Electric Razors

I've owned a Braun and Remington foil elctric over the years, as well as a Philips three head.

The circular head razor was useless. I could still feel stubble after I shaved. However, it was thirteen years ago os things might have advanced with the technology.

The foils were brilliant - a very close shave especially if I used my hands to make the whiskers stand on end. Of the two foils the Remington was far superior in closeness of shave although I suspect that this was because the foil was very thin; and therefore very fragile. The Braun wasn't as close a shave but the foil would have lasted longer.

I ought to mention that I used the foils on scalp and face, as I used to have the Kojak look, so I put the foils through more than the average user would.

When I gave up on them I returned to using a Schick FX blade and then the three blade version which I don't think can be beaten for shaving because the blade bends to match the curves of the face.

Deane

ps: nothing beats a cut-throat if you can find a horse-hide strop and know how to strop a straight razor. You'll need a thousand grit stone (or finer) every so often too - so probably more than the price of a good electric to get set up these days with a cut throat.

I used an electric razor (a Philips triple curcular head jobbie) until it finally gave up on me when I was living in a caravan in France back in '92.

Then I was forced to use Bic single-bladed wet razors and for a little while at least I suffered a few tiny cuts that bled forever as well as stubbly bits under my nose.

I now own both the Gillette M3 power and the Wilkinson Quattro.

I prefer the Quattro for a really close (and safe) shave. That power-vibrator thing is really just a gimmick.

To me, electric razors aren't terribly hygenic. If you need to wash your face after a shave (and I think you do) you are better with a wet shave - there is thus no convenience value with an electric shaver.

Only chavs are allowed to buy the Gillette power/vibrator thingy: after all, it's promoted by Beckham. I wonder if his wife uses it when he's playing away from home?

The Times has been promoting a discounted Remington Titanium occasionally over the past fortnight. I don't remember the price, or model, nor can I say how their offer compares to what's available out there.

Real men grow beards!

I'm not sure if it's the same one as in The Times offer mentioned above, but I use a Remington Titanium triple foil one that I picked up half priced in Boots, after a Braun foil one that I'd had for about 12 years died on me, and it's ace. I've never been able to get on with wet shaving - too many cuts and the foam/gel/whatever always dried out my skin - and found the Braun brilliant, and the remington is even better than that.

Isn't the discussion of personal grooming on (what I assume to be) a male-dominated internet forum a wonderful sign of how far we've come? How long before it dissolves into a 'my shaver is better than your shaver' type of argument, do you think?

quote:

Originally posted by graham55:
Only chavs are allowed to buy the Gillette power/vibrator thingy:

As a result of two recent purchases my bathroom now resembles an Ann Summers party.

The electric Gillette and a Sonic toothbrush have proved to be annoyingly effective.

My face now (for the first time in a life of reluctant shaving) now passes the "silk scarf" test and - no more suede Hampsteads.

A "chav".

Hee hee - is all this so the Naim boys will let you back in the office on Monday?

quote:

Originally posted by JonR:
Hee hee - is all this so the Naim boys will let you back in the office on Monday?

The real problem is getting permission to leave on Friday afternoon.

There had to be a site like this!
http://www.beards.org/
No beard for me though, wife etc.........

quote:

The real problem is getting permission to leave on Friday afternoon.

You're not fooling anyone Adam, we know you all sit around listening to 552s 500s and DBLs all day!


P.S.

Thanks for the link. Useful!

I've used Remington, Braun and Philips in the past 17 years since I went electric. The Philips (Quadra 6830) has been by far the best of the three. It shaves closer and handles a few days' growth easily which the other two couldn't do. It's also lasted much longer. I don't think an electric shaver is ever going to shave as close as a wet razor but the Philips gets close enough for me and I've got a heavy, coarse dark growth.

Over the years, I have used a variety of electric Razors, the first one many years ago not only removed some facial hair but also an amount of facial skin as well.I think that it was called something like "Arrow" more like an agricultural machanicalised scythe than a razor but progress has moved on and the last three I have owned being:- Hitachi Phase 2 [a foil type] that left certain areas with stubble,mainly over the highly contoured areas of the face/neck.
Then a Philishave 825 with three floating heads this was a completely kettle of fish and generally gave a much closer shave
Finaly I have ended up with a Philishave 6852
with three floating heads, held in a fully floating sub frame, this one gives by far the better,closer shave. Non of them in my opinion give as good a shave ,if you have time etc. as my Gillette three blades jobee
But you pays your money etc.
oldie.

