The best electric razors

The best electric razor overall

The Braun Series 7 is able to “read” the density of your beard, automatically adjusting its power to give you the closest shave ever.

Pros: Waterproof, automatically adjusts to different beard densities, contours to face well, comes with accurate trimmer tool, self-cleaning model

Cons: None to speak of

The Braun Series 7 (7071cc) replaces the older Braun Series 7 (7895cc) as our best overall pick because of its dependability and a few key improvements. Like the previous generation, the Series 7 (7071cc) features Braun’s AutoSense technology, which reads the density of your beard and automatically adjusts its power to provide a clean shave in one pass.

The biggest improvement in the design is the new 360° Flex Head shaver that contours to the curves of your face and neck. Using the new Series 7 (7071cc) feels effortless, even in hard-to-shave areas like your Adam’s apple or jawline.

The new model (7071cc) also has a detachable trimmer that goes in place of the shaver, unlike the previous model (7895cc) which featured a slide-out trimmer on the front of the device. With the new design, the trimmer tool is placed at the top of the device, so you can see exactly what you’re doing. If you’re having a hard time visualizing the difference between the two designs, see the side-by-side comparison here.

With 50 minutes of continuous shave time, the Braun Series 7 (7071cc) typically lasts three weeks on one charge — and when it does die, you can get enough battery power for a single shave with a 5-minute quick charge.

Just like previous models, the Series 7 (7071cc) is also entirely waterproof, so you can bring it in the shower, use it with water and shaving cream, or rinse it off in the sink when you’re done. — Amir Ismael

Read our full review of the Braun Series 7 7071cc here.

The best affordable electric razor

The Remington F5-5800 has just enough features to make it a smart, budget-friendly choice.

Pros: Low price for a foil style shaver, small size and comfortable handle, includes a pop-up trimmer for close grooming work, foils on the shaver will tilt back and forth to match your face

Cons: Doesn’t have the longevity of other electric razors, will not work with foam or gel, may develop sharp edges over time, limited motion compared to other razors

Electric shavers can be expensive, especially foil style shavers, but Remington consistently offers models with good performance, at the affordable end of the market. The Remington F5-5800 is one of the better razors available for such a low price. It certainly has some drawbacks, but it will give you a decent level of performance, considering what you’re paying.

The F5-5800 has a nicely contoured handle that makes it comfortable to use. Meanwhile, the head on this electric razor is just the right size to reach hard-to-shave areas, such as just below the nose. Keep in mind, though, that the Remington F5-5800 does not allow for wet shaves, and it won’t work with shaving foam or gel.

The rechargeable battery on the Remington F5-5800 is reliable, and the handle of the razor contains a series of LEDs that indicate the current charge level, which is convenient.

Many people like to use the F5-5800 as a travel razor or as a second razor at the office, because of its small size and low price. 

One problem many Amazon reviewers mentioned is the failing of the foil screens on the razor after several months. This can expose sharp edges on the F5-5800 that could cause nicks and cuts while shaving. — Kyle Schurman

The best high-end electric razor

The Braun Series 9 offers all of the latest features found in an electric razor to make it more comfortable to use, while also yielding a close shave.

Pros: Flexible 10-direction pivoting head, five different cutting areas for close shaves, titanium-coated parts make it hygienic and rust-proof, good for trimming various types of hair, large shaving head to complete the job faster

Cons: None to speak of

The Braun Series 9 (9370cc) electric foil shaver is an upgrade to both Series 7 and older Series 9 Braun shavers with the latest design features. Although you’ll pay extra for these features, the 9370cc is well worth the money.

The cutting head consists of five separate parts — two OptiFoil shavers, a lift and cut trimmer, a direct and cut trimmer, and a protective skin guard. Together, the system provides a smooth and close shave, whether your hairs lay flat, stand up, or grow in an odd direction.

If you weren’t a fan of electric razors with pivoting heads in the past because they didn’t fit the contours of your face well, you don’t have to worry about that issue with the 9370cc. Braun includes a 10-direction pivoting head that provides all the flexibility you’ll need. You’ll also have to ability to lock it in place if you find a specific angle that works for you.

