# Electric razors...your opinion? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 16, 2004, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-razors-your-opinion/264683 "2004-09-16T13:41:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tomcat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Tomcat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tomcat)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2004, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-razors-your-opinion/264683/1 "2004-09-16T13:41:49Z")
Title says it all. I am thinking of switching from blade to electric. No real reason, just an idea. -Tcat ---
**Author:** ![Metacom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecae2f/32.png) [@Metacom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Metacom)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2004, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-razors-your-opinion/264683/2 "2004-09-16T13:48:46Z")
They’ll both work, and are both superb alternatives; however, I’ve heard that electric razors cause herpes. This post sponsored by the Blade Manufacturers Association of America ---
**Author:** ![Jammer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df705f/32.png) [@Jammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jammer)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2004, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-razors-your-opinion/264683/3 "2004-09-16T14:01:59Z")
I switched to electric many years ago and I don’t think I could go back. I don’t think I have herpes either. 🙂 I’m kind of fond of the Norelco, but there are other good alternatives, too. Jammer ---
**Author:** ![The\_Vorlon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@The\_Vorlon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Vorlon)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2004, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-razors-your-opinion/264683/4 "2004-09-16T14:29:04Z")
I don’t trust myself with sharp objects in the morning. Vorlon Jr. calls it the ‘buzzer’ ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2004, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-razors-your-opinion/264683/5 "2004-09-16T20:43:18Z")
When I first started shaving I used electrics, but once I started blade-shaving, there was no other way for me. I think of it as driving a stick vs. an automatic. One is easier, but the other is more visceral with a greater feeling of control. I also don’t like the baby-soft result of an electric, but prefer a little against-the-grain texture, but YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![Only\_Mostly\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/f19dbf/32.png) [@Only\_Mostly\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Only_Mostly_Dead)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2004, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-razors-your-opinion/264683/6 "2004-09-16T21:56:26Z")
I’m curious on the answers to this one, too. Nothing to add for an opinion on electric razors. I’ve wanted to try one out for some time now, but I would want to get a decent one (don’t want to drive a Pinto, then pretend that’s how a Ferrari feels). And I plunk down a heck of a lot more money to try a decent electric over trying out a new decent blade. So I’ve always just done blades. ---
**Author:** ![Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laughing_Lagomorph)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2004, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-razors-your-opinion/264683/7 "2004-09-16T22:40:03Z")
That’s my problem too…I don’t know how well an electric will really work so I don’t want to shell out serious money for one. I bought a bottom-of-the-line Remington MicroScreen2. It works ok, but is not as good as the Gillette Mach 3 razors I was using before that. It is just slightly quicker and more convenient, is all. ---
**Author:** ![rackman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d07c76/32.png) [@rackman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rackman)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2004, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-razors-your-opinion/264683/8 "2004-09-16T22:41:30Z")
I have used an electric for quite a few years now. I like it because a razor always irritated my skin, especially on my neck. The electric does not irritate my skin. However, the electric does not give nearly as close a shave as a razor. Every once in a while I try a razor again, the first shave is great, but after that the skin irritation sux. I prefer the Braun models myself. I’ve had two models. The first one lasted about 6-7 years of everyday use. Still worked, but the battery would no longer hold a charge. I got my second one a couple of years ago, and it is even better than the first (e.g. faster motor, long hair trimmer between the coils). ---
**Author:** ![Danalan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/76d3ee/32.png) [@Danalan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Danalan)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2004, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-razors-your-opinion/264683/9 "2004-09-16T22:49:20Z")
Electric user for 30 years. Still have the scars from a month of using blades before I got smart. Expect to spend at least $50 for a good shaver – and get the best quality you can afford. Otherwise, why bother? ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2004, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-razors-your-opinion/264683/10 "2004-09-16T23:41:15Z")
I’ve used an electric for several years now. There are times when I miss the super closeness of a blade, but it’s just not worth it to go back. It’s so convenient to shave with my Norelco. I need a new one though, I have to keep my constantly plugged in now to use it ---
