June25,2014Dress&Grooming,Shaving

ArtofManlinessSacrilege!MyYear-LongExperimentWithUsinganElectricRazor

TheArtofManlinesshasintroducedthousandsofmentothejoysandpleasuresoftraditionalwetshavingwithasafetyrazororstraightrazor.Igetemailsandletterseverymonthfromreadersthankingmeforturningthemontotheideaofshavingliketheirgrandpasdid.Itssimplyacheaper,bettershavethanyoucangetwithoneofthosefancymulti-bladedrazorsandespeciallyelectricrazors.right?ThelasttimeIhadshavedwithanelectricrazorwaswhenIwas16yearsold.Thatwasalmost15yearsago.Iremembertheshavefrommyelectricrazorbeingpoorandextremelyuncomfortable.Shavingwithitwasakintoholdingasmallrodenttomyfaceandlettingitchewoffmystubble.Terriblerazorburn(particularlyonmyneck)wasthetypicalresult.Butlastyear,aftershavingwithasafetyrazorfornearlyadecade,Istartedwonderingifelectricrazorshadgottenanybetter.WevehadalotoftechnologicalinnovationssinceIwalkedthehallsofEdmondNorthHighSchool.Ifiguredifwevebeenabletocreatesmartphonesthataremorepowerfulandrobustthanmyfamilys1998desktopcomputer,surelyelectricshavingtechnologyhadalsoimproved.

AndIlladmitthatIalsowantedtorevisittheelectricrazoroutofpurelaziness.Sincebecomingadadtwiceover,IvehadmanyamorningwhenIdidnthavemuchtimeforawetshaveandwishedIcouldquicklyremovemywhiskerswithoutslicingupmyface.Oneofthebigsellingpointsofelectricshavingistheconveniencefactor:yousavetimeandeffortbyeliminatingtheneedforwaterandshavinglather.Justturnthethingonandstartshavinganytime,anywhere.Theideacertainlysoundsprettynifty.SoIsetoutonayear-longexperimenttoseeifmodernelectricrazortechcouldgetmetoputawaymysafetyrazorandturnmeintoaconvert.Whatweretheresults?Readon.

ABriefHistoryofElectricRazors

Beforewegettomyreviews,Ithoughtitwouldbeinterestingandhelpfultoofferabitofhistoryonelectricrazorsanddetailthedifferencesbetweenthetwomaintypes.Thepredecessoroftheelectricrazorwasawind-upsafetyrazorthatvibratedthebladebackandforth(sortoflikethosebattery-poweredGillettePowerFusionrazorsdotoday).Itwasinventedbackin1906byW.G.Shockeyandwasactuallyprettypopularduringthefirstquarterofthe20thcentury.Youstillhadtouseshavingcream,buttheideaofmechanizedshavinghadbeenborn.Itwouldntbeuntil1927thatJacobSchickinventedthefirstfullyelectric,dry-shavingrazor.SchicksayshegottheideaforthedevicewhileservingasalieutenantcolonelintheU.S.Army.AccordingtoSchick,whenhewasstationedatanoutpostwithextremelycoldweather,heinjuredhisankle,whichforcedhimtocrawloutofbedeverymorningtochipawayand

melticeforthewaterheneededtoshave.Believingtherehadtobeabetterway,Schicksetouttoinventanelectricrazorthatcouldprovideacompletelydryshave.Hisfinishedproductcontainedoscillatingbladessortoflikebarberclippersandneededtobepluggedintoapowersource.Schickselectricrazorcaughton,especiallywithtravelers,andsoonmosttrains,planes,andshipshadelectricsocketsinthebathroomsintowhichamansshavercouldbeplugged.

