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#294165 - 22/02/2007 16:22 Electric Shavers
CrackersMcCheese
pooh-bah

Registered: 14/01/2002
Posts: 2489
Anyone use these? I *hate* shaving with a passion. I have really sensitive skin and get all burnt with a normal razor and thought maybe electric ones would be better for me? Its not the kind of product you can try and take back to the shop :S And if I'm doing it I'm going to do it properly - no £20 efforts.

Anyway, opinions welcomed please!

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#294166 - 22/02/2007 16:35 Re: Electric Shavers [Re: CrackersMcCheese]
BartDG
carpal tunnel

Registered: 20/05/2001
Posts: 2616
Loc: Bruges, Belgium
I've got a Braun FreeGlider. These put a lotion on your skin whilst shaving, against razorburn. It works pretty good.

The only problem is that I hate shaving as well, and I've found no electrical shaver so far which can do it equally fast as a normal razor. I usually only shave once or twice a week, and then I use my freeglider to get most of the hair off, and after that I use normal razor (combined with an aloe vera containing shaving gel) for the finish. This works reasonably good, but now and then I still get razor burn.
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#294167 - 22/02/2007 16:47 Re: Electric Shavers [Re: BartDG]
DWallach
carpal tunnel

Registered: 30/04/2000
Posts: 3810
I've got a several years old Norelco / Phillips rotary model. It's waterproof, which is helpful for cleaning, and the battery holds a charge for several weeks, which is convenient for travel. The shave isn't as close as a razor, but it's consistent and pain-free (I also had rash issues). The trick is that I now *must* shave at least once every two days, or else things get too long for it to work efficiently.

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#294168 - 22/02/2007 16:59 Re: Electric Shavers [Re: DWallach]
mlord
carpal tunnel

Registered: 29/08/2000
Posts: 14472
Loc: Canada
Second the Phillips rotary shavers. Much more skin friendly than other designs.
Nowhere as close as a blade, but it's what I've used since ditching Brauns.

Cheers

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#294169 - 22/02/2007 17:04 Re: Electric Shavers [Re: mlord]
JBjorgen
carpal tunnel

Registered: 19/01/2002
Posts: 3582
Loc: Columbus, OH
I'll give that a third. Same thing they said.
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#294170 - 22/02/2007 17:24 Re: Electric Shavers [Re: JBjorgen]
Ezekiel
pooh-bah

Registered: 25/08/2000
Posts: 2413
Loc: NH USA
I'm a Braun guy, I got the self cleaning one (it comes with a base, no idea what model). Works well enough for me - I've worn out the batteries on two previous units in the last 15 years, otherwise no problems.

-Zeke
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#294171 - 22/02/2007 17:29 Re: Electric Shavers [Re: CrackersMcCheese]
Schido
enthusiast

Registered: 29/03/2005
Posts: 364
Loc: Probably lost somewhere in Wal...
Dovo for me, learning to shave with it took some time, but ideal for sensitive skin, and for when you wait a bit too long with shaving.

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#294172 - 22/02/2007 18:07 Re: Electric Shavers [Re: CrackersMcCheese]
g_attrill
old hand

Registered: 14/04/2002
Posts: 1172
Loc: Hants, UK
When I got a Philips one they had a 14/30-day money back guarantee. I got a cheapy one and to be honest it's pretty crap. Using it wet is better, but it gets gummed up quickly and needs a 5 minute disassembly and clean (ie. get a self-cleaning one).

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#294173 - 22/02/2007 19:00 Re: Electric Shavers [Re: CrackersMcCheese]
Cris
pooh-bah

Registered: 06/02/2002
Posts: 1904
Loc: Leeds, UK
Have you tried something like King of Shaves Shaving Oil ???

Nivea also do very good shaving gels. I find electric razors are no good for my skin, nothing beats a good wet shave with a sharp razor (Mach3).

For the ultimate non gel/foam wet shave try this.

Cheers

Cris.

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#294174 - 22/02/2007 19:02 Re: Electric Shavers [Re: CrackersMcCheese]
Robotic
pooh-bah

Registered: 06/04/2005
Posts: 2026
Loc: Seattle transplant
Just curious what you've tried to relieve your razor burn.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Razor_burn

There's all manner of shaving oils and creams that can provide better than average protection, as well as many techniques to try.

