I used to hate electrics as they never felt that close. The trick to them is to keep using them because as your skin gets conditioned they shave better and closer. After a couple of weeks they'll cut as well as the blades. For me I actually get a closer shave with an electric now. If I use a blade it messes up everything for a while and my skin has to get used to everything again.

 

I just can't shave with a blade, cut the crap out of myself. The skin on my neck is too rough, kinda like a turky neck! Been using electrics for years, plan to keep doing so. -TD

 

When I'm not working daylights I don't shave except for church, funerals and weddings provided I respect the bride.

I will shave with a razor the first day then an electric for the next few days that I have to go into the office, which is only 5 days every 6 weeks

 

I have a beard so the shavers don't get that hard of a workout.

 

Too bad I missed this thread when it first came around. I usually use a Mach 3 Turbo, but lately the razor rash and razor bumps have been getting worse. I have pretty sensetive skin so I'm looking for a way to avoid these problems. I would just let it all grow out...but that looks crappy. Would a good Norelco (I'm assuming the three rotary blade type) shave decently close and eliminate the rash and bumps? Or do I just suck up and suffer. I would like to get some input before I drop close to $100 on a decent razor.

 

You sure dug back a ways for this one...

I've been using a Norelco for years, wouldn't use anything else. I just got a new one, the 9160 XL and I like it. It has the full-floating heads that conform to your face, and it can be washed out under the faucet. It was more like 150 bucks but what the heck, if the last one was any indication this one should be around for years.

 

Wow, talk about archive.

I have a Norelco that belonged to my dad. He passed away in '90, and I have no idea how long he had it before that. Battery will barely hold a charge anymore, but works fine if it's plugged in. I've never changed the blades- but take it apart and clean the blades and the screen about twice a week.

Also have a new Norelco that I just unboxed. If the new one lasts as long as the last one, it may outlive me.

 

I dry shave using a very sharp axe.

Actually I use either a Braun or a razor.

 

I have what is called a tough beard, so my dad says, it runs in the family. Dad prefers Norelco since it handles our toguh beards well, at least for him. I prefer screen shavers since for me it works better.

Since 1989 I have used 2 Remington Microscreens, 1 Norelco, 1 Sears(norelco type) and 1 Braun microscreen.

The thing that really wears out on electrics is the battery. If you are handy with mechanical devices, you can easily replace the batteries and keep a razor running for a long time.

The first electric I had was a Sears norelco type razor bought in 1989. It did OK but I gave it away when the batteries died after about 3-4 years.

The next Electric I got was a Remington Microscreen. I bought it in 1989 also and still use it today. I have replaced the batteries once. It is probably my closest shaving electric. The only gotcha is that the replacement screens are getting harder to find. I wear out a screen in about 3 years, but I swap razors so the screen life is probably actually shorter.

Then I got a Norelco, at that time the top of the line. It worked OK but did not give as good a shave as the remington. This razor was stolen after anout 7 years of use and one battery change.

I also inherited a Braun screen shaver. It works OK , almost as good as the older Remington. It is a LOT more expensive and the screens are becming harder to find. I have replaced the batteries once. I have used this one since about 1999.

My newst razor is a Remington Microscreen Titanium MS3-2700. It works OK but maybe a tad less well than my old Remington. The battery charge only lasts maybe 5 shaves, very disappointing in comparison to the 10+ that I am used to from all my other razors. I got this razor in late 2004. I had to replace the screen after less than a year which is a bit short in my opinion. I am not impressed with the durability and battery life on this one. But then it matches my stereotypical view of Chinese manufactured mechanical devices. Guess I'm a closet bigot.

If I could keep one razor running forever it would be my old Remington two row Microscreen. It gives me the best shave, is durable and shows no signs of quitting. Next would be the Braun since it gives a decent shave and appears reasonably durable, but it is about 2-3x the price of a comparable Remington. The Norelco was a decent shaver and would be worth keeping, only problem with the Norelcos is that they have become insanely expensive if you go for the bells and whistles. I have seen a couple I like over $200, wow??!!

My experiences with my new Remington would cause me to stop buying this brand due to the short charge on the batteries and the need to replace screens much sooner than expected. I am guessing maybe the screen is thinner for a closer shave, or just cheaply made. Why the short battery life, I don't know. Remington is my favorite brand I guess, but this last one has turned me off.

Still, the good old blade razors work best for me. The Trac II types give me the best shave. The Sensor 3 blades work pretty well. The Mach III three blade ones don't seem to give me as good a shave as the old twin blades. I use electrics since I can do it while driving(yeah yeah) or just sitting around. With blades you gotta devote some time.

Just my opinions.

Jim Henderson

 

Since my posts in 2004, I've bought another Braun. This one has the cleaning station. I was initially opposed to this since the replacement cleaning solution is an ongoing cost. But Braun won't sell you their best shavers without it.

Let me say that the cleaning station is GREAT! The razor comes out clean as new and smelling good. The solution lasts for about a month, and so it's an additional $5 a month. When this one's batteries give up, I'll be buying another Braun (8000 series).

 

My Braun still works ok, as long as it's plugged in; the batteries are pretty much "fubar".

Had it since 1994.

There's a factory service center over here that does rebuild these shavers for a nominal cost.

 

Thanks for the info so far. I think I'll go with the Norelco rotary type. How good are these things at getting rid of razor burn and bumps?

 

Whenever you change razors...either to or from electric, or even from one electric type to another, you HAVE to condition your face to it. That is you gotta use it for a couple of weeks. Don't even try to compair one to another until you've done this. Usually, your face will condition itself to the new razor before that, say one week, but some faces are different and it takes longer. You WILL probably experence razor burn going from one to another, but it'll get better with time. If any one razor was that much better than the other, there'd only be one brand.....Different strokes for...ahhh, you know!

 

BRAUN is the only kind to buy, They have always lasted me a long time. Only problem has been me damaging the foils, very expensive replacements. Otherwise I have tried them all and Braun is the best.

 

Does the cleaning solution irritate your face at all?