Howsthatforconvenience?In1937RemingtonintroducedtheirCloseShaverandaddedamicroscreenfoilovertheoscillatingbladesforamorecomfortableshave.LiketheSchickelectricrazor,youneededtobetetheredtoapowercordtouseit.Remingtonwouldestablishitselfastheleaderinfoilrazors,andtheycreatedadevotedfollowing.FormerNewEnglandPatriotsownerVictorKiamlovedhisRemingtonshaversomuchthatheboughtthecompany.Infact,Ilikedtheshaversomuch,Iboughtthecompany,becameKiamscatchphraseinRemingtoncommercialsandmadehimahouseholdnameinthe1980s.

In1939thePhilipscompanybeganmarketinganelectricrazorwithtwoheadsandarotaryblade.Insteadofoscillatingbladestocutthewhiskers,thePhilipscircularrotarybladespinstotrimyourstubble.Themarketedbenefitoftherotaryrazoroverthefoilrazoristhattheformerssizeandshapedoesabetterjobofreachingthosehard-to-shavepartsofyourfaceliketheneckandjawline.In1966,Philipsintroducedthetripleheadrotaryrazoramodelthatcontinuestobethestandardamongrotaryrazorstoday.PhilipsboughtSchickspatentsandtrademarksin1981,thusstrengtheningtheirpositionintheelectricrazormarket.Thecompanycontinuestobealeaderinelectricrazorsparticularlytherotaryvariety.Bythelate1940s,battery-poweredelectricrazorsenteredthemarket,andin1960,Remingtonintroducedthefirstrechargeablebattery-poweredelectricrazor.

Thecompaniesproducingelectricrazorsmarketedthemastoolsandaccessoriesforthejet-set,affluentman.Fromthe1930sandwellintothe1980s,electricrazorswereoftenpackagedinsilk-linedorleatherclamshellcasestoimbuetherazorwiththeauraofluxury.Sincetheriseoftheelectricrazorduringthepost-Waryears,thevariouselectricrazorcompanieshavebeeninanarmsracetoaddfeaturesanddesignelementstotheirrazorstomakethemmoreappealingtomen.Andthatbringsustomyreviewofthetwoleadersinthemodernmarket.

TheResultsofMyYear-LongExperimentWithElectricShaving

Bobssmilewouldvanishafewmomentslater,whenherealizedhewasinfactholdingasmall,stubble-chewingrodenttohisface.FormyexperimentIboughtConsumerReportstop-ratedfoilshaver(theBraunSeries7)anditstop-ratedrotaryshaver(PhilipsNorelcoSensoTouch3D).Thesesuckerswereexpensive,butIwantedtogotop-of-the-linetomakesureIwastestingoutthelatestandgreatestinelectricshavingtechnology.Letsseehowtheydid.

BraunSeries7FoilShaver

TheBraunSeries7sittinginitscharging/self-cleaningstand.ForthefirstsixmonthsoftheexperimentIusedaBraunSeries7FoilShaver.Myfirstelectricrazorwasafoilstyle,soitwasfamiliartome.WhenIpurchasedtheSeries7backinJanuary2013,itcostme$250.Jeezum!Itsnow$195onAmazon.com.Stillpricey.SowhatdidIgetfor$250?Well,Braunhasincorporatedwhattheycallintelligentsonictechnologyintothisshaver,which,whileitisntsmartenoughtohelpyouwithyourcalculushomework,doesallowtheheadtovibrateat10,000microvibrationsperminute.Thisissupposedtohelpcapturemorehair.Also,theheadisoutfittedwithActiveLiftTechnologywhichissupposedtoliftupthoseflatlyinghairsonyourfaceandnecksotherazorscancutit.Otherfeaturesincludethreepersonalizationmodesthatallowyoutocontrolhowsoftoraggressivetheshaveis,atiltingheadthatadjuststothecontoursofyourface,atrimmer,andaself-cleaningsystemthatcleans,charges,lubricates,anddriesyourrazor.Soundslikealotofwhiz-bangcoolness.Buthowdiditshave?