I'm lucky that I don't get razor burn, though, so I can't tell you from personal experience what might help you out.
I'm very happy to be free of electric razors.
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#294175 - 22/02/2007 19:49 Re: Electric Shavers [Re: Schido]
DWallach
carpal tunnel

Registered: 30/04/2000
Posts: 3810
In addition to the straight razors, there are also safety razors that use a stainless steel double-sided razor blade. A friend of mine, also with sensitive skin, got one and loves it. It's a whole ritual with the badger-hair brush, building up the lather, and so forth. If you don't want to go electric, that's what I'd try. One of many brands you can Google for is the "Merkur Futur".

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#294176 - 22/02/2007 22:52 Re: Electric Shavers [Re: CrackersMcCheese]
tfabris
carpal tunnel

Registered: 20/12/1999
Posts: 31563
Loc: Seattle, WA

Phil,

I switched from blade to electric about a year and a half ago, and I've found that the electric shaver gives me fewer skin problems than the blade. I'm using one of the Norelco 3-rotary waterproof jobs so I can use it in the shower. I can also use just a small amount of plain soap on my face instead of shaving cream, which is nice when shaving in the shower.

With the blade, I had to shave every other day or every third day in order to let my skin recover. Now, with the electric shaver, I can shave daily if I so desire.

However, I have also found the following, which may be drawbacks for you:

- No electric shaver gets as close as a blade can, despite the ads. This is not as bad as it seems. In my case, what this means is that my beard is decently short, short enough to last a day, and then the next day the beard is long enough again so that I can get enough bite out of the electric razor to be able to shave again instead of having to wait a day. It sounds screwy, but what this all means is that I have an overall average shorter beard than when I used a blade. No prickly in-between days.

- The electric shaver still cannot get my neck hairs, those are too thick for it and the skin is too soft and pliable. I still have to use the blade on my neck. But since I keep both in the shower with me, shaving is a quick thing.

- You can still nick yourself with an electric if you get it onto skin that's too soft or skin that's not stretched taut. Watch out.

- Don't use a face shaver on any part of your body other than the face. Do not ask me how I know this.

- Expect some learning time to get used to using the electric. You won't get the perfect shave out of it the first few times. Give it a chance for a while.
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#294177 - 22/02/2007 23:18 Re: Electric Shavers [Re: tfabris]
Robotic
pooh-bah

Registered: 06/04/2005
Posts: 2026
Loc: Seattle transplant
Quote:
- Don't use a face shaver on any part of your body other than the face. Do not ask me how I know this.

http://shaveeverywhere.com/
heh
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#294178 - 22/02/2007 23:45 Re: Electric Shavers [Re: Robotic]
mlord
carpal tunnel

Registered: 29/08/2000
Posts: 14472
Loc: Canada
Hilarious!

Now to wipe all of that tea from my formerly clean laptop..

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#294179 - 23/02/2007 05:05 Re: Electric Shavers [Re: mlord]
altman
carpal tunnel

Registered: 19/05/1999
Posts: 3457
Loc: Palo Alto, CA
Third. I got a Philishave 6890 (as far as I can tell, it's the same as one of the Norelco 7000 series - at least the same cutters fit it) in 2000, and it's still going strong. It was one of the first with a NiMH pack and it still gets 55 minutes runtime (it had about 65 new). Changed the cutters last year, but that's all - it's one of the washable ones so cleaning it is pretty much running it under a tap.

It'll also charge on almost ANYTHING - it has a mini wallwart type thing, and I'm pretty sure it says it'll take 12-240v AC or DC. Way cool.

Semi-interesting story - Steve Sanders (the empeg cofounder) promised us all a palm pilot when we'd shipped 1000(?) empegs; as most of us didn't fancy a palm, it got translated into "something electrical for about 100 quid". My shaver was my chosen electrical item

Hugo

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#294180 - 23/02/2007 13:20 Re: Electric Shavers [Re: DWallach]
wfaulk
carpal tunnel

Registered: 25/12/2000
Posts: 16706
Loc: Raleigh, NC US
I've found the same thing. I'm waiting on a Merkur razor to show up at my doorstep right now.
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Bitt Faulk

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#294181 - 23/02/2007 13:36 Re: Electric Shavers [Re: Robotic]
Dignan
carpal tunnel

Registered: 08/03/2000
Posts: 12318
Loc: Sterling, VA
Quote:
Quote:
- Don't use a face shaver on any part of your body other than the face. Do not ask me how I know this.

http://shaveeverywhere.com/
heh

Wow, I wouldn't expect something like that from Philips! Funny!

