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05/18/2006 05:18:57 PM · #1 |
What makes a certain electric razor better than others? I wanna get one and I saw some at walmart yesterday from 40 bucks to 140 bucks.
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05/18/2006 05:26:28 PM · #2 |
Originally posted by hsteg:
What makes a certain electric razor better than others? I wanna get one and I saw some at walmart yesterday from 40 bucks to 140 bucks. |
Think of it like buying a new lens, a $40 razor will do the job and the result will look ok from a distance ;) A $140 one will give an extra smooth shave, last longer and will most likely look more badaser than the cheaper one ;)
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05/18/2006 05:38:28 PM · #3 |
I used many differnt electric razors over the years and ultimately decided none of them shaved nearly as close as even a disposable razor. I have very thick facial hair though so it's tough for me to find a razor that truely shaves smooth.
With that said...
My recomendations would be to get one you can get wet and also check to make sure replacement blades are available compare the costs of the replacement parts with other ones.
some shavers squirt lotion and have special cleaning docks etc - don't worry about any of that junk. As long as you can get it wet you can use soap or shaving cream if you want and it's easy to wash. |
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05/18/2006 06:02:39 PM · #4 |
Originally posted by Megatherian:
I used many differnt electric razors over the years and ultimately decided none of them shaved nearly as close as even a disposable razor. I have very thick facial hair though so it's tough for me to find a razor that truely shaves smooth.
With that said...
My recomendations would be to get one you can get wet and also check to make sure replacement blades are available compare the costs of the replacement parts with other ones.
some shavers squirt lotion and have special cleaning docks etc - don't worry about any of that junk. As long as you can get it wet you can use soap or shaving cream if you want and it's easy to wash. |
Id be willing to sacrafice closeness for the speed and ease of an electric. So youd say something around middle of the line, maybe 90-100 bucks?
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05/18/2006 06:09:10 PM · #5 |
Originally posted by hsteg:
...So youd say something around middle of the line, maybe 90-100 bucks? |
yea middle of the road should be about as good as any. The only other suggestion I have is i prefer the ones with a bar head as opposed to one with the 3 rotary blades - it makes getting areas like under the nose and at the edge of the neck a lot easier. |
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05/18/2006 06:09:57 PM · #6 |
Originally posted by Megatherian:
Originally posted by hsteg:
...So youd say something around middle of the line, maybe 90-100 bucks? |
yea middle of the road should be about as good as any. The only other suggestion I have is i prefer the ones with a bar head as opposed to one with the 3 rotary blades - it makes getting areas like under the nose and at the edge of the neck a lot easier. |
Do any of the brands really shine above the others?
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05/18/2006 10:54:57 PM · #7 |
I can agree that even the cheapest disposables shave closer than the electrics I use -- I have sparse growth at best. That is true regardless of the cost of the electric -- with the exception of the wet-dry I had for a couple of years. Shaving wet (including lotion) with an electric gets me a closer shave than anything else.
A couple of words of caution are in order though. An electric razor is prone to irritating your skin for a few weeks (up to a month) before your skin gets use to it. Also, the tendency is to push the razor against the skin -- this will only cause the irritation to get worse. A very, very light touch is all that is needed. If your skin is still getting irritated after a month, one of four things is likely. One, your skin is hyper sensitive, so shave with a lotion or cream. Two, too much pressure is being applied while shaving, fixed by easing up -- really, you should barely feel it on your face. Three and four, the blades are either dirty or dull. If dirty, the best way I've found to clean them is to use a pump hand soap, such as Dial anti-bacterial. Shake the loose hairs out into the trash and reassemble. After that pump a small amount onto the blades and turn it on for a few seconds -- take apart and rinse completely. Once a week will keep the blades cuttin like new for a lot longer. Finally, when the blades are dull, replace them -- yes they are expensive, but it's not worth shaving with dull blades.
When choosing a razor, pick a name brand -- I currently use a Remington. The wet-dry I had before (don't recall the brand off-hand) became impossible to find blades for without special ordering them. I have never had trouble finding blades for the Remington.
Hope this was helpful.
