“I appreciate the skin care with the red LEDs. I really do see a difference in my skin afterwards. It didn’t irritate my skin in any way.” Series 9 razors are notably bulkier than Series 7 razors, and some testers found the Series 9 razors tough to maneuver in tight spots (like the equally ginormous Panasonic Arc5, which this Braun line somewhat mimics). James has been using the Series 7 to shave a portion of his face (growing a pandemic beard after initial testing decreased his use somewhat) since first testing for this guide in 2020. It’s held up remarkably well and, aside from a dip after a little more than a year of use which was remedied by replacing the foil, the shave quality has remained consistent. The top-of-the-line Philips Norelco model is the best rotary shaver we’ve ever used.
This is quite a feat considering most foil shavers can find it challenging to deliver a close shave on wavy and curly beards without multiple passes. Its foiled shaving heads (“Flex Foils”) offer a nicely cushioned shave that navigates the face comfortably and effectively. An electric razor is always going to have a buffer preventing direct skin contact, so it’s not going to shave as close as a philips trimmer blade manual razor. Due to a manual razor’s design of direct skin contact, you’re going to get a much closer shave. Using a manual razor raises slight risks of getting ingrown hairs, razor bumps, and razor burn—especially if you’re not prepping your shaving routine properly and not using a clean blade. The Braun Series 7 offers solid, smooth performance wrapped up in a comfortable-to-hold exterior.
And lastly, when reading the final two digits on a Braun razor model number you’re often going to be dealing with slight iterations in the materials or looking at a razor with extra accessories included. A few of the 94xx models have a special “metal” body that Braun makes, which is often distinguished by a slightly higher price. And a couple of the Series 94xx models come with a portable charger, which also typically results in a higher price. With that being said, your skin could potentially fair better with an electric razor due to the buffer between direct skin contact. However, some users will need an adjustment period to let their skin get used to the new shaving style. If you follow all these steps you should be in good hands for getting a quality shave every time.
If you prefer, you can use shaving cream or soap when using it for wet shaving. However, I’ve noticed that other razors’ instructions recommend avoiding the use of shaving gels or oils because they can clog the blades. For dry shaving, it’s best to start with clean, dry skin—no deodorant or lotions. Experts might say that’s because electric razors don’t cut as close as a traditional razor/shave cream combo, but in practice, I didn’t notice any difference between the closeness of my shave. In fact, I found that without shaving cream, I could see spots I missed and manage the details of my shave much better.
Unlike shaving with a traditional razor or safety razor, an electric razor has a pretty low learning curve. But that doesn’t mean you should just take your electric razor out of the box and start zooming without first knowing how to get a close shave. We tried Philips Norelco’s philips trimmer blade lower-end rotary models but determined that the brand’s 9000 series performed better, and it was so closely priced that it was a better buy for most people. In our experience, the 4000-series razor didn’t shave closely enough to be worth their bargain prices.
We couldn’t figure out exactly why this break-in period is necessary. Different sources give different answers, ranging from new-user error to the need to “train” skin as it adjusts from healing the scrapes caused by a manual razor to dealing with the pulling and shearing mechanisms of electrics. The Remington offers generally good performance, but you’ll likely find the shaving experience to be buzzier and potentially more irritating if you don’t maintain a very light touch.