I've used a Norelco for years. I've always liked it except that the battery died, and I can only use it when plugged in, but that's probably just a problem with my house (it can kill any small electronics device in about a month).
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#294182 - 23/02/2007 14:51 Re: Electric Shavers [Re: CrackersMcCheese]
furtive
old hand

Registered: 14/08/2001
Posts: 886
Loc: London, UK
I hate shaving too and have sensitive skin. I tried an el-cheapo leccy shaver many years ago that was unsuprisingly rubbish.

I'm always tempted to get a decent electric razor but don't want so splash out on something that I'll only use once and hate.

So I just shave on Mondays and Wednesdays, go to work slightly scruffy on Tuesdays and Thursdays, work from home on Fridays and look like a tramp by Sunday night
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#294183 - 23/02/2007 20:29 Re: Electric Shavers [Re: altman]
mlord
carpal tunnel

Registered: 29/08/2000
Posts: 14472
Loc: Canada
Quote:
Third. I got a Philishave 6890 (as far as I can tell, it's the same as one of the Norelco 7000 series - at least the same cutters fit it) in 2000, and it's still going strong. It was one of the first with a NiMH pack and it still gets 55 minutes runtime (it had about 65 new).
..
It'll also charge on almost ANYTHING - it has a mini wallwart type thing, and I'm pretty sure it says it'll take 12-240v AC or DC. Way cool.


My el-cheapo Phillishave 5801 is ancient -- got it back in mid 1990s. It has a built-in NiCd pack, which still keeps an excellent (2-3 weeks) charge despite daily use. Simply amazing that they manage the battery that well.

Built-in charger, and just a detachable skinny coil-cord (no wall dongle/wart). Charges from pretty much any source over 20V AC/DC.

Cheers

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#294184 - 23/02/2007 20:41 Re: Electric Shavers [Re: mlord]
furtive
old hand

Registered: 14/08/2001
Posts: 886
Loc: London, UK
As a bit of a tangent, I once bought a "Maveric T-3000" beard trimmer from Century 21 in downtown Manhattan to keep the goatie I had then in trim. Got it home to find that someone had clearly bought it, used it, and then returned it to the store for a refund. And they must have got rid of a fair beard with it, because there was stubble everywhere
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#294185 - 24/02/2007 01:35 Re: Electric Shavers [Re: altman]
msaeger
carpal tunnel

Registered: 23/09/2000
Posts: 3608
Loc: Minnetonka, MN
Quote:
My shaver was my chosen electrical item



Wow that is a old shaver. The longest I managed to live with one was about two years.
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Matt

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#294186 - 27/02/2007 20:52 Re: Electric Shavers [Re: Cris]
boxer
pooh-bah

Registered: 16/04/2002
Posts: 2011
Loc: Yorkshire UK
Quote:
Have you tried something like King of Shaves Shaving Oil ???


When this subject came up before, somebody described it as like putting extra strong mints on your face, and that's about right - I've used it when travelling for a few years, but I can't start the day without the proper: Bowl; Brush and Blade, maybe it's just something I grew up with.
In the 60's, when I frequently started the day with a hangover, nothing, with the possible exception of a large scotch, got over it better than a cut throat shave with the hot towels and talc, there's a place in York that still does it, but I've never been: Your hand just slides down your face, it's so close!
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#294187 - 28/02/2007 03:41 Re: Electric Shavers [Re: boxer]
lectric
pooh-bah

Registered: 20/01/2002
Posts: 2085
Loc: New Orleans, LA
God I miss a proper blade shave. I never learned to do it myself, but my barber used to do it. When AIDS came to the forefront, all the barbers I know quit doing it at all. You know, possibility of blood and such. But MAN, that's a close shave. Trivia: How many know that barbers used to do dentistry as well? And before that, the were blood-letters, for releasing evil spirits.