TheheadoftheBraunSeries7.Noticethefoilcover.IcouldconsistentlygetacloseandsmoothshaveonmycheekswiththeSeries7;theresultsanywhereelseweresub-par.Theplacethatcausedmethemostfrustrationwasonmyneck;nomatterhowthoroughajobIdid,patchesofunshavedwhiskerswouldremain.AndbecauseIkeptpassingtherazorovermyneckagainandagainsoIcouldgetthosestubbornhairs,IjustendedupwithunshavedwhiskerpatchesandreallyirritatedskinthesameproblemIhadwithmy1998electricrazor.IdalwayshavetogobackwithawetsafetyrazortocleanupthewhiskerstheSeries7leftbehind.Theinstructionssaiditcouldtakeafewweeksformyskinandbeardtoadjusttoshavingwithafoilelectricrazor,soIhopedthingswouldgetbetterwithtime.Theyneverdid.OnethingIquicklylearnedwhenshavingwithanelectricrazoristhatyoucantletyourbeardgettoolongbeforeshaving.Whenyouhavelongwhiskers,therazoryanksonyourbeardandthencuts,resultinginanextremelyuncomfortableshave.Also,thepatchinessincreasesthelongeryouwait.Ifyouregoingtogowithanelectricrazor,youllneedtomakesuretoshaveeveryday.Theself-cleaningsystemontheSeries7wasprettynifty.Itwasniceknowingthatmyrazorwassanitizedandlubricatedbeforeeachshave.Butbesidesthisfeature,theresnotmuchtowritehomeabout.Therazorprettymuchperformedexactlythesameasthe$40versionIhadinhighschooladecadeandahalfago.

PhilipsNorelcoSensoTouch3D

ThePhillipsNorelcoSensoTouch3Dinitscharging/self-cleaningstand.Duringthesecondsixmonthsofmyyear-longexperiment,IusedthePhilipsNorelcoSensoTouch3Delectricrazor.Itsarotaryrazor;somethingIveneverusedbefore.ThiswastheConsumerReportstop-ratedrotaryrazorin2012.WhenIpurchaseditbackinJanuary2013,itcostareyousittingdown?$350.Yowzer.Withapricelikethat,Iwasexpectingittoleavemyfaceandnecksmootherthanababysbehindwhilegentlymassagingitwithalittlerobotichands.SowhatdidIgetfor$350?TheheadontheSensoTouch3DhasaGyroflex3DContourSystem.Translation:theheadisdividedintothreepartsthatmoveindependently,allowingtherazorheadtoflexoutwardandtiltinwardsoastofollowthenaturalcontoursofyourface.EachofthoseindependentlymovingpartsontheheadhavearotaryrazorwithUltraTrackshavingtechnology,whichincludesthreespecializedshavingtracks:slotsforthelonghairs,channelsforthemedium-lengthhairs,andholesfortheshorteststubble.AddedtotheUltraTracktechnologyisPhilipsNorelcospatentedSuperLift&Cutdualbladesystemthatliftshairsandcutsthemcomfortablybeneaththesurfaceofyourskin.LiketheBraunSeries7,theSensoTouch3Dcomeswithabuilt-intrimmeraswellasachargingstandthatsecondsasaself-cleaningsystem.Onestand-outfeatureoftheSensoTouch3Disthatyoucandowetshaveswithittooevenintheshower.Justapplyyourfavoriteshavecreamorgel,Braunsays,foramorecomfortable,smoothershave.Sohowdiditperform?

