Men's Shavers Buying Advice
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We're here to help you buy a shaver. We've got advice and information about all the men's shavers. We discuss the features and specifications you need to look for, and explain the difference between styles and types.Electric shavers come in an array of styles with a significant range in price and features. Most are mains and rechargeable, but some are mains only, some only re-chargeable (you don’t have to be connected to the mains to use it). As with all shopping your personal preferences and needs will dictate your type of purchase: if you are buying an electric shaver because you travel a lot you will need to consider one with universal voltage, a travel switch lock and a pouch whereas if you have sensitive skin you may chose one with a hypo-allergenic foil or that comes with lotion (click on sachets) that enable you to prepare your skin for a smoother shave. And, as with other goods the old cliché applies: ‘you get what you pay for’ with a recent Which magazine survey showing that the most expensive models came out best in users’ appraisals. A cheaper model can have difficulty with longer hairs and is more likely to strain when shaving stubble of a few days.
The buying tips below should help to make the choice easier. It provides information about:
- Shaver styles and types
- Skin types
- Charging/quick charge/guages
- Trimmer
- Maintenance
- Safety features
- Convenience features
Shaver styles and types
Two of the significant types of shaver are the rotary head and with foil models coming out marginally on top in a recent Which magazine survey. Shavers lend themselves to combining functionality with style. They come in a range of colours and styles from yellow, purple, black to a metallic finish, with the foil shavers quite easily fitting in a largish coat pocket, whilst some rotary models are possibly better suited to be left in one place.
Skin types
For those with sensitive skin there are various relevant features you can look for. Some have built-in moisturizing cream which is applied to your face as you shave, some require you to apply the lotion before you shave and some, if you find this bothersome, come with a foil designed not to irritate your skin.
Charging/quick charge/guages
All but the most basic rechargeable shavers include a gauge to show how much battery power is left and also on many models indicators to tell you when cutters need replacing. If you travel a lot you probably want to avoid the models that need an adaptor and instead opt for one with automatic worldwide voltage which means you can use your shaver on any 110-240 voltage AC system. Remember on rechargeables that normal recharging time is quite slow varying from 1 hour to 16 hours with this giving roughly 45 minutes shaving time. If you don’t want recharging cords lying about the place and you want a rechargeable shaver you should opt for one with an automatic charging unit. A quick charge facility taking 3 minutes is available on many models giving you one shave.
Trimmer
Nearly without exception all models these days come with a long hair trimmer or pop up trimmer as they are often called, which can be especially useful if you have a cheaper model and need to shave off a few days’ stubble: with the ordinary shaving action the shaver starts to struggle a bit. However, unlike with dedicated trimmers, they don’t have a depth guide and so are neither that easy to use or that accurate.
Maintenance
A shaver which is used daily is put to quite a bit of use; the parts on the shaver may wear and need to be replaced. With rotary shavers cutter and guards are sold together whilst for foil models they can be purchased separately. Spare parts can be quite pricey on some models and so check the guarantee before purchase. Many manufacturers offer a one year guarantee at least if not two years. If you don’t enjoy cleaning out your shaver from time to time, which prevents old stubble impairing the shave you get, buy a model with an automatic cleaning process. Battery life on the rechargeables is another significant factor to be borne in mind. Once you have purchased your shaver remember to follow the manufacturers instructions on re-charging as too much charging may shorten the life of your shaver. Instructions on when to change heads and cutters vary between one year or two depending upon how much you use your shaver and also the thickness of your stubble. Some models are washable.
Safety features
The debate as to which gives a better shave continues, although more men still prefer a wet to a dry shave, however one of the attractions of the electric shaver is that it won’t cut you: they’re all designed to maximize cutting of stubble at the same times as being safe. Whilst modern electrical shaver sockets are designed to cut out if there is an electrical short standard electric safety practice still applies: avoid putting your shaver near water unless it’s a washable model in which case the transformer is in the plug.
Convenience features
If you’re buying an electric shaver because you want to avoid the hassle of a wet shave you will probably want to avoid the types which offer lotion/moisturizing cream as you shave. The amount of noise shavers make differs quite considerably between models, some are noisy and some are very quiet, so if you don’t like a noisy shaving sound listen to its sound before you purchase and go for a quieter model.