David
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05/18/2006 10:59:08 PM · #8 |
| This past christmas I asked for one of those Braun self-cleaning shavers (the $140 kind) and it's worked out really well so far. I get some pretty serious beard growth and I just get too lazy to shave with a razor all the time. I can't say its quite as close a shave as the razor but after the irritation period I didn't really find it to be that different. |
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05/18/2006 11:12:42 PM · #9 |
| Gillette Mach III razors kick ass. The cheap disposables should be left to women's legs. On the electric front my recommendation is completely opposite of Megatherian, I've never found the "bar head" to be any good regardless of brand. I would always go with a three head. Worlds better than the other style. David C gave some good advice. Don't press and keep it clean. Very difficult to get a good shave otherwise. |
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05/19/2006 01:55:33 AM · #10 |
| If you're going for the power tool, go Braun. |
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05/19/2006 02:24:07 AM · #11 |
would you let her mow, I mean shave you?
hehe...
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05/19/2006 10:49:03 AM · #12 |
Originally posted by hsteg:
What makes a certain electric razor better than others? I wanna get one and I saw some at walmart yesterday from 40 bucks to 140 bucks. |
Fixed heads vs. moveable heads and trimmer options contribute to the price variance. Also, water submersibles will add cost.
Braun is the best in my opinion. The use of a "pre shave" lotion is essential for consistent close shaves. My Brauns have typically lasted 8+ years before they stop holding a recharge. I shave daily, even on the weekends.
Haven't used a blade in over 20 years.
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05/19/2006 12:27:44 PM · #13 |
EDIT: Some people got a little excited about my long post. I take notes to myself that are roughly akin to a journal of decisions that I make about things that are important to me. I often find that I forget details, so I like to keep a written record. This issue is quite important to me as you will notice, my skin is quite sensitive and is prone to significant redness and irritation. The following is a reformatted collection of notes to myself, hopefully relevant to this discussion.
I've got rather sensitive skin as well as a rather odd hair growth pattern, so I have to use a combination of methods. I recently experienced a dramatic increase in growth speed and density as well as facial sensitivity, so I had to do some thinking about shaving methods... I'll share a bit. If you aren't interested, move on... I had to do this amount of research because in Taiwan, most people have very sparse growth, so the razor industry is VERY stunted here. Mach III is available in two variants, as are very cheap 2 blade disposables, and then there is Shick... I don't use Shick. My preferred blade is NOT AVAILABLE in Taiwan ANYWHERE.
As an 'early in the post warning', I will state that in Taiwan, I have purchased 3 different sets of Shick razors of different styles. ALL OF THEM RUSTED VERY QUICKLY. HALF OF THE BLADES HAD RUST SPOTS IN THE UNOPENED PACKAGE!!! I cannot speak for other countries because I did not use Shick in Canada. I informed them of the recurring problem and was responded to with silence. This is extremely dangerous and speaks very strongly against the quality of the metals they are choosing to use. I have had rust on Gilette blades, but only after leaving them unused in excess of 2-3 MONTHS. My first Shick razor came with 2 blades. I had to use only the one and that blade was significantly rusted by the second day of use. 2 razors plus a pack of blades is a total of 9 blades presumably from 3 different batches (all purchased at different locations within Taiwan).
I use a Philips 2-head with soap in the shower. I use HOT water to soften my face before hand. I follow up with a bladed razor, usually a Gilette Sensor Excel III. Regardless of the method used, I take a hot shower afterwards and no longer have a problem with 'run-on' shaving cuts as are particular to extremely sharp blades.
There is an L shaped area under my neck, near my adam's apple that no razor seems to be able to get (I've got 3 bladed razors in my bathroom as well as the electric), even after 40-50 strokes in all directions moving the skin around... so I follow up with a second LIGHT shave in areas where I know the electric has missed and always misses.
I find shaving to be a highly irritating part of my day.
I cannot use an electric dry... it's ridiculously ineffective (I have moderately thick growth, nothing really amazing, but I usually find that I need a 2nd shave if I want to do anything in the evening).
I decided that having a third head on the razor would be quite pointless. I usually shave using a single head to lead and shave in an organized pattern both with line strokes and circular strokes. I use a 'cross-hatch' pattern in difficult areas. I usually end up using alternate heads for alternate sides of my face.
I use soap and lotion to keep my face lubricated and the blades. I use a combination of a shaving gel made by Gilette and an organic handmade soap of extremely high quality (I am somewhat conversant with soap ingredients as I used to sell them in a natural health store). I find the battery lasts around 3 weeks with my particular razor.
