Rotary or mesh? Shaving heads and their mobility Dry or wet shaving How can an electric razor be powered? Attachments and accessories Control of the operation of the electric razor Ease of maintenance Cost of operation Conclusion
Many men shave daily, and shaving often becomes almost a ritual. Everyone does it in their own way and has their own preferences. However, there is something in common: after trying to use an electric razor, almost no one wants to return to a conventional razor.
An electric razor causes less injury, does not irritate the skin, is safer, and cannot be cut. Completely replacing the classic machine, it turns out to be more convenient and has more functions. There are many models of such devices, and a suitable one can be found to suit any requirement. Find out how to choose an electric razor, what characteristics are important, and what to look for in our review.
Rotary or mesh?
All electric shavers can be divided into two large groups: rotary and foil. The difference is in the structure of the shaving heads, in the way the knives move.
In rotary models, the shaving surface is formed by round steel plates with cutters on them. When the electric razor is turned on, the plate rotates quickly, the cutters on it cut the hairs. Typically a rotary razor has 2-3 such plates, but there may be more.
Foil models have a movable shaving unit. It consists of a knife covered with a fixed mesh. During operation, the shaving unit additionally vibrates, which allows it to better capture hairs. They fall under the net and are cut off with knives. Most often, 1 to 3 knives are used, but there can be more.
The shaving process with rotary and foil electric shavers is slightly different:
- When shaving with a rotary razor, you need to move it in a circular motion to catch and shave all the hairs.
- Foil models are used in the same way as regular razors. The razor is drawn from top to bottom.
Rotary-type devices cope better with thin, short stubble and shave the face cleaner. Mesh models can also cut stubble cleanly, but they are more recommended for shaving mustaches, beards, and for working with long stubble.
Is it important to have a trimmer?
There is no need to tell why those with a beard and mustache need a trimmer. It adjusts the length of facial hair to be shaved - adjust two centimeters and be sure that the hair will be cut straight. But for those who are not in the habit of growing a beard, the trimmer in an electric razor can be useful. Unlike a machine, an electric razor copes worse with long hairs, and if you don’t first remove them a little with a trimmer, you won’t be able to achieve smooth cheeks.
The trimmer can be either an attachment or a built-in retractable blade, which is used to trim beards, sideburns, trim eyebrows or nose hair, or shorten stubble - depending on how far it is extended.
Shaving heads and their mobility
It is the razor heads that cut the hairs. To shave cleanly, they must fit tightly to the skin. To do this, in rotary models the shaving heads are made movable and floating. They can unfold at different angles, accurately following the contours of the face, neck, and head when shaving. This helps to shave off all the stubble without damaging the skin.
Polaris electric razors use a special contour-following system. For example, Polaris PMR 0307RC wet&dry PRO 5 BLADES+ is equipped with three floating rotor heads that provide the most precise movements. The 5D system for following facial contours makes for a high-quality shave, but at the same time gentle, without irritation or a feeling of dry skin.
FAQ
Can an electric razor handle a week's worth of stubble? Very unlikely. In order to shave off a week's worth of stubble, beards or mottled hair from the head, there are clippers.
Does an electric razor need to be maintained? An electric razor, like any device, requires some maintenance - very simple. The simplest models of electric shavers need to be cleaned with the included brush to remove clogged bristles and lubricate the blades from time to time. Some devices can (and should) be washed under running water. More expensive razors are equipped with a self-cleaning system, and some are also equipped with disinfection, although the latter, of course, is rare.
Dry or wet shaving
You can shave off stubble from dry skin or use additional shaving products to keep it moist. To decide which method to choose, you need to know the difference between them:
- Wet shaving is considered more gentle. The skin steams, becomes more elastic, and shaving even thin or very short hairs is easier.
- When wet shaving, gel or foam is additionally used, which cleanses and cares for the facial skin.
- Dry shaving takes less time and is easier. You can shave in almost any conditions.
- If your skin is sensitive or needs care, after dry shaving you can wash your face and use lotion or cream.
It is believed that dry shaving causes more irritation to the skin, but this largely depends on the characteristics of the electric razor, as well as the care before and after the procedure. For example, the Polaris PMR 0309RC PRO 5 BLADES+ has super smooth rings on the shaving heads. They provide smooth glide and do not irritate the skin even during dry shaving.
Electric shavers can only support dry shaving or dry and wet shaving. The second option is more convenient. If your razor supports both shaving methods, you can choose which one to use depending on your situation. For example, dry shaving is more convenient on the road. In addition, it will be easier to care for because the blades can be washed under running water.
Philips S1310
Link to the product
A rotary electric razor with three shaving heads will allow you to effectively shave even three-day stubble. Movable shaving heads provide a soft and easy shave thanks to high-quality blades that are self-sharpening using the unique CloseCut technology. The shaving heads move in four directions, allowing you to perfectly shave hair even on hard-to-reach areas of the facial skin. Charging the shaver takes 8 hours, and battery life is up to 35 minutes. The beautiful design and comfortable, streamlined shape will appeal to any man.
Pros:
- High-quality shaving;
- 3 movable heads that move in four directions;
- Beautiful design;
- Convenient shape;
- Light weight;
- Affordable price;
- Battery life up to 35 minutes;
- Very easy and simple to clean.
Minuses:
- No trimmer attachment;
- Charging time is 8 hours;
- Cannot work when charging.
What is the power supply for an electric razor?
