsonic

I like the Braun 7 Series because it has a great feel of quality about it. Braun have always been known for their technological advancements, and the 790cc is at the top of the technology tree as far as Braun is concerned. They have endowed it with lots of state of the art gizmos such as super fast charging, multifunctional Clean and Renew System, three personalized mode settings, and an advanced LCD display indicator.

Or…..Read the full Braun Series 7-790cc review here.

#4. Philips Norelco 1280X/42 SensoTouch

The Philips Norelco 1280x/42 is one of my real favorite shavers. I love the look of this shaver and it has a really great feel about it due to its design and sleek shape. Philips Norelco have really nailed the close shave with their triple-headed rotary shaving heads – you just get the feeling the the shaver is working hard on your beard.

Or…..Read the full Philips Norelco 1280X/42 review here.

#5. Panasonic ES-LV-61A Arc 5

The only reason the Panasonic ES-LV61A is down at number five on my top 10 best electric shavers list is because of its similarity to the ES-LV81A (See #1 above). This is a great shaver and if it wasn’t for the current #1, this shaver would easily be fighting for the top spot. This shaver is almost identical to the shaver at number one.

Or…..Read the full Panasonic ES-LV-61A Arc 5 review here.

#6. Panasonic ES-LA93-K

Panasonic shavers feature highly in my top 10 list, and there’s a very good reason for that – Consistently they make great shavers! You might read on some sites that this shaver has been surpassed by the 5 blade models in terms of technology, but don’t let that sway you. Overall, this shaver offers fantastic value for your money.

Or…..Read the full Panasonic ES-LA93-K review here.

#7. Philips Norelco 7800XLCC

With so many great electric shavers available to buy it’s a tough call choosing a top ten, especially when it comes to the last few spaces. The 7800XLCC more than deserves it spot at number seven though because of the consistent quality of shave it offers time after time. Unlike some electric shavers, this Norelco just never seems to blunt its blades.

Or…..Read the full Philips Norelco 7800XLCC review here.

#8. Braun Series 5-560

I like this shaver because it is a solid no-nonsense unit that will never let you down. I had a series 5 shaver for almost 3 years and in that time it gave me nothing but quality service day after day. It could be fully charged in less than an hour, which made it great for using at home, and its compact design  was ideal for when I was on vacation.

Or…..Read the full Braun Series 5-560 review here.

#9. Panasonic ES-8243-A

The stand out feature of the Panasonic ES-8243-A is the large chunky shaving head which means you get to remove much more beard in much less time. I like the wet dry feature that gives you the option of using a gel or a foam to minimize irritation. This is a very competent electric shaver that doesn’t cost a fortune to either buy or maintain.

Or…..Read the full Panasonic ES-8243-A review here.

#10. Remington DA307

The final shaver in my top ten list is the Remington DA307. I love the quirkiness of this unit, it is small, stylish, packs a real punch. You won’t find all the bells and whistles that are common on the more expensive shavers, but you won’t pay their inflated prices either. The Remington can’t compete in terms of features, but it’s a great no-nonsense shaver at a very cheap price.

Or…..Read the full Remington DA307 review here.

However, the best shaving routine will involve a lot of tender loving care to your skin after you shave in addition to the importance you might put on your skin before or during a shave.

Preparing the skin

If you are not using your electric shaver in a wet environment, you should opt for some pre-shave oil to apply to skin before shaving. Pre-shave oil dries out the skin somewhat and makes the individual whiskers on your face more taught and stiff.

In their stiffened state, the electric shaver has less work to do in order to cut them and your overall shave will be closer as a result. There will also be less irritation on your skin too.

Although it is an oil in the sense of the word, the best products for pre-shave application are actually alcohol based because alcohol dries the skin whereas oil just exacerbates the problem.

If you do get a chance to shower before shaving, a good face scrub to remove dead skin cells and impurities will give you a closer shave too.

Shaving gels and foams

Such lubricating agents are essential if you like to wet shave in the shower. The higher end products will have moisturizing and soothing agents such as aloe vera built into them but it is not essential because you can simply add these agents separately later on.