I paid around 90 dollars US. I decided I liked that model over the others because when I took it apart and looked at the blades, there was more actual cutting coverage out of the total area of the circle than some of the more expensive models. It also features complete submergability as well as a flip-out sideburns trimmer which I also use to keep the tops of my ears looking tidy.
Regarding bladed razors, I am quite surprised actually that so many people have embraced the Mach III 'revolution'.
As to the number of blades, there is:
One blade which shaves with a single point contact. This is often a bit too hard on the face for many, but is still the one with the greatest control. If the blade makes contact, it cuts. This counts for both hair as well as skin... I find single bladed razors cause the greatest number of shaving cuts, followed by Mach 3 style razors.
Two blades have two points of contact, and in most current 2 blade designs (which are generally stragglers), the head is fixed, allowing good control, but you still end up using the leading blade more. Additionally, going around curves can be a bit more difficult to control. Like the one blade design, this type of razor often is a bit hard on the face unless you are careful. This type can give a better shave because there are two blades. In theory, it is possible to keep both blades on the face as it travels over the face because it is two points of contact. The Gilette Sensor Excel II is an example of this. Because of the increased cutting and increased control, I found this blade causes less shaving cuts and skin irritation than a single bladed razor. The metal used is usually pretty cheap, so won't stay sharp for as long as a better quality razor... generally speaking.
Three bladed razors are currently the rage and fall into two basic categories. Underhand and overhand. It is important that the model provided on the box states that the principle is that the leading blade cuts, the second blade will then cut closer and the third closer still. This is only the case on a flat surface. One real benefit to three bladed razors is that they spread the cutting out between the three blades and can provide variable two blade performance even in difficult cutting areas.
Underhand razors have an inverted curve and feature a levered pivot. The Mach III series is an underhand razor. What is interesting is that this does not follow the model claimed for 3 bladed razor performance in all situations.
Over a flat surface, all three blades contact the face. Any bumps or lack of smoothness will first connect with the leading blade which has the strongest advantage of the levered spring. The second blade will be pushed farther away, reducing its cutting role and the third blade will be pushed even farther away. After the period of 'optimal sharpness', this effect will increase and the pressure on the blade will increase, further reducing the role of the following two blades.
Over a concave surface, the middle blade will miss, leaving the rest of the cutting to the outer two blades. This is not a huge issue because it is generally possible to flatten out most concave areas of skin. One problem arises though because of that unbalanced lever, the following blade will always have less of a role. This is also true where the two outer blades are in contact as well, so a convex surface will often result in performance INFERIOR to even a simple two-bladed razor.
Over convex surfaces (cheekbones and certain areas of the skull for head-shavers), the blade also behaves more as a two-bladed razor. This is quite natural because it has three points of contact in line. It shouldn't cause a significant issue, and it doesn't mean that it gives a bad shave. However, the problem is somewhat worsened by the underhand design. This design allows the leading blade to respond directly to the pressure of the hand and in general, it will stay in contact with the face at all times. The second and third blades are more subject to being pushed AWAY from the face as the pressure against the first blade increases. This is more noticeable in 'tricky' areas. If you look closely, you will notice the blade kicking up a bit if you increase the pressure a bit. This will further reduce performance to that of a SINGLE bladed razor in difficult areas. This design also places much more of the cutting burden on the leading blade, as a second pass (or in my experience, 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th passes) may be required in less than ideal cutting conditions.
My experience with the Mach 3 and the similar Venus series (a few people recommended it as it apparently is a more durable blade... no real difference from what I saw) both suffer from the same design flaw. On good areas of the face, with light pressure, they work as claimed. They also feature sharper blades which DO cut very nicely. However, the performance quickly drops in less than smooth and flat areas. The leverage design forces this razor to work on a single blade in all too many parts of the face, which as noted above is harder on the face. It also causes this style of blade to become dull MUCH more quickly than an overhanded 3 blade razor. I found that shaving cuts were significantly increased while the blade was sharp, to the point that it was roughly the same as a 2 bladed razor and almost as bad as a single bladed razor. This 'optimal sharpness' period generally faded within a few days when the blade was used exclusively. I almost always had a few small hairs that were missed completely and a number of small areas where the blade had shaved, but it was not close, leaving an uneven feel within 3-4 hours of shaving. THIS IS EVEN WITH LARGE NUMBERS OF REPEATED STROKES. Sometimes I went over an area in excess of 20 times in different directions and with different methods and pressures, still unable to cut the damned hairs. Used as a secondary razor to my electric, the blade will last 2-3 weeks. After the second week, I will have to start using significantly increased pressure to get a good shave, decreasing the '3 blade performance'. I believe that it is no small coincidence that Mach 3 blades cost 50-70% MORE than Sensor Excel 3 blades and last much less time.