TherotaryheadontheSensoTouch3D.Eachpartpivotsandmovestoadjusttothecontoursofyourface.AccordingtotheinstructionmanualthatcamewiththeSensoTouch,ifIhadbeenusingafoilrazorformyshavesIneededtogivemybeardsixweekstoadjusttotherotaryrazor.LikeImentionedabove,thefoilrazorfeaturesbladesthatshiftbackandforth,whiletherotaryrazorbladeswhirlaround.Iguessyouhavetotrainyourwhiskerstogetusedtothatwhirlingcutaction.Sotobefair,IwaitedsixweeksbeforeIstartedcomparingtheshavebetweentheSeries7andtheSensoTouch.Shavingwitharotaryrazorhasabitofalearningcurveifallyouveusedarefoilrazors.Insteadofmakingstraightupanddownstrokeslikeyoudowithafoilrazor,witharotaryrazorliketheSensoTouch,youneedtomakesmall,circularclock-wisemotions.ThatwassurprisinglytrickierthanIthoughtitwouldbe.OveralltheSensoTouchprovidedasuperiorshavethantheBraunSeries7.Itgavemeaclose,smoothshaveonthecheeksandotherflatareasliketheSeries7did,butwheretheSensoTouchreallyoutperformedtheSeries7foilrazorwasontheneckandhard-to-shavejawlineareas.Thesmaller,contouringrotaryheadsontheSensoTouchleftfewerwhiskerpatchesonmyneckthantheSeries7did.ThisisnttosaytheSensoTouchgotallthosehard-to-cutwhiskersinonefellswoop,though;Ioftenhadtodoseveralcircularpassestogetthejobdoneandeventhenastraywhiskerortwowouldbeleftbehind.IfIwasshavingdryandwasparticularlyaggressivewiththerazor,Istillhadsomebadskinirritation.IcouldreducethisirritationifIusedtheSensoTouchinawetshave,butIdontfeellikeitprovidedaclosershave.Plus,Ifeltthatshavingwetwithanelectricrazorsortofdefeatedoneoftheprimarybenefitsofanelectricrazortheconvenienceofnothavingtodoawetshave.SoIdidntshavewetwithitveryoften.

WhiletheSensoTouchperformedbetterthantheSeries7,Icantgiveitaglowingendorsement.SayingitgaveabettershavethantheSeries7islikesayingitsbettertotrytostabaGrizzlybearwithabutterknifethanaspoon.IstillhadwhiskersleftonmyneckandjawlineaftershavingwiththeSensoTouch,whichwouldnecessitatemegoingbackovertheareawithasafetyrazortocleanthingsup.AndwhileIhadlessirritationwiththeSensoTouchthantheSeries7,someirritationremained.Bottomline:theSensoTouchgivesadecentshaveincomparisontotheSeries7,butIdontthinkitwasworththe$350Ipaidforit.

DoesLectricShaveHelp?

Iknowhowyoufeel,buddy.WouldLectricShaveredeemmyelectricrazorexperiment?

