If you’ve grown tired of using disposable razors, buying replacement cartridges, or the nostalgia of a straight blade has worn off, you’ve come to the right place. Electric Shavers are simple to use and give a closer shave than a rotary shaver. Say good-bye to buying shaving cream and packs of cartridges.
Maintaining your facial hair to a close shave is different than maintaining a beard which uses a beard trimmer. There are two basic options when it comes to electric shavers, Foil and Rotary.
A Rotary shaver is fine for irregular shaped faces because of how the discs ‘float’ over the skin. But a foil razor with its simple design will give you a closer shave in general.
Take a look at these electric razors that are our favorites.
Comparison of the Best Electric Foil Shavers for Men
How does a Foil Shaver work?
The basics of how this type of electric razor cuts your beard. A thin piece of metal (the foil) with holes for the stubble to go through.
As the facial hair goes through the foil, the cutters are moving back and forth under the foil cutting the hair.
The key to a good razor is a flexible foil with a hole design that optimally guides facial hair through the foil where durable and sharp blades are cutting the stubble.
Reviews of the Best Electric Foil Shavers
Panasonic Arc5 Electric Razor, Men’s 5-Blade Cordless
- Sharp men’s shaver blades: Panasonic Arc5 men's electric shaver with five ultra-sharp precision...
- Wet/Dry electric shaver and trimmer 2 in 1: Built-in pop up trimmer details mustaches, beards and...
- Multi Flex pivoting head: Panasonic flexible pivoting electric shaver head glides effortlessly to...
- High performance motor with a linear drive: This Panasonic shaver is equipped with a linear motor...
The Panasonic Arc 5 will keep your face feeling smooth as you use it as a wet or a dry razor. The 8 ounce razor is light weight with comfortable grips and has a flexible head to match the contours of your face giving you an close shave even if you have difficult angles that need to be covered.
Why is this one of our favorite premium electric foil razors?
Ultra Fast
This shaver can handle the toughest beards quickly with its linear motor that provides up to 70,000 cross cuts per minute which almost double the Braun Series 9. This high performance system will clean up the even the coarsest stubble quickly.
Flexible Head
The 16-D head rotates 16 directions giving you a close shave for all angles on your face. This multi-direction head ensures you will always have a even shave. If you prefer not to have the head rotate you can lock it into place giving you a more traditional feel to the razor head.
Shave Sensor
Because all beards are not equal in density, the Arc 5 shaver intelligently adjusts the speed of the motor based on the density of your beard. The sensors determine your beard density 220 per second then adjust the motor speed 14 per second to ensure your getting a smooth cut as you shave.
Auto Clean and Charge
Use the cleaning and charging station keeping your cutters clean and sharp for each use. Never worry about build up in the shaver or forgetting to charge it.
Summary
The 5 blades system with internal cutters angled at 30 degrees give a precise cut without irritating your skin. It also comes with a flip out trimmer for your sideburns as well as a lock feature so that it won’t accidently turn on when packed away in your suitcase. Arc 5 overs a complete shaver experience providing the flexibility to use in the shower, outdoors or just at the sink in your bathroom. One of the best models we tested.
Braun Electric Razor for Men, Series 9
- BEST EFFICIENCY: World’s most efficient electric shaver* features 5 shaving elements to get more...
- CLOSENESS AND COMFORT: These electric razors for men intelligently respond to your face contours and...
- CLEAN & CHARGE: 5-in-1 Clean & Charge station automatically charges and hygienically cleans,...
- BATTERY POWERED: Battery on rechargeable shavers for men lasts 20% longer** (60-minute full charge)...
The Braun Series 9 is equally as good as the Panasonic Arc 5. Braun’s incorporates all of the latest technologies and features to ensure you have a comfortable and close shaving experience.
Here are the features that we love about the Braun Series 9 Electric shaver.
5 Shaving Elements
With for 4 cutting elements and 1 skin guard you are ensured close cut that doesn’t irritate the skin. The inner blades trim longer hair and include a titanium coating for both strength and comfort. The outer cutters work in parallel cutting the stubble closer to the skin with out redness.
Intelligent Motor
Auto-sense technology senses your beard density and adjusts motor speed. This allow the shaver to cut more hair with each pass. The 10,000 micro-vibrations ensure the cutters reach as much facial hair as possible.
Flexible Shave Head
The 9 Series razor has a 10-D flexible head that traverses the contours of your face. The head can move in 10 directions and works in parallel to give you the closest possible shave. In addition you can lock the directional head.
Cleaning and Charging Station
Braun incorporates an alcohol based cleaning strategy that kills 99.9% of germs, frees the head of stubble and debris, will keeping your shaver charged and ready to use. It also provides lubrication for your cutters.
This is clearly a shaver that captures all that is needed to provide you the ultimate electric shaving experience. From a performance level we felt this was probably the best available, however because of its higher price tag we placed it slightly behind the Panasonic Arc 5. However, you will not be disappointed if you get this electric razor.