If I have to use a Mach III, I will get a good shave if the blade is brand new. By the second day, I may have to do a second shave with a different blade. By the third or fourth day, this will be absolutely necessary unless I want to walk around with patches of 'shadow' showing up by lunch time.
An overhand blade design is different. The head is center pivoted, so as the blade passes over different surfaces, the performance always follows the CENTER blade. The difference here is significant. Where strongly convex surfaces will turn the Mach III into an effective single bladed razor, running on it's leading blade, the center pivoted head will keep the center blade on the skin in most circumstances.
Over a flat surface, the blade will follow the claimed performance of a 3 bladed design (as mentioned above), regardless of the smoothness of the surface and amount of pressure. This provides a consistency of use as the blade wears.
Over a concave surface, the outer two blades will share the cutting quite equally because the pressure is centered.
Over a convex surface, the blade will also function as a two-bladed razor with one major difference. The pressure is centered to the center blade. This means that while there is a leading blade doing most of the cutting, the second blade will still have a major role in cutting. This will remain true regardless of the pitch of the curve. Two points in a plane can always make contact on a curved line. Three points cannot. Simple geometry.
As far as general performance is concerned, I find that I get the least amount of shaving cuts from an overhand 3 blade razor with a pivoting head. I currently use a disposable handle which is rubber on plastic because the metal/rubber handle with my Gilette Sensor gathered mold inside. There is no way for water to get inside the cheap plastic jobbies, although the pivoting is significantly less smooth and stiffer... Since switching to a the stiffer head, I get a few more shaving cuts, but these are still rare. My first shave ever with this type of blade blew me away because it was the first shave I had had ever with a brand new razor that had effortlessly given me both a clean shave and no shaving cuts. The blades last 1-2 months for me when used exclusively. When used as a secondary blade to either the Mach III, the blade will last 3-4 months, maybe more. Rust is still not an issue. The cost of blades is less, although I have noticed that in the last year, the quality of the metal used seems to have decreased (Gilette also seems to be trying to move to discontinue the design) marginally. I only do trips to Canada about once a year or less, so I've got some older new blades kicking about that I've used that are sharper and stay sharp longer than newer blades purchased 1.5 years later.
Again, I will restate that this makes it pretty obvious that Gilette is chasing profits here...
If you have a chance, try one out. Bladed razors are very good if used properly; much better than electrics and faster too. You will probably need at least 2 weeks to carry out a test on any razor as a bare minimum. However, you may find, particularly if your face is not as smooth as others that the overhand blade easily outperforms the underhanded design in real situations.
There is also a 4 blade razor out there. It might do a nice job on a flat surface, but as you might guess after thinking about 4 points in a plane meeting a curved surface, you will probably realize that this too is just a gimmick.
Hope someone found it informative or interesting...
Message edited by author 2006-05-20 12:56:25. |
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05/19/2006 12:50:44 PM · #14 |
eschelar,
That is one helluva treatise on shaving. |
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05/19/2006 01:02:04 PM · #15 |
You actually read all that?
Originally posted by Spazmo99:
eschelar,
That is one helluva treatise on shaving. |
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05/19/2006 01:38:39 PM · #16 |
Oh, BRAVO, Eschelar! That's a masterpiece of a post! And to think I read it on a PHOTOGRAPHY site! Combine this thread with the recent thread on FHPs and one wonders, do we need a new forum for "Hygiene and Body Maintenance"?
Robt.
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05/19/2006 03:14:38 PM · #17 |
Being military I have to shave EVERY day (I don't on the weekends though) and am so tired of it. I have even considered the laser hair removal on at least my neck so that I can avoid it.