With 20% more battery power than the previous model, you’ll get a full hour of shaving time on just one charge. Considering you’ll only need to shave for a few minutes each time, you can get nearly a month of daily use on a single charge — or much longer if you don’t shave often. And if it does die, you can get enough power for a full shave from a five-minute quick charge.

As one final advantage over its predecessors, the 9370cc has one of the largest heads found on an electric shaver, allowing you to finish shaving a bit more quickly than with other electric razors. This Braun razor will work in wet or dry conditions, and you can use it with shaving foam or gel.

As a self-cleaning model, the Braun Series 9 comes bundled with a Clean and Charge station and one Clean and Renew cartridge, which contains a solution designed to clean and lubricate the shaver head before each use. Simply dock it in the station with the head facing down, press the power button, and it’ll clean itself, so you don’t have to. — Amir Ismael

Read our full review of the Braun Series 9 9370cc here.

 

The best electric razor for coarse hair

The Bevel Trimmer is designed to cut and trim hair without irritating skin and it can be used by at-home groomers and professional barbers alike.

Pros: Can be used wired or wireless, easy to adjust the blade, good for sharp lines, optional T-liner blade available separately

Cons: Can’t be used underwater

If you have coarse or curly hair, you’ve probably struggled to find products that make grooming comfortable. While most razors focus on getting the absolute closest cut possible, that’s also usually the first step to unattractive, painful, or itchy razor bumps. Luckily, the Bevel Trimmer solves that. 

Founded in 2013, Walker and Company (Bevel‘s parent company) was created by Tristan Walker to cater to the grooming needs of people with coarse or curly hair. While that most directly applies to people of color, the brand’s products are generally great for anyone who has sensitive skin.

Rather than using multiple blades that either cut hair below the surface of the skin or snag and pull on hair, the Bevel Trimmer uses an adjustable blade to cut hair to the same level of the skin.  

The Bevel Trimmer is extremely precise and sharp, and a small mechanism inside gives you the ability to adjust the blade. This is a nice feature because most trimmers (even the professional ones used by barbers, including the Andis T-Outliner included in this list) require a screwdriver to make adjustments. — Amir Ismael

Read our full review on the Bevel Trimmer. 

The best professional razor

The professional-grade Andis T-Outliner is perfect for those who buzz cut their heads and barbers who need close-cutting accuracy.

Pros: Professional, affordable, dry shaving, phasing, great for full head shaving, lasts years

Cons: Needs oiling, which involves removing screws, not cordless

If you shave your full head multiple times a week and you’re sick of paying the barbershop to get it done, you may want to pick up the professional-grade Andis T-Outliner. This electric razor is used in many barbershops, and people who shave their full head swear by it. You can also use it for trimming your neck, beard, mustache, and hairline.

The Andis T-Outliner trimmer uses a close-cutting T-shaped blade that’s perfect for full head shaving, fades, and designs. Andis sells a cordless version, but the one we reviewed has a heavy-duty 8-foot cord, so even though it’s corded, you’ll still have plenty of room to move.

The trimmer’s carbon-steel blades are specially hardened so that they last longer than your average blade. The blades are fairly easy and inexpensive to replace, though, so when the time comes, it’s an easy swap.

You do have to oil it often to keep it running smoothly, and every now and then it’ll need a full tune-up. That does require unscrewing some small screws to oil the insides, but you won’t have to do this regularly. 

Our tester has used this trimmer for 12 years, and he uses it at least twice a week to fully shave his head. It has worked like a charm for all these years, and he fully expects it to continue to do so. He’s also only had to replace the blade and open it up for oiling once in all that time. — Malarie Gokey

What else we’ve considered

Panasonic Arc5 (LV65-S)

The Panasonic Arc5 was previously our choice for the best razor for coarse hair, but I recently removed it. While the brand has put research and development into cutting thick and curly hairy, the overall design is very similar to other foil shavers/razors. You’ll find contouring and pivoting blade heads, a powerful motor, and different power settings on most any similar razor worth having.

The Bevel Trimmer, which is arguably more similar to the Andis T-Outliner, is a better choice for anyone who has coarse hair and specifically wants to avoid razor bumps — a common issue while shaving or trimming. You won’t be able to use the Bevel Trimmer in the shower or run it underwater, though.

