electric razor - good or bad for skin

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1
Hi all,

I'm thinking to buy an electric razor (to be more precise: http://braun.com/global/male-groomin...-7-models.html ), and I'm a bit wondering how it affects the skin.

For the moment I'm using Gillette mach 3.

Does anyone have experience with electrical razors and do they harm the face skin more than standard razor (e.g., mach 3, or Fusion pro glide)?

What would you recomend: go electric or stay with the old faithul?

Grazie

2
I always remember, years ago, when I was at college, I had a similar debate with a mate.

He showed me two photos - both high magnifications of a face - one after a wet shave, the other after an electric razor.

The magnified picture of the wet shave face, was like a well managed plantation - all trees of the same height and evenly spaced on smooth, level ground; the electric razor face resembled recent pictures of The Philippines.

3
Electric does not the job for me. I will end up with ingrown hairs.

Best thing in my opinion is to use a brush and a good soap.

So. Much. Smoother.

Traditional wet shaving

4
Agree. Always was a fan of wet shaving and made the transition from 3-5 blade system to the twin blade system (classic razor blade). Dont regret it for a minute. Much better shave, super economical and much more flexible. Really happy with the change.

5
Depends on your face. I get ingrown hairs with either method but I found that the various shaving foams irritate my skin considerably more than the electric razor. I have a Braun Series 7 and it's by far the best electric razor money can buy. Still, I sometimes have to use a regular razor AFTER shaving with the Braun, but usually it's enough to just wet my face a bit.

6
I use normal soap and my hands to create a lather, then I use, and re-use, as I have been doing for donkey's years, these yellow plastic razors. I get a perfect shave every time, admittedly just a little slower than with a multi-super over-expensive, high gloss 'lifestyle' product. Nor do I use an aftershave lotion as these dry out the skin. I then rub a little Nivea cream into my face. After 3 score years and 10, and more, my skin is still perfect.

I use an electric razor occassionally, one which I bought in the Migros and is actually a Braun product but with the M label but don't get such a close shave.

facit; Don't waste your money.

7
My opinion, which I believe is shared by dermatologists: it is worse for skin than the wet shaving/

My opinion, which I don't know if it is shared by dermatologists: it depends on your skin if it is going to be really bad. And we probably do a lot of other stuff that is bad for the skin (e.g. washing dishes without gloves, taking too many showers) and some of us don't think twice about doing those.

I don't think you can know easily without trying, but if you already get irritated skin from wet shaving I think that is a sign you shouldn't even try with an electric.

That said, it is much more convenient to do it with an electric I think. I don't know because I only tried it once and my skin gets bad enough with wet shaving as it is.

Those of you which have problems with the shaving cream, there are some hypoalergenic ones that you can get and at least for my skin it helps. I can look up the brand of the one I use.

8
More details, please? I often cut myself even with the Gilette-style ones, is the classic razor blade the ones the barbers use? Because if so I fear if I switch I'll wind up pulling a "Dibler" and cutting me own throat...

9
I have tried both electric and wet shaving and although I really wanted to get on with electric for the convenience, it just never agreed with me. The shave was not close enough and I suffered very badly with razor burn.

I shaved with the commercial spray can junk and Gilettes latest offerings for years but about 9 months ago I had an epiphany. Double edged razors combined with proper shaving products.

I cannot tell you how much happier my skin is!

Here is the list of products that I use:

Muhle R89 DE safety razor

Astra Superior Platinum DE razor blades

Bluebeards Revenge Privateer badger hair brush

Bluebeards Revenge chrome shaving bowl

Bluebeards Revenge pre-shave oil

Bluebeards Revenge luxury shaving cream

Bluebeards Revenge post shave balm

Osma Alum Block

I only shave after a shower.

The difference in my skin is unreal and I could never go back to that stuff that you spray out of a can and those blade cartridges that cost 60 CHF for a month or 2's supply.

Yes, there is a cost to get the bits and pieces however I buy 100 blades for under 10CHF on the internet and that lasts over 2 years!

I highly recommend the Bluebeards Revenge range (no, I don't work for them!!) if you have sensitive skin. I have yet to find anyone selling it in CH so I buy mine from the Traditional Shaving company ( http://www.traditionalshaving.co.uk )

I would recommend you get a sample pack of different blades. Each of us is quite different and need a different blade. I tried Feather (sharpest but too aggressive for me), Shark (epic burn!), Treet (only lasted 1 shave before cutting me a lot), Lord Platinum (not bad but the edge did not last long) and then Astra (perfect for my skin and lasts about 3 shaves with wonderful results).

If you are tempted with an electric, please feel free to PM me about buying my very expensive one that is sitting in the cupboard. You can have it for not much money to try out because I will never use it again...

There is a lot to be said for using the traditional methods and shaving has gone from being something I endured twice a week to a ritual that I enjoy every 2 days.

If you would like me to go into how I use the products, give me a shout.

One last point. If you use any kind of wet razor, cartridge or DE, never ever ever let your good lady use it. One session on a womans legs and your blade is fit for the bin!

10
Hi

What I am referring to is a double edge safety razor with Platinum blades.

Think what you mean is the straight razor which is quite a challenging deal but one which I would like to try some time. But that does take some skill and practise. However remember that our grandfathers used to shave that way. So worth exploring at some time.

Honestly I was quite worried about bad nicks and cuts when I transitioned from my Gillette to Safety Razor. However my fears were unfounded. But note a few things:

- Invest the the right kind of razor (Merkur or Parker are good starting options. Dont go for the cheap/generic versions)

- Get the right type of blades. My personal favourite are Personna which are not very expensive on Amazon. You can get blades for soft beards, normal beards, tough beards etc. Check the brand on Amazon for user reviews and references.

- Get the right shaving soap and spend time building a lather.

- Take your time in the beginning. Dont rush it else you may have nicks and cuts. Spend time on the 1st shave and then you can rush through the second one.

- Ideal time to shave is post shower as your skin is soft and the beard is soft.

The rewards are quite substantial:

- The shave is close and well defined

- You can shave the hard to reach areas (near nostrils for example)

- After shadow is significantly lesser than with the other razors

- You save significant costs on blades. The cost of a 100 Personna blades is the cost of 05 Gillette Fusion blades. No comparison.

- Works well for people with tough beards like me.

- Plus the psychological benefit of doing something old style.....

By the way, the most important advise. Get the right razor and blades. This link may help. This is where I started my research.

http://thesweethome.com/reviews/the-best-razors/

All the best and have fun.

Cheers

Logos

11
I used electric shavers only for many many years, with various foil-head shavers like the one you mention, and never had any real skin irritation issues as a result. But it needs to be done regularly and consistently.

These days I only shave every two or three days, so the electric one makes hard work of it and I just shave when I have a bath (which is nearly always, i.e. as opposed to a shower, these days) using a standard disposable three-blade one. If I'm really in a hurry and use the electric one in a rush it's likely to leave patches of stubble and possible ingrowing hairs, but this is really just because the skin isn't used to it, and neither is the user

12
I always got a rash with electric, so only wet shave. I use a gel rather than foam. Always after showering, and use a moisturising lotion rather than aftershave.

I've found that shaving in the shower using ordinary soap for a lather always produces good results, even with a cheap disposable.