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#294188 - 28/02/2007 09:25 Re: Electric Shavers [Re: lectric]
boxer
pooh-bah

Registered: 16/04/2002
Posts: 2011
Loc: Yorkshire UK
Quote:
How many know that barbers used to do dentistry as well? And before that, the were blood-letters, for releasing evil spirits.


Hence the barber's red and white pole, representing blood and flesh!
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#294189 - 28/02/2007 12:30 Re: Electric Shavers [Re: boxer]
lectric
pooh-bah

Registered: 20/01/2002
Posts: 2085
Loc: New Orleans, LA
Exactly. Too bad the poles are starting to disappear.

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#294190 - 01/03/2007 15:03 Re: Electric Shavers [Re: lectric]
Schido
enthusiast

Registered: 29/03/2005
Posts: 364
Loc: Probably lost somewhere in Wal...
The place where i ordered my shaving set (including 'teach yourself classic shaving' manual in dutch):

http://www.shaving-and-razor-shop.com

in antwerp does lessons for it too:

http://www.shaving-and-razor-shop.com/NL/Cursus.htm


Edited by Schido (01/03/2007 15:04)
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#294191 - 01/03/2007 16:31 Re: Electric Shavers [Re: Schido]
wfaulk
carpal tunnel

Registered: 25/12/2000
Posts: 16706
Loc: Raleigh, NC US
I finally got my safety razor yesterday and shaved with it last night. So far (one shave), I really like it.

My first impression was that it was much smaller than I was expecting.

My second impression was that it was incredibly sharp. Obviously, this has to do with the blade I put in it (also Merkur -- ordered ten with the razor, plus it came with one), but I expected to have a hard time getting through the four or five days of beard I had. It cut through it without any effort at all.

My next impression was that it was really fast. It seemed like I shaved in half the time that it normally takes me. This might have to do with the fact that I regularly go for four or five days without shaving and the new razors ability to not be affected by that.

My next impression was that it shaved really closely without irritating my skin. I didn't use anything fancy to shave with, just the same gel and witch hazel I usually use.

I did notice that I didn't shave under my nose well. This morning I figured out how to get the large head directly underneath my nose without slicing my lip open. I found that the best way was to push up on my nostril with the top of the razor until I got the blade above the mustache.

I didn't do such a great job on my neck and throat, but that's always been a problem area for me; my beard grows in circles there.

On the other hand, I was assured that I would cut myself the first time I used it. I did not.

Anyway, so far, I'm really happy. I'll have to see how it goes long-term.
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#294192 - 01/03/2007 17:18 Re: Electric Shavers [Re: wfaulk]
boxer
pooh-bah

Registered: 16/04/2002
Posts: 2011
Loc: Yorkshire UK
Thae's what I started out with - essentially King Gillette's original invention - but I had to give it up, because I couldn't get the blades.
Now I use a Gillette triple blade: I forget its name, and I don't think it's any better.
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#294193 - 01/03/2007 20:10 Re: Electric Shavers [Re: wfaulk]
Robotic
pooh-bah

Registered: 06/04/2005
Posts: 2026
Loc: Seattle transplant
Quote:
... Obviously, this has to do with the blade I put in it ...

Do those blades fit into any of the old-school double-edge razors?
I've never tried DE, but I have several of the razor handles around somewhere.
I've been using a Gillette Sensor for the last 10 or 15 years and wouldn't mind trying a DE for fun.
My last experiment was with the Headblade. I wasn't too thrilled by it- it wasn't much good for your face, so I had to swap razors in the middle of my routine.
The reviews on Amazon for the Merkur blades are pretty encouraging. If they fit one of my old handles, I'd pick up a pack.
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#294194 - 01/03/2007 20:46 Re: Electric Shavers [Re: Robotic]
wfaulk
carpal tunnel

Registered: 25/12/2000
Posts: 16706
Loc: Raleigh, NC US
As far as I know, they're the same size blades that have been used since this type of razor came out in 1903. It's that same very thin steel with the wobbly cutout in the middle.

Like these:



Attachments
295160-Double_Edge_Razor_Blade.jpg (460 downloads)

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