**Author:** ![SolGrundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbce88/32.png) [@SolGrundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SolGrundy)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2004, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-razors-your-opinion/264683/11 "2004-09-17T00:24:19Z")
Electrics are definitely easier, and I use one whenever I’m going completely clean-shaven. I got one of those expensive Braun ones that cleans itself\* and it’s the best I’ve gotten from an electric razor, but still not as good as a Mach 3. With the electric, I have to shave every day, but with the Mach 3 I can get by with every other day. Since I’ve started to value my convenience over my appearance, and wearing a beard or a goatee, I stopped using the electric completely. I still haven’t figured out how to use it in contained areas, it’s pretty much all or nothing. It’s easier at this point with a regular razor anyway; I can just shave my neck once a week and leave the rest of my face a scruffy, patchy, graying mess. Ah, the life of a programmer. - If you do get one of the self-cleaning ones, **DO NOT** try shaving immediately after it comes out of the cleaning solution. The cleaning solution is alcohol based. You’d think I would’ve known this before I tried it. ---
**Author:** ![Hedda\_Rosa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hedda_rosa/32/1204_2.png) [@Hedda\_Rosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hedda_Rosa)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2004, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-razors-your-opinion/264683/12 "2004-09-17T01:26:41Z")
Um. Can someone who only uses her shaver on her legs pipe in? Just got my elecric shaver 4 months ago after years of useing blades while cursing and bleeding. Love love love it will never go back. I like being able to shave without having to hop in the shower, instead I can just whip out my shaver and clean up the ol’ legs any time at all. ---
**Author:** ![mcott](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@mcott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mcott)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2004, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-razors-your-opinion/264683/13 "2004-09-17T05:00:22Z")
I bought a Braun electric a few months ago. It even dispenses “shaving balm”. The problem is (as I’ve unfortunately discovered), that if I don’t shave every day, which I often don’t do, the damn thing doesn’t get my lower neck properly. ☹ Then I need to use the old Mach3, which I now think I prefer. Anyone want to buy a used electric shaver :eek: ? ---
**Author:** ![Telperien](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@Telperien](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telperien)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2004, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-razors-your-opinion/264683/14 "2004-09-18T06:44:35Z")
I only use my little cordless jobbie on my legs if I’m in a major hurry. Blades are the way to go. Triple blades, though I still nick myself from time to time. ---
**Author:** ![Standup\_Karmic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ac91a4/32.png) [@Standup\_Karmic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Standup_Karmic)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2004, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-razors-your-opinion/264683/15 "2004-09-18T06:47:39Z")
I use a blade. I like my blade. I don’t have any reason to contribute to this thread, except that, at least for right now, there’s no other threads to respond to. Blades forever!!! ---
**Author:** ![Standup\_Karmic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ac91a4/32.png) [@Standup\_Karmic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Standup_Karmic)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2004, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-razors-your-opinion/264683/16 "2004-09-18T06:59:57Z")
Forever! ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2004, 7:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-razors-your-opinion/264683/17 "2004-09-18T07:24:31Z")
Started out with the original safety razor-yeah, I know, the first improvement over sharpened rock on face, tried several electrics-a Panasonic wet/dry was great, as I’m a showering shaver, but when it died, there was no provision to replace the nicad batteries. Dammit! Back to manual blades-waiting for the Ultra 21 facial sculptor-21 titanium blades shave you so close you won’t need to shave until next week. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2004, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-razors-your-opinion/264683/18 "2004-09-18T07:50:19Z")
The electric works well on face. It does not work at all on my neck. No electric razor does. And since I now shave my head, forget about it. ---
**Author:** ![tim314](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim314/32/3468_2.png) [@tim314](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim314)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2004, 8:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-razors-your-opinion/264683/19 "2004-09-18T08:13:15Z")
I have sensitive skin, and I find an electric razor irritates it less. But maybe that just meant I needed a better shaving cream back when I used a blade. ---
**Author:** ![Largo62](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/45deac/32.png) [@Largo62](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Largo62)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2004, 8:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-razors-your-opinion/264683/20 "2004-09-18T08:42:41Z")
I have sensitive skin, too, but I’ve always found an electric irritates it _more_. Actually, I can’t seem to get a decent shave with an electric, and I bleed when I use a blade. Consequently, every so often I just let the damn beard grow. The best shave I ever get is the first one after I haven’t shaved in a few months. Don’t know why that is. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-razors-your-opinion/264683.md?page=2)