There are several types of power for electric shavers:
- battery operated;
- from a built-in or removable battery;
- from the network;
- combined.
Battery power is usually used for road models. These electric shavers are compact, light in weight, and have minimal functionality.
Most often they are powered by a battery. This is convenient - no wires get in the way when shaving. This razor can be quickly charged. A docking station or compact charger can be used for this. Convenient models that can operate both from a battery and from the mains. Even if the electric razor is discharged, you can use it by simply plugging it into a power outlet. Models powered only from the mains are very rare. Their wire must always be plugged into the network, which is not entirely convenient and unsafe.
When choosing an electric razor with a battery, you need to pay attention to the following parameters:
- what is the battery life;
- is there a charge indication;
- what is the time to fully charge the battery.
All Polaris models come with high-capacity lithium-ion batteries. On one charge, the razor can work up to 75 minutes (for some models this time is longer). The battery is fully charged in 90 minutes. If the device is completely discharged, it can be quickly recharged in five minutes. It is enough for one shaving session, after which the razor can be fully charged. Polaris electric shavers have a charging indicator on the body (indicator lights that light up when the battery is charging and when it is fully charged).
Selection criteria
You should always pay attention to:
- Shaver type – There are two types of razors: foil and rotary. Both the first and second ones are distinguished by their high shaving efficiency, but foil ones are most suitable for sensitive skin due to their delicate effect.
- Price – cheap razor – poor quality shave. The machine must cost above average for it to provide a really high-quality shave and also last for a long time.
- Type of operation: mains or batteries.
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Attachments and accessories
To make using the razor more convenient, it may have additional accessories and attachments. Most often these are the following additional accessories:
- built-in trimmer;
- protective cover for shaving heads;
- cleaning brushes;
- case or cover.
If a man needs to trim the hair on his temples, the back of his head, as well as trim his mustache or beard, it is better to choose a model with a built-in trimmer. Electric razors Polaris PMR 0305R wet&dry PRO 5 BLADES and Polaris PMR 0304R wet&dry PRO 5 blades come with built-in flip-up trimmers. Trimming your hair is easy with them. They carefully and evenly cut hairs without damaging the scalp.
The protective cover is used for rotary electric shavers. It covers the working surface of the shaving heads. This protects them from dust or dirt and ensures neat storage of the device.
Cleaning brushes are needed to clean the shaving heads and body parts from residual hairs and dirt. These brushes have stiff bristles. They are compact and easy to use.
An electric razor may also have its own case. It is used to store the device and also to take the razor with you on the road. The case holds all the necessary accessories, including a brush and charger. It will protect the razor well from dirt, accidental impacts or damage.
Electric razor operation control
Most often, using an electric razor is very simple. Just press the power button for the shaving heads to start rotating. To turn it off, press the same button.
Some models have additional functions for more convenient control:
- locking function (to protect against accidental activation or operation by children);
- indication of charge level or charging process;
- switch to use the built-in trimmer.
If an electric shaver supports dry and wet shaving, the same mode is most often used, so there is no need to additionally switch or adjust the device.
Easy to care for
During operation, an electric razor cuts hairs with steel knives or blades. In order for them to remain sharp as long as possible, and for the device itself to work well, it is important to properly care for it. It is better to choose a model that is easy to care for.
There are several recommendations:
- It is important to regularly clean the shaving head from hairs, dust, and dirt as often as possible.
- After using for wet shaving, you need to rinse your electric razor.
- If the razor gets wet during use, you should wipe it dry before putting it away.
- If the case is dirty, clean it with wet wipes and wipe dry.
Polaris electric shavers are recommended to be cleaned as follows:
- You should clean your razor weekly or more often.
- Before cleaning, the device is unplugged/switched off.
- The shaving module is disconnected and cleaned with a brush (supplied).
- The razor cavity is cleaned of hairs, dirt, and wiped.
- If allowed, the razor and shaving module are washed under running water.
After every thirty uses (monthly if a man shaves every day), you need to clean the electric razor blades. They are removable and must be removed from the shaving module to be cleaned. Each knife is cleaned with a brush, if necessary, washed and dried. After this, the knives are installed in place.
In case of heavy contamination, as well as if a man’s skin is prone to inflammation and irritation, knives and other parts of the shaving module are periodically cleaned with a disinfectant solution.
comparison table
If you cannot choose the best one in terms of price and quality from our rating of electric shavers for 2019-2020, then we advise you to familiarize yourself with our table, in which we have indicated some of the most important parameters, as well as the average price for each device in online stores.
| Model | Number of shaving elements | Battery life | Weight, g | Average price, rub |
| MOSER 3615-0050 | 1 | 45 | 300 | 1 182 |
| Berdsk 9 | 3 | No | 230 | 1 320 |
| Wahl 3615-0471 | 1 | 45 | 430 | 1 590 |
| FSUE UPPO Agidel 3 | 3 | No | 130 | 1 400 |
| Philips S1100 Series 1000 | 3 | No | 300 | 2 790 |
| Xiaomi Mijia Rotary Electric Shaver | 3 | 60 | 396 | 2 500 |
| Braun 300s Series 3 | 3 | 20 | 300 | 3 380 |
| Panasonic ES-6003 | 3 | 21 | 140 | 2 980 |
| Philips PT860 PowerTouch | 3 | 50 | 301 | 4 256 |
| Braun 3050cc Series 3 ProSkin | 3 | 45 | 315 | 6 980 |