AfewmonthsintomyelectricshavingexperimentIwasdisappointedwiththeamountofstraywhiskerstherazorswereleavingbehind.Iwasgettingtiredofhavingtorubtherazorheadovermysensitiveneckskinagainandagain,onlytohavetoultimatelybustoutmysafetyrazortocleanthingsup.Butthen,onenightwhileIwaswatchingPawnStars,awomanre-enteredmylifewhoIhadntseeninalongtime.ItwasCarmenElectra.LikemanydopeyAmericanteenagersfromthe90s,IsometimeswatchedMTVsSingledOutafterschool.PlayboyPlaymateoftheYearCarmenElectrawasthebuxomfemaleco-hostontheshowin1998thesameyearIgotmyfirstelectricrazor.IhadntseenmuchofMs.Electrasincemyhighschooldays,andthenthereshewas,sultrilypitchingamensgroomingproductcalledLectricShave.Idseenthisstuffbefore,butneverpaidmuchattentiontoitsinceIdidntuseanelectricrazor.IcanonlyimaginethepitchmeetingforthisLectricShavecampaign.Guys!Igotthegreatestidea!ItscalledLectricShave,right?HowsaboutwegetCarmenE-lectratopitchit.Getit?Lectric?Electra?Wellmakemillionsfortheclient!Millions!IlearnedfromCarmenElectraintheLectricShavecommercialthatthereasonIwasgettingpoorshaveswithmyelectricrazorwasbecausemybeardwaslayingdown.IfIweretosplashabitofLectricShaveonmyskinbeforeshavingwithmyelectricrazor,mywhiskerswouldpopuptoattentionlikeabootcampsoldier,allowingmetogeta52%closershavethanIwouldwithoutit.AndthenCarmenElectrawouldappearoutofnowhereandsensuallyrunherhandsacrossmyfaceandchest.SothefollowingdayIwenttoWalgreensandboughtsomeLectricShave.Atmynextshave,Icrackedopenthebottleandwaspleasantlysurprisedbythenice,masculinescent.Isplashedsomeon.YourbeardneedstobedrywhenyoudothisandthenyouneedtowaitaminuteortwotolettheLectricShavedrybeforeyoustartshaving.IguessIwasexpectingtofeelmywhiskersactuallystartstandingupstraight,butIreallydidntfeelmuchofanything.Isupposemyskinfeltabittighter,muchlikethefeelingyougetwhenapplyingrubbingalcoholtoyourskin(andindeedalcoholistheproductsfirstingredient).Afterwaitingaminute,Istartedtoshave.Theresults?NonoticeabledifferencewiththeBraunSeries7.Stillnotverycomfortable,andIstillhadthosestrayneckwhiskersleftbehind.Andontopofitall,CarmenElectradidntappearinmybathroomtofondlemyface.Damnit!Whatawasteof$2.5o.IcouldhaveboughtaPepsiMaxwiththat.IrepeatedtheLectricShaveexperimentwiththeSensoTouch3D,andagain,nonoticeabledifferenceinshaveclosenessorpatchreduction.So,no,LectricShavedoesntseemtohelpyougetacloserelectricrazorshave.Itdoessmellnice,though.

ConcludingThoughtsElectricshavingisanideathatsoundsgreatintheabstract,butunfortunatelyfallsquiteshortinpractice.Eventodayshightechelectricrazorsstillfeellikeasmallrodentischewingonyourface.BecauseIhadtogoovermyneckagainandagainwiththerazortotrytogetthosestraywhiskers,IgotthesameingrownhairsandrazorburnthatIdidfrommy1998electricrazor,butthistimeIspent$250-$350togetthatcrappyshave.Plus,whenIaddedinthetimeittooktobustoutmysafetyrazorandabitofshavingcreamtocleanupthosestubbornhairs,shavingwithanelectricrazoroftentookaboutthesameamountoftimeastraditionalwetshaving.Poof!Theregoesoneoftheindustrysbiggestsellingpoints.Theonlythingthathaschangedintheelectricrazormarketistheadditionofbellsandwhistlesliketheself-cleaningstandsandmicro-vibrations.WhichIguessisnice,butdefinitelynotworththestickerpricesonthesethings.AfterayearofshavingwithelectricrazorsIcanwholeheartedlyrecommendthatyouDONTshavewiththem.Theyrehandyfortraveloradaywhenyourefeelinglazy,andyoudontcareaboutgettingagreatshave.Butyoullgetabetter,closer,morecomfortableshavewithasafetyrazororevenastraightrazor.AndImnotjustsayingthatbecauseofmypenchantforallthingsgrandpa.Iscientificallytestedit!Forthoseofyouwhoareunconvinced,andstillwanttoshavewithanelectricrazor,thelesseroftwoevilswouldbethePhillipsNorelcoSensoTouchrotaryrazor.Igotamoreconsistent,closershavewithlessirritationthanwiththefoilrazor.ImprettysureyoucouldgetacheaperrotaryrazorandstillgetaboutthesamequalityofshaveasyoucouldwiththeSensoTouch.(JeremyoccasionallyusesthesubstantiallymoreaffordablePhilipsNorelcomodel,andsaysitprovidesadecentshave,withnoneofthebellsandwhistles.Althoughhealsonotesthatitstillfeelslikeastubble-chompingsquirrel,especiallyontheneck.)NextExperiment:IsShavingwithaMulti-BladeCartridgeRazorasHorribleasIRemember?Brett118Comments

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