Remington F5-5800 Foil Shaver, Men’s Electric Razor
- Pivot and Flex Foil Technology: This Remington electric shaver stays close to skin and flexes around...
- Rechargeable Battery: These shavers for men allow you 60 minutes of cordless runtime. In order to...
- Pop Up Detail Trimmer: Finishing touches on your facial hair and sideburns help you create your...
- Intercept Shaving Technology: This advanced feature on these electric shavers for men sits between...
Remingtons F5 comes in at a much lower price range than the first 2 electric razors we reviewed. It performed quite well despite its lower price. It does not come with the auto-cleaning charging station so you will need to put a little more effort in to keeping it clean, in addition to it only being a dry shaver.
Here is a quick review of what we liked about this Foil Shaver.
Intercept Cutting Technology
In between the two blade sets and a trimmer that pre-trims longer hairs before the blade runs over it. This is one of the great features of this shaver. Most electric shavers recommend that you have your beard down to two to three day stubble or even a 5 o’clock shadow to get the best results. This feature allows your beard to be a little longer and still give a great shave. You will have to run over it a few extra times but the end results are very good.
Auto Adapts between 100V and 240V
For some this may not be of interest, but if you travel and need to be able to use different power sources this is almost a requirement for you. Another great feature is the 5 minute quick charge which is really handy when you forgot to charge it and you are in a hurry to get a quick shave.
Simple to Clean Just Use Water
Simple use water to rinse out the the stubble and debris, once a month put a little liquid soap and and lather it up with the brush provided and rinse. It’s that simple. While you can rinse this shaver under water, it is not a wet/dry shaver. it is intended only for dry shaving and should not be used in the shower.
Flex Foil and Pivot Head
The pivoting head for the Remington F5-5800 combined with the flexible foil, gives a terrific shave. This is no feature for locking the head but in our testing we didn’t really find the need to have this feature.
Final Thoughts
This F5-5800 surprised us in how well it performed with its price point. Make no mistake there was some irritation after using it and the comfort is not the same as with our top 2 models. But the flip up trimmer for sideburns and sprucing up and the built-in trimmers to mow down longer hairs prior to entering the foil provide a very good shave. So if you consider the price point, the ease of cleaning, and the actual performance of the shaver this is a really good value.
Wahl Lifeproof Lithium Ion Foil Shaver
- Power & convenience - This travel-friendly rechargeable wet/dry electric shaver is shower &...
- Lithium Ion power - Featuring a lithium ion battery that boasts a 90-minute run time for a charge...
- Advanced foil technology – flexible foils move with you, providing a more comfortable shave, our...
- A smooth shave every time - Wahl clippers, trimmers, & shavers are available in a variety of styles...
Wahl has been making quality electric razors since 1921, however there is nothing old-fashioned about the Lifeproof razor. Sporting 4 colors (grey, orange, green, & yellow) it looks and feels modern. This wet/dry shaver can function in up to 1 meter of water and has a tough coating that can survive just about any abuse you can through its way.
What we liked most about the Lifeproof shaver by Wahl.
Split Foil Pattern
Similar to the Remington F5, the Lifeproof razor has a split head design with a trimmer nestled in between two blades. This helps trim longer hairs and guide the hair into the foils for a clean cut. The membrane is designed to be thin and feels a little more flexible than some of the other models we tested giving you a comfortable shave.
Charging System
The charging system on this model gives you a full 90 minutes of operation on one hour of charging. It also has the 5 minute quick charge for 5 minutes of use when you find yourself needing a quick shave but the charge is down.
Durability and Ease of use
We found this razor just felt tougher than the other models. Its a great shaver for outdoors or travel and it doesn’t have a lot of extra features other then the lock feature to keep the razor from coming on while in transit, which we find very useful. Its simply a durable razor packaged fresh colors and is a pleasure to use. The sturdy slide out trimmer is just right for trimming sideburns and edges.
Conclusion
While there aren’t as many features to describe and write about for this model, we think that is the beauty of it. The grips feel good to hold, the flex foils give a comfortable and close shave and it works in water or dry. It is your basic no frills shaver that can take what ever you through its way and is perfect for active person that needs a shaver they can take with them on the go.
Andis 17150 Pro Lithium Titanium Foil Shaver
- ULTRA THIN: Gold titanium foils for zero finishes, ideal even for the most sensitive skin.
- LITHIUM-ION BATTERY: Delivers an industry-leading battery with 2 hours of cordless run-time with a...
- PROFESSIONAL QUALITY: Use this professional quality shaver to get a close shave on the neck, face, &...
- POWER & CONVENIENCE: This travel-friendly rechargeable electric shaver features flexible...
No list of top electric shavers would be complete without an Andis product on it. The Andis Pro is your basic dry shaver that works perfectly for tidying up edges and stubble areas.
