Bound to be a few on here! I have always wet shaved and have done the fancy razor bit. Since retirement, shaving is a chore that I do twice a week. I have a Phillips Tri head wet or dry. I have had it for years and like the principle, but in truth, it is not very good! I do not know if it is my technique or the razor. So, I wondered what folks use and what tips I could pick up. I presume there are two main systems. The one I have and the foil type. My brother just bought a Braun Series 3 and a friend has recommended a Braun 9600. They are at polar opposite ends of the spectrum, running at about £50 and £350. With Black friday not far away I will possibly wait and see if anything comes up. So, the age old conundrum. Shaving twice a week is a red herring. Will I get a benefit from splashing out the extra dosh or am I staring down into another rabbit hole? ![Giphy - ](https://media0.giphy.com/media/OYeH21HjPeowdhNw5Y/giphy.gif?cid=bb77869foyk4dtgtq6vfu6omnwufzdzyooyq06tk4v4nws8h&ep=v1_gifs_search&rid=giphy.gif&ct=g)

I was struggling with a similar issue @"dfk41"#4, and ended up asking my barber. He advised the following: There are (in the main) three different types of electric ‘shavers’ barbers use, clippers, trimmers and foils. Which one you use depends on the length of hair you want to cut. Clippers are for long hair (mainly cutting hair on your head), trimmers are for cutting shorter hair and doing detail work (think cleaning up a neckline or defining a short beard), and foils are for getting close to a razor-level of shave without having to use a razor. I wear a stubbly beard and want a clean-shaven neck, so use a combination of a trimmer with different length combs to allow me to easily shave to the length I want, and to shape the neckline. I use a separate foil for shaving my neck. If I have the time and inclination, I’ll use a safety razor, but I have two kids so I never have the time or inclination 😂 My barber advised some of the best foils in his opinion (and trimmers/clippers) are made by a company called Andis. Wahl are also good. I ended up getting a trimmer and foil both from Andis and they’re great. They do the job well, were reasonably priced, and can be repaired when they break.

Went down that road yrs ago and bought the Braun Series 7 799cc. Looks like as with most other items in everyday life they have changed the design and likely a cheaper version in function/longevity is on the market currently. Having said that, the one I have has been flawless. Been used about 3x weekly for going on 11 yrs and with the exception of swapping out the cleaning cartridge every 6-7 weeks ($6) and replacing the cutting head every 2.5 yrs ($40) the thing just keeps going. The battery life hasn't faded any noticeable amount and the cleaning station still does its thing. Never been much of a fan of 'German engineering', but they damn sure got it right with this shaver. In theory it might not shave as close as a good blade, but in reality you'll never feel any difference except the electric never causes me any burn, nicks, ingrown hair, etc.

I am a life long electric shaver user and love them. I shave every day. I think there could be a couple of factors in deciding what to use. I have very fine hair and beard and an electric works beautifully for me. I had a ranga Scots friend in high school who started wet shaving his bmm fluff around 13 because he wanted to be able to grow a full beard. It worked and he ended up looking like a Highlander. I, on the other hand couldn't be bothered with all that faffing around especially in a household of 6 kids with one bathroom. As a result I can grow a goatee but have almost nothing on my cheeks. I have used the Phillips tri-heads and they are what my father used(coarser hair) but I find the Brauns are unbeatable for me. I buy a new one every 8 years on average. I used to be able to get the batteries replaced but now it is cheaper to buy a new one. I buy a new set of foils and blades every year. The pop out trimmers work fine on my neck hair but does need to be opened up and cleaned every now and then. The higher end of their range is more about Pazzaz and waterproofing but I just don't shave in the shower after a couple of series of drought. Remington were very good for a while but I fear the guy who bought the company because he love the shaver has died/sold it and don't think they are as good as they were. Wahl make great clippers and we have had a couple for hair cuts. The professional Wahls are much better than the consumer ones and worth the extra money IMNSHO. [URL=https://i.imgur.com/CwnoKn2.jpeg][IMG]https://i.imgur.com/CwnoKn2.jpeg[/IMG][/URL]

Oh, with Braun items. I use a Braun electric tooth brush. I recently bought a new bargain $25 one and it was rubbish. I went back and spent $60 on a better one and it is fantastic. Ya get what you pay for.

> @"JonWoo187"#p71200 swapping out the cleaning cartridge every 6-7 weeks ($6) What is all this cleaning cartridge stuff please?

@"dfk41"#p71203 https://us.braun.com/en-us/male-grooming/clean-charge-station

Electric shavers

DavecUK

dfk41 What is all this cleaning cartridge stuff please?

I don’t know, but I would have thought a cheap bottle of 99% Isopropyl alcohol would be an excellent shaver cleaner for about £5 and last years. Useful for other things as well.