However, if you must have a wet and dry razor, the Panasonic Arc5 would be a better choice. I’ve used it on my neck and face and it’s pretty good. I got a few razor bumps here and there, but it was far less egregious than other trimmers. — Amir Ismael

When you think of electric razors, grooming tools with a motor and an oscillating blade usually come to mind first. The GilletteLabs Heated Razor doesn’t have either of those attributes, but it is a razor and it technically is electric. 

Coming in the form of a more traditional multi-blade razor, it features five blades for a close shave, FlexDisc technology to contour to your face and neck, and most notably, an Intelligent Heat Control System. Located directly underneath the five-blade system is a warming bar that delivers the sensation of a hot towel in every stroke of the blade. 

Wet shaving with traditional razors is not my preferred way to groom my facial hair, but I thoroughly enjoyed using the GilletteLabs Heated Razor. The heat feels amazing. I didn’t include it on this list because if you already use traditional multi-blade razors, chances are you’re content with your more affordable blades and you’re not specifically looking for an electric version. At $200, the GilletteLabs Heated Razor isn’t cheap, but it’s a wonderful gift or item to splurge on for anyone that likes wet shaving with traditional razors. You can read my full review here.  — Amir Ismael 

Andis Profoil Lithium Plus

While the Andis Profoil Lithium Plus can be used at home, it’s something you’d probably find in a barbershop along with a professional barber’s other grooming tools. If you’re looking for a multi-functional grooming tool, this isn’t the right choice for you. But if you need a strong and dependable razor with one setting for a close shave, you’ll find this to be an extremely useful and cost-effective option. I always pay close attention to the tools barber uses and I’ve gotten extremely close fades and shave with the Andis Profoil Plus and I got equally good results at home during my own testing. The only reason this doesn’t make the list is that it doesn’t have multiple functions, which most people grooming at home really want. — Amir Ismael

The difference between foil and rotary shavers

The primary choice you’ll have with electric razors is the design you want. Some people prefer a foil-style shaver, while others like a rotary-style shaver.

• Foil: The foil electric shaver contains oscillating blades that move back and forth at high speeds. These blades are covered with guards that lift hair for cutting and that protect the skin. A foil razor will often have a few separate cutting blades that flex independently to match the contours of your face. However, because a foil head has a rectangular shape, it might not match your face as well as a rotary razor.
• Rotary: The rotary razor has round blades that spin. You’ll receive protection from the spinning rotary blades with a slotted guard that sits atop the blades and helps to lift the hairs so they’re easier to cut. The heads flex in multiple directions, giving you a close shave by hugging the contours of your face. However, rotary heads are more difficult to clean after shaving versus the foil shaver.

Check out our other shaving gear guides

The best beard trimmers you can buy

A decent beard trimmer should be precise, versatile, and easy to use. They give you more granular control over the length and shape of your facial hair than your average electric razor. 

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The best shaving mirrors

It’s very easy to miss some whiskers on your neck or elsewhere on your face if the mirror in your bathroom isn’t clear, large, or well-lit enough. If this is the case for you, or if you just want a fogless mirror you can use to shave in the shower so you can save a few minutes in the morning, then it may be time to add a dedicated shaving mirror to your kit.

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The best shaving supplies to make your own shaving kit

To assemble the best shaving kit, you need the best supplies. We’ve picked out the five essential items that every man needs in his shaving kit, from a steel safety razor to a gentle aftershave that will help you achieve the perfect shave every time and leave your skin feeling as great as it looks.

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The best safety razors

You can’t beat a classic, and the British-made Edwin Jagger DE8 safety razor is our favorite due to its excellent construction, great fit and finish, and timeless design that looks as good on your shelf as it feels in your hand.

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The best shaving brushes for a great shave

Shaving brushes make it easy to work up a good lather for shaving. The Edwin Jagger pure badger brush is our top recommendation for anyone who’s looking to add a bit of luxury to their wet shaving routine.

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The best shaving cream

Whether the grooming at hand involves a full shave or a minor shaping of the beard, with a sharp razor and a great shaving cream, you’re always ready to look your best. Barbasol Thick & Rich Arctic Chill Shaving Cream is our top choice because it goes on thick and smooth, leaves skin tingling and fresh, and doesn’t cost much, either.