What does the Andis 17150 have to offer?
Staggered Foil Heads
The heads for the Andis Pro Foil are staggered to give you more control as you follow the contour of your face. Coated with titanium and stamped with octagonal holes that guide the hair to the cutters, you get a smooth cut that molds to the shape of your face.
Long run time
The 80 minute runtime allows for long lasting use and is why many barbers will keep one of these in there shop for clean up on fades. Additionally you can plug in the cord and use it in a corded fashion as well.
Summary
The Andis Pro is a great shaver for touch up areas on your face as well as finishing touches on a fade. This is truly a basic shaver and is great if you really just want something to touch up. In our testing while the shave was close, there was some skin irritation and it really is a step down from the other razors reviewed in this article. However if your looking for a basic professional grade shaver, the Pro Foil will fit the bill.
How to choose an Electric Razor (Buyers Guide)
Affordability and Function
Of course most of us want to get a shaver that meets our needs while conserving our hard earned cash. The more features a razor offers the more expensive it will be. Are two favorite razors happened to be the most expensive. This is because the come with the auto-cleaning and charging station. While it may initially seem like your paying a lot more for the auto-cleaning station, you need to look at your personality to determine if it is worth the extra money. Will you regularly clean the shaver and lubricate it, or are you more the time to just charge it and use it until the battery runs low and charge it again? If you are the later you may want to consider a model with a base station. Your shaver will work better and the cutters will last longer if you have a device that ensures you keep them clean and lubricated.
It should be noted some of the less expensive devices just need a little more care but will still do a terrific job.
How does it Look?
It may seem superficial, but seriously some people really care about how things look and it impacts how well they think it performs. For example some may prefer the color choices that the Wahl Lifeproof model offers over a similar model that is just gray or silver. And that color choice makes the difference in whether they are happy with the razor or not.
So don’t just look at the features of your next shaver, but think about how it will look and feel and that may make the difference between having a shaver that does the job and having one that you can’t wait to use the next day.
Warranty
When you have things narrowed down, its worth looking at the warranty of your shaver. If for some reason the motor doesn’t work or the digital displays stop working, it good to have a warranty to fall back on.
It should be noted that foils are thin by nature and will bend and wear out over time as well as blades become dull over time. You should expect that you will need to replace these items from time to time.
Are the Features of the Shaver Easy to Use?
This is a big one for me, if you have a razor that requires a lot of adjustments or is not intuitive to use, you need to ask yourself why you are buying it. There are many options available out there so there is no reason to settle for a shaver that requires a lot of effort to use. If i find myself having to go back to the owners manual to figure out how to set it up or use it, that is my first sign that maybe this wasn’t the right choice for me.
What features of a Foil Shaver are Important to you?
Every one has that feature they must have and it is a personal choice, but here are a couple or features that you should think about before purchasing.
Cleaning
All devices that cut your beard need to be cleaned. But its not the same for all electric razors. The first consideration is can it be rinsed with water or can it only be cleaned with the little brush they give you. Some brands specifically call out not to get the blades wet.
Also auto-cleaning charging station is a feature that you should consider. It keeps your shaver clean and lubricated everyday and you don’t have to find the time to do it your self. Simple change out the cleaning solution when recommended and continue.
Locking Features
Some models come with locking features. The two main lock features are locking a swivel head so that it doesn’t move as much and the other is to lock the device so that it can’t be accidently turned on. If you’ve ever traveled and got to your destination thinking you wouldn’t need to charge it since it was just for a day or two, only pull out a shaver that had no juice left because something turned it on in transit…. well, you get the picture.
Wet and Dry Use
If you like to use your shaver in the shower or are prone to dropping your electric razor in the sink full of water or even the bath tub by the sink. You really want a wet/dry shaver. A dry only shaver will rust out when wet and really is not a good thing if you are always going to have it around water.
Running Time and Charge Time
If you use your electric razor a lot and use it for longer periods of time you want to consider razors with a longer run time between charges. One feature you should look for is the 5 minute charge features that many manufactures now offer. This allows you to quickly power up your razor for an immediate use, then you can give it time to come to full power when your finished.
Replacement Blades and Foils
While we all like to think our razor will work as is forever, it simply won’t. You will be looking for new blades and foils at some point and time. It is work taking a little time to look at the price of replacement blades and foils for your razor when your trying to decide between two models. It is also a good idea to stay with major brands as they will usually have the parts for years to come.
Frequently Asked Questions people ask about their Electric Razor
Conclusion
Well that’s it, we hope you really enjoyed reading about electric shavers for men and trimming your facial hair.
Now you know what to look for and what some of the common features are for todays electric razors are. Things of come a long way since the first razors and shaving doesn’t need to be chore if you choose the correct shaver for yourself.
Electric razors continue to evolve and we will continue to update this article as new capabilities and models come into the market.