Well, the title kind of says it all, but there’s this big box here, so I guess I should type an OP. Feel free to ignore it and just post your response if you want. Oh, and DoperWomen are also welcome, if you are experienced with shaving your face with electric razors.
So I’ve been using this electric razor for years and years. Please don’t try to convince me to go back to blades - it’s not going to happen. The battery on my current razor is finally dying. It won’t hold enough of a charge to finish a shave any more. I could get the battery replaced, I’m sure, but frankly, I’ve never been totally satisifed with the shave I got from this shaver. There are always a few spots it just can’t seem to get, no matter how much I run it over them. So I figured this would be a good time to upgrade.
The problem is, there are approximately 11 gazillion models out there to choose from, with a very wide range of prices. I’ve checked sites like epinions, but out of the 11 gazillion models, roughly 10.5 gazillion models are rated 5 stars out of 5, which is less than helpful. I’ve been somewhat intrigued by these new models out now that come with the little cleaning station that you plug the razor into every day so it cleans itself. Then I saw that you need a new refill of cleaning solution every month, and they cost $4-5 each. For me, one of the main advantages of electric over blade is that you don’t have to buy new blades every so often, and having to buy cleaning solution kind of negates that advantage. Hmm. I wonder if I could just bring some ethanol home from work and use that?
Anyway.
So I turn to the Dopers to give me some firsthand recommendations. All I want is a razor that holds a charge well, is reliable, and will give me a good shave all over, even in the tough spots. I’ve never had a problem with irritation or sensitive skin, so that’s not an issue.
Already owning a shaver (braun) I ummed and arred about getting a new one. Eventually I got that one and after a few days of getting used to it I am very satisfied with it. It shaves very close on a rubbery (post-damp) face with a little dragging, and shaves good on a dry face too. It has a battery level indicator which is useful if you are deciding whether to take the charger on holiday with you .
I got the Braun self cleaning model with the re-fillable cleaning cartridges. If you clean only every other day, the cartridges last a little longer. I really like it – it feels like a brand new shaver after it is cleaned.
I have sensitive skin, so I hate all electric razors - my second Norelco eventually dulled enough to where it wouldn’t irritate my skin, but took many, many passes for a halfway decent shave - so I got a new Norelco… don’t know the model off the top of my head.
Great shave, but my neck is itching so much right now… plus I had to buckle and start using preShave/AfterShave.
Still, the nice thing about the new one is that while it can be used cordless, you can also use it on a cord, so when the batteries die eventually, it’s still good.
I like the new models that can shave ‘wet’ by themselves. Or rather, they seem very nice. I haven’t tried one, hated them as a kid, went for the gilette style double blades, and never went back. Currently I favor shaving under the shower, with no additional cream or anything. Really easy, really quick. Don’t use a mirror either, I just run my hand over my face.
You’re close…I refill my "cleaning cartridges with rubbing alcohol, 70%. It says not to do this, but right on the cartridges, in german, is something about “alcohol 70%” and shows someone pouring it into the convenient openable hole in the cartridge.
Works fine. And the shaver (a Braun Synchro) works pretty well too. You’ll never get the ease and convenience of a blade, but you skip out on the razor burn, too, which is important to me.
FWIW, my Panasonic something-or-other is sealed, so I just rinse it off under the tap every so often–I figure it’s cheaper and less of a hassle than dealing with vats of alcohol or whatever. I’m sure there are other models other than the Panasonic that are also waterproof.
I’ll second that emotion–I was surprised at the amount of power the battery generated, plus it was a really great shave. It’s definitely the best of both worlds.
I’m on my fourth electric shaver, and I’ve been using them for over 20 years. I had one Braun, but it didn’t work well for me, and the foil/cover thing tore on the first business trip I took. Otherwise, I’ve had three Norelcos. The last one that died, died because my wife flooded my sink (washing bras!) and it did not withstand the flood. The first one died when this nasty shampoo I use for psoarisis broke open and got tar like crap throughout it.
Otherwise, I think they last forever. The only problem is that I haven’t figured out how to maintain a goatee (all of two weeks old) with straight edges using a circular blade.