Most modern shaving gels contain alcohol and this may dry or irritate your skin, particularly if it is able to get into small open wounds or cuts that were created during shaving.

If you are a shaving purist or think your skin might be upset with an alcohol based gel or foam, then you can always choose shaving soap or cream which should agree with your skin.

After shaving

Once you have finished you need to give your skin a chance to rejuvenate. This means replacing any moisture that may have been lost if you used pre-shave oil with a moisturizer, usually in the form of an after-shave balm (that is alcohol free of course).

Wherever possible you should choose a moisturizer with an added SPF (sun protection factor) included in the ingredients.

As you can see, the best skin products to use with an electric shaver don’t have to break the bank and many of the products listed above will probably be in your bathroom cabinet anyway.

The trick is in using them on a regular basis as part of an effective shaving routine that not only will give you a close shave but also aid in the long term health and appearance of your skin.

If you have particularly sensitive skin there are unique shaving-specific products on the market that will help you get an irritation-free shave.

In terms of giving the closest shave, foil shavers are a fraction ahead of their rotary counterparts and this makes the foil shaver better for sensitive skin.

Although this might sound like the reverse of what should be true, a shaver with sharper blades that gives a closer shave is going to result in the least irritation. This is because with a decently sharp electric shaver, you do not need to go over the same spot on your face as many times (if at all) and this is less taxing to your skin.

Consider a wet/dry solution

Now that you have the type of shaving system sorted, it is time to try and find an electric shaver in your price range that has a wet and dry capability. In other words, it allows you to not only dry shave but also shave in the shower with the use of shaving foam or gel.

This is a vitally important feature, because anyone that has sensitive skin will cringe at even the thought of having to dry shave their face. It is simply not an option!

Patience and technique

Of course, even the best electric shavers for sensitive skin will not live up to their reputation if they are not used properly, not maintained or not given a chance to shine.

Read the instruction booklet that comes with your shaver and learn how to use it properly – it might even have a section on shaving with sensitive skin that you can gain valuable advice from.

Furthermore, even the most delicate shavers should be given at least 2 or 3 weeks in order to perform their magic. This is because it is going to take time for your skin to adjust to a new machine and a new routine. Don’t write off your new electric shaver until at least almost a month has passed.

Give this product a try

One example of the best electric shavers for sensitive skin is the Panasonic ES8243A 4-Blade (Arc 4) Wet/Dry Rechargeable electric shaver. It is well known and recognized as being perfect for men with sensitive skin and the good news is that it is a relatively affordable option too.

It is usually available for around $120 or so, depending on whether you catch it on special or not.

It features an ergonomic grip so that you have total control over the shaver while it is in operation and a 4-blade cutting system makes sure that as much hair as possible is removed on every pass.

In addition to having a fast and efficient 13,000 cycles per minute linear motor, it also has that all important wet and dry functionality that was mentioned earlier.

While there is nothing new or revolutionary about the ES8243A electric shaver, it does do the basics well without irritating sensitive skin and this is all most men want at the end of the day.

It might be wise to suggest that the electric shaver might be best suited to some situations while a traditional shave from a razor blade might be suitable in others.

When might an electric shaver be suitable?

Electric shavers tend to more popular for the younger to middle-aged working class population. People in this category are usually short on time but still place a lot of emphasis on looking good and looking presentable.

With a shaver like this you can get your shaving done in the car on the way to work or get in a quick shave during your lunch break for that important client meeting in the afternoon.

The very design and aesthetics of electric shavers also mean that they appeal to a wider range of consumers who have money to spend and place a lot of importance on looks in addition to performance and effectiveness.

These are definitely for you if you are one of those people that would rather get up and read the morning paper and have a cup of coffee rather than have to worry about a long shaving routine with a razor blade in the shower or over the vanity.

When might the razor blade be suitable?

The razor blade is for men who value a traditional shave that is generally closer than what an electric shaver can give you.

They are for men who probably have a bit more time on their hands or have the discipline to spend the appropriate amount of time in getting a precise shave without cutting or nicking themselves excessively.

