If you’ve ever shaved your face, you’d understand the importance of using a good quality electric shaver – especially if you want to save time without making any shortcuts.
Electric shavers are easy to travel with, intuitive to use, less expensive in the long run, and can help avoid razor bumps and cuts. The good news is that a bunch of our picks below can be used in or out of the shower, with or without shaving cream, and even on other parts of your body like your head or below the belt.
Even better news? No matter what your budget, skin or hair type, or grooming acumen, there’s an electric razor that will suit you. Check them out below.
Best overall electric shaver
Braun Series 9 Pro+
This shaver works for a 1, 3, or 7 day beard, making it a seriously great overall buy. It boasts surgical-grade stainless steel (that can cut long hairs, sideburns and your moustache), 5 specialised ProShave elements and a 6 in 1 SmartCare centre that cleans, dries, and charges your shaver. Nice.
Best electric razor for sensitive skin
Panasonic Arc5 Electric Razor
The Panasonic Arc5 gets as close as possible to a wet razor shave while minimising irritation. It’s efficient, powerful, and incredibly intuitive to use without a lot of unnecessary bells and whistles that could muddy the shaving experience. If you have sensitive skin, this electric razor is a no-brainer as it’s the most gentle on this list.
Best rotary head shaver
Pitbull Platinum PRO Head Shaver
Boasting a super ergonomic handle that fits comfortably in your hand, the Platinum PRO shaver is water resistant (meaning you can shave in the shower) and gives a nice close shave without any irritation. It also features a platinum coated finish, long run-time, and a rinse stand and storage case.
Best electric razor for maintaining stubble
Philips OneBlade Hybrid Electric Trimmer and Shaver
Sleek, simple and boasting 120 minutes of cordless use, Philips OneBlade PRO will give you a close trim without completely shaving your beard. It’s great for trimming the hair on your head, face, neck, and basically any other area without worrying about nicks and cuts. You can easily achieve the perfect length of scruff with three combs and a contoured head that moves to the shape of your face.
Best electric shaver for your bits
Manscaped The Lawn Mower 5.0 ultra
With an advanced dual-head system and SkinSafe™ blades, your groin will be safe in the hands of this electric razor. Designed to give you a skin-close shave without fear of cuts, you can shape your pubes however your heart desires.
Most affordable rotary shaver
Philips Series 1000 Shaver
It’s a basic electric shaver for $65, nothing fancy but it does a reasonable job for what it costs. Don’t expect a clean smooth shave on the first pass but after a few minutes you’ll have a reasonable outcome.
Best for thick hair
Panasonic ES-LV97 5-Blade Wet & Dry Electric Shaver
Easy to control and comfortable to use, this shaver is able to tackle the most luscious beards with its high-tech sensors and hyped-up motor. It has an automatic self-cleaning, drying & charging system and a shaving sensor that adjusts the motor drive speed automatically with beard density.
Best for travel
Philips PQ208 Portable Electric Shaver
For guys on the go, this travel-friendly electric shaver is perfect for keeping yourself well-groomed anywhere, anytime without it taking up a ridiculous amount of space in your toiletry bag. It combines the close cut shaving system with independently floating heads and gives you up to 60 minutes cordless shave with 2 AA batteries.
Best for battery life
Wahl Lifeproof Plus Wet & Dry Shaver
With one 60-minute charge, this shaver has a run time of up to 90 minutes. It also features a sleek LED power meter that lets you know how much battery life you’ve got left. Performance-wise, the 3-cut system has blades that move in different directions to get an even shave while an extendable trimmer pops up to give you clean lines and precision movement.
Best corded shaver
Wahl Salon Series V7000 Hair Clipper
Designed with a professional blade to give you extra close cutting from 0.5mm to 2.9mm without the need for guide combs, this smooth and quiet clipper comes with 6 individual guide combs so you can easily achieve the result you want from home. It’s corded too, so ideal for anyone that can never remember to charge their tools. There is less freedom to move around with it though.
What should I look for in an electric shaver?
When deciding what electric shaver will work best for you, there are quite a few specs to consider. These include:
1. The blade type: For longer stubble, or if you tend to shave less frequently, you should go for a rotary blade. They adjust to the contours of your face and suit men with regular to tough skin types, and with a medium to coarse beard density. As for men with shorter facial hair, or for an ultra-close shave, go for a foil blade, which has oscillating blades that also cut stubble as it pokes through.
2. Cleaning: To avoid your shaver getting clogged with excess hair, and help reduce razor bumps, look for an electric razor that’s easy to clean. Most higher-end electric razors come with a cleaning systems which is fantastic.
3. Corded vs. cordless: This is just personal preference. Corded razors limit the availability to use them without a power source, but can save on batteries and last longer in general. Cordless razors provide more flexibility.
4. Display: Having at least a battery indicator is a nice to have. Some premium razor models offer much more elaborate, high-tech displays, but it’s up to you whether you need this or not.
5. Ergonomics: If you’re going to be using your razor a lot – especially if it’s to shave your head – it’s worth making sure that it will be comfortable for your hands in the long run (well-balanced and not too heavy).
Manual vs electric
The best analogy to compare electric razors and manual razors is that an electric razor cuts down hairs like a pair of scissors, while a manual razor cuts down hairs like a knife.
Electric shavers have a buffer preventing direct skin contact, so it’s not going to shave as close as a manual razor, but also avoiding the risk of ingrown hairs, razor bumps, and razor burn. With a manual razor, you’re going to get a much closer, smoother shave but has a greater risk of the above. Ultimately, it really depends on your shaving style and what you’re looking to achieve.
It’s important to note that using an electric razor requires a break-in period for your face. It takes about two weeks for your skin to get used to using an electric razor.
How often should I clean an electric shaver?
Ideally, you want to clean your electric razor after every use to keep the blazes sharp. For most modern models, you can just rinse them under running water to remove hair and dirt. Extra points if you take a light brush to your foil to remove any gunk buildup. If you neglect to clean your electric shaver, you risk the chance of shortening the razor’s lifespan and also running dirt across your face when shaving, potentially cause ingrown hairs or acne. The good news is some razors come with cleaning stations to help you remember.
Do I use shaving cream with an electric shaver?
If you’re having a hard time giving up your shaving cream, look for an electric shaver that is specifically designed to be used with shaving cream (most will call this wet/dry capability) and make sure to clean it after every use.
When should I replace my electric shaver?
This can vary from model to model, with most of the more expensive options able to give you as much as 5 years. And it also depends on how much you look after it (think replacing the blades and foil when needed).
Some brands recommend replacing the blades every 6-8 months, others recommend annual replacement, and some even mention as far out as 18 months. As far as the foil goes, make sure to monitor if it ever gets dented or damaged and replace it when those situations occur.
Also pay attention to your razor’s battery life. Even the best electric razors lose battery life over time, which can result in less time holding a full charge and a weaker power output.
Menshealth.com.au provides reviews and recommendations to help you find the right product. Products you purchase through links on this page may earn us a small commission.
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