There’s nothing more satisfying than a clean close shave that’s nick-free. Whether you’re upgrading your current shaving kit or buying your first one, having the best electric shaver in critical. But, how do you pick out the best one and which features do you want? This comprehensive guide will help you decide which features you can live without, and it’ll help you narrow down your choices.
Foil or Rotary
Before you start looking for the best men’s grooming tools, you’ll have to decide on a type of shaver. You get the choice of a foil or rotary shaver, and they both work very well.
Foil Shavers
If you shave every day, a foil razor tends to give you a closer shave. The razor head has a thin layer of foil over it, and this foil works to catch your facial hair as you move the razor over your skin. Additionally, it also ensures that the blades don’t cut your skin or get in direct contact. You move this razor up and down in almost straight lines like you would a manual razor. Since you get a slightly rounded foil head, you can get a more precise shave when you shave around your sideburns or beard. Finally, you usually get a faster shaving experience.
Rotary Shaver
Rotary razors are better for someone who either has coarser facial hair or who only shaves a couple of times per week. The rotary shaver has a cutting head with angled grooves that catches the hairs and directs them toward the blades. It allows you to pick up the coarser hair that a typical foil razor would miss. You move this razor in a circular motion when you shave, and you get a very flexible cutting head. In turn, it can easily handle the contours of your face.
Corded or Cordless
Once you pick out either a foil or rotary shaver, you can move on to the next step to narrow your choices down even more before you pick the best one for your needs. Do you want a corded or cordless model?
Corded
A corded shaver has a power cord that plugs into your electrical outlet to power it. They used to be the go-to for people who shaved, but they’re slowly becoming obsolete now due to the impracticality that comes with trying to maneuver around a cord. You can get them in varying lengths and outlet plug styles. They also have adapters to fit European outlets for when you travel.
Cordless
Cordless shavers fall into two broad categories. You can get ones that you charge on a holder between uses, or you can get one that runs on batteries. Battery powered shavers are good for people who travel a lot. However, they’re not good for daily use because they tend to go through batteries quickly. Rechargeable cordless units can give you almost an hour on a single charge. However, you do have to make sure it’s fully charged before you use it.
Wet or Dry
Some people prefer to shave in the shower in the morning. Not only does this work to save time overall, but the water can also soften up your facial hair if you have sensitive skin. You may also like to use shaving creams or gels if you have acne or other issues with your skin. If this is the case, a wet/dry shaver is most likely your best choice.
Also, some models don’t allow for the use of shaving gel or cream because they can get into the battery compartment and ruin the shaver. You can avoid this by cleaning off the shaver itself before you put it into the charging port.
Ease of Cleaning
How easy and convenient do you want the process to be? Some shavers have a built-in cleaning station when you put your razor away after you finish using it. It automatically cleans and sterilizes it without you having to do anything additional to it. This is good for people who don’t have a lot of additional time to spend cleaning out their shavers.
However, you can also get a razor that is relatively easy to manually clean. Foil razors are generally easier to clean and maintain than rotary ones. But, it usually doesn’t take long to clean them if you keep up with it and make it a point to clean them at least once a week.
Mobility
If you travel a lot for work or pleasure, making sure you have a shaver with you that is always ready to go can be challenging. A shaving unit that comes with a charging stand or batteries gives you greater mobility overall. Just be aware the batteries do tend to go fast when you have them in your shaver.
Budget
How much do you have to spend on the best electric shaver? You can find a huge range of price points. The higher-end and more expensive models can easily cost upwards up $200 or more, but these are usually the ones that come with the built-in cleaning and sanitizing stations. Generally, you can expect to pay between $50 and $100 for a quality shaver that will last for a few years. It may make sense to pay more upfront to ensure you get a quality device.
Ergonomics
Your shaver should be comfortable in your hand, and you don’t want something that is extremely bulky either because this can lead to fatigue when you use it. Make sure that it contours to your hand and feels good. Also, your shaver should be able to easily reach every part of your face like your chin and dimples.
Bottom Line
Finding the best electric shaver to suit your needs can take time, but it’s well worth it. You’ll be able to get the shave you want and feel comfortable the entire time you do so.
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