In fact, carefully taking the time to shave with a blade razor will often result in much less irritation than you would get with the electric version, so they may be appropriate for men with more sensitive skin who care about getting it right and minimizing pain and discomfort.

Razor blades are obviously much cheaper than electric shavers and you can take them with you wherever you go, without the need for an electricity socket or the chance that the voltage might not match what the shaver requires.

In summary, it is important to understand that electric shavers and razor blades will give a very good shave if the person who is using them knows how to use them correctly, and has done the proper amount of research into matching themselves with a great product.

While it could be said that razor blades give a closer shave with less irritation, much more of a deciding factor for many men will be their budget, time constraints, their sensitivity to different types of shaving systems and the importance that they place on a good shaving routine.

If you spend even a small amount of time reading through consumer reviews you will notice quite a few recurring themes, and it is these themes that you should take into consideration when assessing the overall rating of a particular model that you might have in mind.

The best electric shaver ratings will detail a combination of features that makes a shaver truly great. Such features include the closeness of the shave and less of a reliance on bells and whistles with more importance on the basics like the feel in your hand and sharpness of the blade.

You should also look for wet and dry functionality, recharge time, money-back guarantees and if there are adequate levels of sound and vibration control to give you maximum comfort.

With that in mind, what are some of the electric shavers on the market that meet most if not all of the important criteria?

Braun Series 7-790cc Pulsonic Electric Shaver

The Braun Series 7-790cc won’t break the bank at around $200, but it has received highly favorable reviews from hundreds of men who were satisfied with the performance of this machine.

If you are a long time Braun fanatic and will only buy their electric shavers, then you definitely want to consider this one if you are in line for an upgrade.

This shaver is quiet and is perfect for men with soft or medium beards. It also does a great job of removing hair that is stuck flat against the skin which many other shavers do a superb job of missing.

It also displays an accurate and attractive battery output display, is easy to clean and comes with a Braun 60-day money back guarantee.

Panasonic Arc 5 ES-LV81-K Shaver

A true top of the range experience awaits you with the Panasonic Arc 5 ES-LV81-K. It is a superbly engineering 5-blade cutting system working in tandem with a 14,000 cycles per minute (CPM) motor that gives you a very close shave indeed.

Not only will this Panasonic unit give you an unbelievably close shave, but it also looks good too. Of course, looks aren’t everything but they do mean more to some people than they to do others.

The good news is that this shaver is very ergonomic too, a factor that you should always keep in mind when looking at the best electric shaver ratings.

Ergonomics is one of the hardest things to get right, because often you cannot physically hold the unit in your hand before buying and bad ergonomics does not seem to be exclusive to cheaper models exclusively.

The most obvious thing you can do is of course to read electric shaver ratings and reviews, but a less apparent way to get a feel for a product is to go into a department store and try before you buy as it were.

For that reason, I’ve listed some handy links below where you can download the latest user manuals for all the shavers featured on this site. If the manual doesn’t help you solve the problem you have, you will also find the contact details for the manufacturers support service…..

Braun Electric Shaver User Manuals

Download your free Braun electric shaver user manuals HERE

Contact Braun:

Phone: 1-800-BRAUN-11 (1-800-272-8611)

Email: Click Here to Braun Email

Panasonic Electric Shaver Manuals

Download your free Panasonic electric shaver user manuals HERE

Contact Panasonic:

Phone: 1-800-211-PANA (7262) en Espanol – opcion #2

Hours:
Mon-Fri 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM EST
Sat-Sun 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM EST

Email: Click Here to Email Panasonic

Philips Norelco Electric Shaver Manuals

Download your free Philips Norelco electric shaver user manuals HERE

Contact Philips Norelco:

Phone: 1-800-243-3050

Hours:
Monday – Saturday 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM EST
Sunday 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM EST
Excluding Major Holidays

Click Here for Live Chat

Remington Electric Shaver Manuals

Download your free Remington electric shaver user manuals HERE

Contact Remington:

Phone: 1-800-392-6544

Email: ContactUs@remingtonproducts.com

Electric shavers in this category also need to be able to function properly in the wet. Whether that be half or fully submersed in a bath tub or in combination with shaving gels or creams.