Amazon

MediumRoastSteam

I’m following this with interest. For a very short while on my teens and early twenties I used to wet shave. I don’t have a very strong or hairy face, for better or worse. I shave maybe once a week when I can be bothered. My skin is also quite sensitive, and a wet shave always caused irritation, spots and things like that. I hated it. I then bought an electric shaver, a Phillips three head, and have been using that for almost twenty years, changed the cutters maybe twice. For me, it’s a lot better, and my skin is grateful. I’m thinking of retiring that one and booing for a Braun next - but then I’m not sure, the Phillips has been great.

dfk41

MediumRoastSteam I have the same Phillips 3 head and in the years I have used it I have never had a decent shave! Hence the switch back to a foil shaver I hope!

thewelshvet

I’ve also been using the Philips 3 head shavers for along time. They are ok, but I agree, if you have more than a day or two of growth, they don’t do a great job. Interesting to hear others experience of the Braun foil shavers. Are they really that much better? If so, I may bite the bullet and switch as my shaver is probably due for a change.

scwheeler

I’ve had a variety of shavers/razors over the years as my skin is ridiculously sensitive and flares up easily in shaving rash and ingrown hairs and the Brauns series 9 is by far the best. I was recently given a Philips 3 head for a month to try but found the shaving performance sub par and painful with longer hair as I only aim to shave 2-3x per week.

I now prefer to wet shave with them for better performance. I use a no foam shave gel (I like Dollar Shave Clubs shave butter but sure others work the same) and I get barely any irritation. I also find it helps with longer hair and if I have hot shower first and some use sort of exfoliating wash to lift the hair, the razor has no issues with a week long thick haired beard!!

Braun discounts deeply and I’ve never paid more than 50% RRP, this looks like a pretty decent deal and you don’t have be a member to buy from them online.

https://www.costco.co.uk/Personal-Care/Braun-Series-9-Pro-Shaver-with-Cleaning-Charging-Station-Power-Case-9575cc/p/947700

I really rate the cleaning set up and yes cartridges are a bit expensive however you can buy 5L of generic shaver cleaner online and refill the cartridges.

woodymogs

I also use Braun shavers (currently have the latest 9 Pro+) as I have stupidly sensitive skin around the neck. My brother has been using a Philips 3 head for years but it packed up a week or so ago and he asked me about a Braun. He then bought the 9 Pro+ and is very happy with it.

He bought the version without the cleaning/charger unit as I find it’s just as easy to keep clean with water and the brush (though I do have the cleaning version as I got it cheaper than the model without, but only use the auto clean unit once every couple of weeks just to freshen it up.)

I’ve never paid anything like the RRP. My brother paid half that just this week via an offer at Boots. He prefers it to his old Philips as he finds it easier to use around his neck as it’s not as bulky as the 3 head arrangement. Whatever you buy, don’t pay RRP, aim for around 50% of that!

thewelshvet

I think I may well bite the bullet and try the Braun. There are some deals around currently and it won’t be long until Black Friday!!

Meldrew

I have a Braun series 9 from when they first came out in 2015, it’s been the best electric razor that I have ever owned. Having very sensitive skin which easily becomes inflamed has meant looking since first shaving for something that is good for my skin. I do wet shave now and again though when I want a really close shave. The other day one of the foils on the head disintegrated, not sure why. Trying to find a new head has been hard so we thought that a new unit might have to be purchased. Found this site which some may find useful. As far as the cleaning unit you can purchase cleaning fluid online a lot cheaper and refill the cleaning fluid containers.

https://shavercheck.com/braun-series9-original-vs-updated/

Amberale

Meldrew

Down Under we have a chain store called “The Shaver Shop” which sells anything you could imagine for shaving and a lot that you would never have thought of.
They are in every large shopping center.
Apparently grooming by all male/female/other is all the rage and there are products for all applications.

They carry foils, blades, heads shavers, soaps, oils, unguents, and tooth brushes etc etc etc.

Easycoffee

I started shaving 46 years ago with a Philishave my father bought me.Used it for maybe two years.Started wet shaving age 18.

10 years ago I decided to buy a new Philishave.I tried it a few months but still disliked it.They irritatie my skin.

So for me nothing beats a good old straight razor Been using them for ever.They are fast,smooth an don’t t irritatie my skin.

dfk41

Easycoffee That is a lovely collection. I have also wet shaved most of my life, having flirted with electric 3 times. I use ‘normal’ 5 blade shavers as I find modern technology far better than older style blades. I did go though a spell of DE (double edged) shaving but the nicks and cuts were endless and the finish the cack handed way I shave, was always inferior.

Uncletits

Easycoffee some nice Solingen blades there

Easycoffee

Uncletits

Besides a Dovo all vintage razors.Some 80 years old .Can’t t beat them.

Pompeyexile

I used to wet shave only but…

So now I have an electric re-chargeable Wahl which is very good having multiple attachments and adjustments for beard/stubble lengths and if you take the guard off completely smooth. I say completely, but nothing is as smooth as a wet bladed shave IMHO, so I do my neck with a safety razor for baby bum smooth. I did try a foil razor but did not like it one bit.

Rob666

I started with wet shaving in my teens and didn’t get on with it at all. Switched to electric, initially a foil Remington. I didn’t like that much either. Got a Philips two head rotary and used it for years. Switched to a Remington three head rotary and used that for many more years. Bought a newer three head Remington and it was a pale shadow of the original… Wife treated me to a high end three head Philips for a recent significant birthday. The closest shave I’ve ever had BUT now I get shaver rash. It seems you cannot win!

RickO88

I’ve used various three head Philips for years and have never had shaver rash. Latest is 9000. IIRC Philips says it takes several weeks to get used to a new shaver.

Rob666

RickO88 Mine is a 9000 and I love it but I do get the rash. I’ve now had it four months…

RickO88

Rob666 Don’t know what to suggest…

DavecUK

Rob666 A 4 month long rash sounds serious.