Back in 1989 I was stationed with the Marines in California while going through a school and since I knew I was going to have some nights sleeping in a tent I went to get some razors and ended up buying one of the best razors I think I ever owned. I can't remember who made it, probably remington. It was battery operated...as in 2 AA batteries. It had two circle blades and was no bigger than probably 2 C cell batteries side by side in your hand...maybe smaller. This sucker ran for YEARS, not on the same batteries mind you but those lasted a while too and then you'd just throw in more. Now with recharagle batteries being sort of cheap it would be even better. I loved the shave it gave me and when it finally did start acting up I opened it and stuck a piece of paper in where a connection had loosened and it was good to go again for a long time.
I know how two remingtons, (I keep one here at work and one at home or in the car) and they are ok. One feels better on the face but doesn't seem to hold a charge very long anymore. I have recently seen a new dual bar type that takes batteries and wondered how good it was but will probably just stay with the two and random disposables I have around just in case of an emergency or quick touch up.
I totally agree with the pre-electric razor lotions (I think I use Lectric-shave), it really helps the razor move better across your face. |
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05/19/2006 04:14:23 PM · #18 |
I had a battery powered one too, I think mine was a Braun. It had a straight cutter and was smaller than a deck of cards, Came in a little clamshell case with a cleaning brush and a mirror in the lid. It was great.
Originally posted by sabphoto:
Being military I have to shave EVERY day (I don't on the weekends though) and am so tired of it. I have even considered the laser hair removal on at least my neck so that I can avoid it.
Back in 1989 I was stationed with the Marines in California while going through a school and since I knew I was going to have some nights sleeping in a tent I went to get some razors and ended up buying one of the best razors I think I ever owned. I can't remember who made it, probably remington. It was battery operated...as in 2 AA batteries. It had two circle blades and was no bigger than probably 2 C cell batteries side by side in your hand...maybe smaller. This sucker ran for YEARS, not on the same batteries mind you but those lasted a while too and then you'd just throw in more. Now with recharagle batteries being sort of cheap it would be even better. I loved the shave it gave me and when it finally did start acting up I opened it and stuck a piece of paper in where a connection had loosened and it was good to go again for a long time.
I know how two remingtons, (I keep one here at work and one at home or in the car) and they are ok. One feels better on the face but doesn't seem to hold a charge very long anymore. I have recently seen a new dual bar type that takes batteries and wondered how good it was but will probably just stay with the two and random disposables I have around just in case of an emergency or quick touch up.
I totally agree with the pre-electric razor lotions (I think I use Lectric-shave), it really helps the razor move better across your face. |
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05/19/2006 07:25:15 PM · #19 |
So basically Im down to some lotion, Braun or Remington, around 100 bucks, circle head or bar-style head?
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05/19/2006 07:45:29 PM · #20 |
| One more thing, I don't know what everyone elses experience is but if I didn't shave for a few days the electric razor would rip the hair out of my face. Needless to say I learned (real quick) to use a manual razor on those days ;) |
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05/19/2006 08:04:33 PM · #21 |
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05/20/2006 06:38:19 AM · #22 |
Originally posted by Megatherian:
One more thing, I don't know what everyone elses experience is but if I didn't shave for a few days the electric razor would rip the hair out of my face. Needless to say I learned (real quick) to use a manual razor on those days ;) |
Definitely! Electric razors are for removing stubble -- not beards.
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05/20/2006 06:43:28 AM · #23 |
Originally posted by hsteg:
So basically Im down to some lotion, Braun or Remington, around 100 bucks, circle head or bar-style head? |
The bar-style I had was very similar in use to a disposable. Both being flat and long, shaving with it was easy to get use to, but had the same limitations a disposable has. That is, it gets into the areas of the face in the same way a disposable does. The down-side to the gentler learning curve was that it didn't cut as good as the circle-style -- but I didn't find that out until I bought the circle-style. This may, of course, just be my experience and limited to the razors I've owned.
David
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05/20/2006 09:57:31 AM · #24 |
| My vote is still circle head. Never had a bar head worth a damn. |
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05/20/2006 10:29:47 AM · #25 |
| Go to a barber and have him do you with a straight edge. No cleaner feeling then that. You gotta trust the barber tho cuz no other worse feeling then someone holding the cold edge of a blade against your throat. |
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