They should also be flexible enough to be ready to go when you need them to be ready. Some of the cheaper brands will have short battery lives and very long recharge times, which can get very irritating and frustrating after a while.

With that in mind, what is the best electric shaver for women? Is there a specific brand or model that you should look out for?

The market for electric shavers for women is much smaller than the market for men, and you will often find that many women use mens electric shavers instead. However, there are still quite a few good models geared specifically toward women.

Panasonic Close Curves Wet/Dry Ladies Shaver

The good thing about the Panasonic Close Curves ladies shaver is that not only is it a wet and dry shaver, but it also has an added bikini attachment for that specific area.

Finished in an attractive mauve color, it is also hypoallergenic for women with sensitive skin and it is fully immersible for use while you are showering or having a wash in the bath tub.

Panasonic also claim that it has the sharpest blades available on any ladies shaver on the market, though you always have to a little skeptical when companies start making sweeping statements like that.

Nevertheless, this easy-to-clean electric shaver has still received reasonably favorable reviews with a lot of women highlighting the fact that it gives you a very close shave, almost matching that of a blade razor which give the best shaves generally.

Panasonic ES2207P Close Curves Rechargeable Wet And Dry Ladies Shaver

Also finished in mauve, the Panasonic ES2207P has received high acclaim from women with an average rating of 4.5 stars out of 5. It’s also extremely cheap at around $20.

What makes this model a contender for the best electric shaver for women?

Obviously it works wet and dry, which is an absolute must have in this category. It also features a shaving system with three blades and ultra-thin shaving foil to give you a precise shave with as little irritation to your skin as possible (if you are dry shaving of course).

There is also a dual pop-up trimmer for getting rid of longer hairs or hairs that somehow avoid the razor the first time.

It also has floating heads that move independently of each other while they are moving across the surface of your skin. This is a vitally important feature to have on shavers for women because the places they shave tend to be a lot more undulating than say just the face for example.

It is also extremely light and compact, weighing in at just 0.33 pounds and Panasonic state that it can get about 10 shaves out of every charge which is quite respectable.

Although some guides might like to tell you otherwise, it is important that do not wash or wet the face before shaving if you are dry shaving using an electric shaver. Instead it is better to use some sort of pre-shave lotion that is specifically designed to make the hair easier to cut.

Following is a brief overview of the general process that you should follow when learning this process for the first time.

• If you have a particularly coarse or stubborn beard, you may wish to hold a wash cloth soaked in hot water up to it to soften further, but in general you need to keep things as dry as possible.

• Once the skin and beard is dry you should mix some pre-shave oil through your beard to take the moisture out of the skin and make the hairs stand up ready for cutting. Something like Lectric Shave is perfect for this job and it can be found in most supermarkets and convenience stores.

• Next you should find the grain of your facial hair. In other words, what is the direction your hair is growing in? Very generally, hair grows downwards on the face and upwards on the neck with a bit of variation in between. Ensure that you never shave against the grain, except in the most stubborn areas where extra attention is required.

• If you are dry shaving you a ready to begin shaving.

• If you are wet shaving you would of course skip Step 2 and instead wash or moisten your face and beard with warm water to soften up the individual hairs.

• When learning how to use an electric shaver, you should pull the skin tight with one hand and shave with the other.

• When using an electric shaver it is important not to press down too hard. This is a common mistake and only serves to increase irritation and also the amount of heat coming from the shaver itself.

• Having said that, some electric shavers will got hot anyway after a certain period of time, so if you have sensitive skin make sure you do the most sensitive bits first before it has a chance to warm up.

Once you are done you need to clean out the electric shaver to ensure maximum performance and longevity. This is one of the aspects of how to use an electric shaver that many people overlook, probably because it is the least glamorous.

Rinse off any residual pre-shave oil with warm water and pat your skin dry, never wipe a towel across your face. Then rinse your face with colder water to close up the pores.

If you dry shaved then you should rub some sort of moisturizing lotion into your skin to restore the moisture balance that was decreased when you added the pre-shave oil.