Thanks for the adive so far. Well reading around a bit it seems the common logic is that foil gives a closer shave then the rotary type, but the rotary type can cope with longer stubble. This seems generally thrown out by oldie and TomK who have good things to say about the Philips line which are rotary.

How often do people here replace the foils/heads cutting things. On the Braun site it recommends you replace the foils and cutter every 18 months. I can't see anything mentioned on the sites for philips/remington, but have seen reviews saying the remington foil needs replaceing every 6 months.

I was leaning towards a braun, but now I'm no nearer a decision after starting to lean towards a remington for a while. Guess I should go to a store and have a look at some and I've seen Remington offer a 30 day money back guarantee.

I have never had to replace the heads on either of the Philips razors that I have owned ,as apparently they are self sharpening, to the extent that you have to be very careful when cleaning/washing the head assembly not to mix up the cutters and foil caps.If they are mixed they have to be bedded in again over a period of time. reminds me a bit of my of my Naim kit.
oldie.

Ps,
the beauty of , in my experance of the rotory shavers is that your facial hair grows not just in one direction , but if it's anything like mine all over the place, and again in my opinion the rotory heads make a better job of "picking up the multy directional hair" than the foil types ,that always left me feeling that I had only had half a shave
a clean, well relatively clean, shaven
oldie.

Two-Sheds,
The Philips shaves far closer and more evenly than either the Remington or Braun. I've also never had to replace anything in the seven or eight years I've had it. The other two each had replacement cutters and foils in a far shorter time. All this adds considerably to the cost of ownership of these things. One also made a mess of my face when I tried shaving without realising a hole had worn in the foil. It had roughly the same effect as rubbing a metal cheese grater across my cheek. Maybe current foil shavers are better but there's no doubt in my mind that the Philips is a vastly superior machine.

quote:

Originally posted by Adam Meredith:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by graham55:

My face now (for the first time in a life of reluctant shaving) now passes the "silk scarf" test and - no more suede Hampsteads.

A "chav".

I recently switched from a Mach3 to cheap Gillette disposables, using mentholated oil instead of foam. The menthol oil is a bit overwhelming at first but damn me it refreshes and it's as smooth as snake shit! Finish that off with some Nivea menthol aftershave balm and you've won! (I think these three blade thingies are a bloody rip off and are something of a gimmic anyway.)

EW

quote:

and it's as smooth as snake shit!

How do you know this?

And where do I get some, absent acquiring a pet snake?

quote:

Originally posted by Basil:

quote:

and it's as smooth as snake shit!

How do you know this?

Intuition... and I'm a northerner, for my sins!

I am a wet shave type. Years back I used a Remington foil type and a Philips three headed type of electric razor. They both caused irritation to the skin.

I am sure technology has moved on, maybe I should try again???

Mike

quote:

The menthol oil is a bit overwhelming at first but damn me it refreshes and it's as smooth as...

I use that shit too.

quote:

Originally posted by Steve Toy:

quote:

The menthol oil is a bit overwhelming at first but damn me it refreshes and it's as smooth as...

I use that shit too.

I love it! I used to detest shaving but now I quite like it! It certainly wakes me up far more effectively than coffee! (It's rather like sticking your head in a bucket of Fisherman's Friend solution, for those of you who haven't tried it! )

EW

I have never wet shaved, never quite had the nerve to apply a sharp blade to my neck. Until last hear I followed in my father's footsteps and used a Braun foil razor to great effect.

Well 20 + years into shaving my second Braun's battery failed. So after my usual dithering (disguised as research) I bought a £140 Phillip's 3 headed beast.

I now have a red chicken neck which is also very sore.

Now, my sensible wife keeps telling me to go a buy a new Braun razor, but £140 in the bin!!!!

So, as with many things in life, it's horses for courses.

Sadly a home demo is not an option here.

Guy

Perhaps the Philips needs power supply options in the vein of the Flat/HI/Super to bring you a closer shave.

I am surprised no one has mentioned this thus far - it just had to be done - ok, running for the door.